Sunday 30 June 2013

Wekly Recall! 23rd June-29th June!

Book image courtesy of http://sweetclipart.com/
Sun 23rd June - Sat 29th June

I haven't read much this week I'm afraid, been rather busy with school meetings etc. But here's what I did read:

I reviewed Breaking Bethany by Anna Keraleigh. You can find my review here.

I read the much awaited anthology Her Type of Guy by +Doris O'connor +Raven McAllan +Michaela Rhua Ella Grey and Morgan King. You can find my review here.

As for TV/Movies this week, me and the OH have caught up on The Killing season3 now, and are waiting for the new episode this week (Netflix are streaming it the day after its been aired). So we started watching Sons of Anarchy, and although we've only watched 2 episodes so far, it's rather good. And Charlie Hunnam is quite hot in it too! He looks pretty darn good in that biker Jacket.

I finished watching season 2 of Call The Midwife, and I'm eagerly awaiting the Christmas Special later this year. And I eventually watched The Hunger Games yesterday! I gave it 3 stars, but the book was is much better.

Also this week I had Laurel Cremant guesting, Michaela Rhua showing off her new release, and Thianna D was answering my 20 This or That Questions.

Thats all for this week folks, ta-ta for now :D

Dee xx

Friday 28 June 2013

Michaela Rhua and Guardian Possession are here!


Michaela Rhua is here today on her Breathless Press Blog Hop for the release of Guardian Possession!!!!!
I also asked Michaela a question while she was here. Check out her answer after the excerpt!

Title: Guardian Possession
Author: Michaela Rhua
Genre: Paranormal
Heat Rating: 3
Publisher: Breathless Press
Formats Available In: All
Word Count: 19,985
RRP: 1.99
ISBN: 978-1-77101-151-8

Blurb: Royanne longs to be free of everyone's expectations. Meeting a mysterious stranger who she is drawn to confuses her. He feeds her longing to be free and ignites a fire inside of her. She is aroused by this tortured soul. When he kidnaps her and reveals his plan, she is torn between loathing him and wanting him.

Zachriel is under orders from the Dark Master—kidnap Guardian demon Royanne. Only hiding away until the coast is clear draws him closer to her, especially as she seems to see the real man in him.

Rescued at last, Royanne feels uncertain what to do. For Zachriel his past is revealed and he must face the truth. This truth cuts to his very soul and makes him question who he really is.

Now he must come to terms with the lie that has been his life. Royanne fights her feelings for Zachriel. She begins to see him as a kindred spirit. There is only one thing to do: reveal her love for him. Can she convince him her feelings are real and he is worth loving?

Book Links:


Excerpt:

"Oh, okay." Royanne seemed to accept who he was. But then, he knew she would; being a demon with the ability to possess minds, it was easy to mold her thoughts. She stepped out of the doorway more into the alleyway.

That's good, feel comfortable with me.

"I saw you dancing, you move well," he commented.

"Thank you. I am Royanne." She offered her hand.

Yes, contact, that is what I need again.

He took his hands out of his pocket and reached out. His large, calloused hand enveloped hers, and her warmth met his cold. She was soft, and he wondered if the rest of her was the same.

"I'm Zach, good to meet you," Zach replied while inching closer. Touching her was enough to establish a link to her mind. I have you now. She was still wary but calm. Underneath the layers of her mind was something else. Need. This I can work with.

"So, how you finding life at base?" he asked, still holding her hand.

"Well, you know fun, fun, fun!" she replied sarcastically.

He could feel she was unhappy.

"It all helps for the future, you know." He sensed her need for freedom.

Royanne moved her hand away, but he noticed she lingered at little as they released their grips. He had her now; her mind was his, but he needed more. A taste of her, then the link would be stronger. Damn, there were too many people passing the entrance to the alleyway for him to make his move now. If he got her wanting him enough to go to a hotel room, that would be perfect.

He could read strands of desire in her mind. He planted more, he planted himself. This little Guardian was proving easier to manipulate than he had first thought. But what did they know of strength? All their kind was good for was the torture of the young and weak. He was no longer young or weak. The Dark Master had ensured they took care of him, nurtured, and trained to be a warrior of worth. Zach reached out and touched her bare arm lightly. With feather-like fingers, he stroked her skin. Royanne's gaze drifted to his fingers playing on her skin. She had not recoiled, which was good. He became bolder as he moved his hands to her shoulder. Her skin was warm and smooth. Zach aintained eye contact, knowing it would strengthen his bond with her. He caressed her cheek, and he slid his other hand lower to hold her curved hip and then her rounded ass. He massaged her ass cheek, and when no resistance was apparent, he lowered to her pinky full lips that called to him to kiss and claim. She seemed frozen to the spot. Yes, just as he liked them, under his control, helpless. He had her mind.

Fire met ice. She kissed him back with equal force, which surprised him. Does this Guardian actually want me? Her hands drifted to his hips, and he felt her grip tighten, and she brought him closer into her. Oh hell, she tastes so good. He let his tongue play with her lips, then dart between them until she parted those sweet lips. She was wet and warm just as he hoped she would be when his cock entered her. He cupped her breast with one hand and found her nipple taut. Kissing down her neck, he lowered her strap down her shoulder to reveal a heavy breast waiting for him. He played with her nipples with his fingers before his mouth took over. He licked them all over, the tip of his tongue flicking backward and forward.

"Oh yes," she groaned.

Then he took her wet nipple into his mouth and sucked hard. Her hips moved with every suck. Zach wondered how wet she was. He continued sucking but used one hand to lift her dress up and brought the other hand straight to her panties. He was delighted to find them getting damp. He pulled the seam aside, and he discovered she was smooth.

"Oh, so wet for me, Royanne," he said as he kissed down her stomach. Her mind told him she wanted his mouth where his fingers played. He tore the scrap of material away and lifted her leg over his shoulder. He hungered for her, so he went to work with his mouth and tongue. Licking around her swollen lips, he sucked her clit before letting his tongue establish a rhythm. Royanne moaned and grabbed his head, pushing her hips farther into his face. The enemy tasted divine, sweet and musky. She was so close, he could read her fully now.

But no! Control was important now. He could not let her come here in this alleyway; he needed her alone to complete his mission. He stopped and got to his feet. Her eyes were dazed, and her mind was confused.

"Why did you stop?" she questioned.

"Not here." He scanned the alleyway. "I want you on a bed where I can enjoy you fully."

He knew she agreed.

"I'll get my purse and follow you out," she said, straightening her dress.

 My Question for Michaela


What made you want to write erotic romance novels?

I am a direct person. I can be subtle and very measured. I consider myself to be a down to earth person. So why try to be different in my writing? Could I do the sweet romance, holding hands and a few chaste kisses? No. Writing erotic romance came naturally because it is something I like to read. Sex is not dirty, to be hidden away behind a closed door. It is passionate, fiery and freeing. For me writing is about being free, doing what I want and in the way I want.
I know that sounds selfish but as a parent, wife and employee I have lots of time taken up with doing what other's need. So in my writing I do what comes from within me. If that is erotic, sensual and passionate then so be it.
You have to be comfortable writing sex too. Each author has their own boundaries – what feels right to them. Erotic Romance allows you to do that. I also love establishing a strong emotional connection, that deep bond that becomes stronger when the character's make love.
Also erotic romance can come in all shapes and sizes. It can in suspense or thrillers, embedded in a historical setting, featuring paranormal creatures (a personal favourite) or in any genre you care to name. What I am trying to say is that it is not just a genre but it allows you to explore settings, places and people wherever you may care to.
However, the story has to be central. Character's struggling to go forward, dealing with the past or difficulties in the present. Chemistry that cannot be denied- the sexual tension driving people on. Problems to overcome, that mean some sort of struggle. I love the journey they take and that ahhh at the end.


About The Author:

Michaela Rhua always dreamed of writing but this never happened until she met the lovely group of ladies known as UCW. Their passion for writing and encouragement inspired her to see if she could do it too. Now she is multi published and loves writing!

She has teenage children and a husband, who also keep her busy. However, it is whilst travelling into work that she has time to create her characters and imagine other places in which they exist as her world skims by the window. Conversations overheard often lead to the birth of new ideas that she scribbles down in her trusty notebook.

You can visit Michaela here:







 Check out the rest of the tour at:
28/06/2013 - Love Books? Blog Books - Guest Post
28/06/2013 - The Writing Network - Guest Post
29/06/2013 - Read 2 Review - Interview
30/06/2013 - Black Words-White Pages - Interview
30/06/2013 - IWAssociation - Interview
01/07/2013 - The Book Junkie - Excerpt
02/07/2013 - Cathy brockman romances - Excerpt/Spotlight
03/07/2013 - Faerie Tale Books - Spotlight
04/07/2013 - The Many Muses of MaryLynn - Spotlight/Review
05/07/2013 - Pure Jonel - Guest Post
05/07/2013 - D D Symms, Romance Author - Guest Post
06/07/2013 - paranromal book club - Guest Post
07/07/2013 - RBTL - Guest Post

Thursday 27 June 2013

20 This or That Questions with....Thianna D!!!!





Morning peeps!

Thianna D is over this morning and has grabbed herself a nice cool drink.




Food
I'm not much of a foodie I must admit. If we could just live on food tablets I would probably be a very happy person. But if I had to choose...
My favorite food is strawberries - hands down. I could eat pints of them in one sitting.
My least favorite food - anything that comes from the water. Me and fish don't get along.

Sweet or savoury?
Kind of depends. While my fav food is strawberries, I am more of a savoury girl. Intense spices and the way the tastes stay on the tongue. I like spices too, but not too spicy if you know what I mean
Salad or sandwich?
Ugh. Neither. I hate salad and am not much of a sandwich person either.
Macdonalds or Burger King?
Depends on what I am going for. For a burger, Burger King - Micky D's hamburgers are too salty. For chicken, I prefer Micky D's nuggets. I agree, chicken nuggets are good!


White meat or red meat?
I'm a white meat fiend. The only time I will eat red meat is if it has been bbq'd or smoked. Otherwise I can't stand it.



Entertainment
Bon Jovi or Guns n Roses?
Bon Jovi - his music is amazing and he is nice eye candy. *grins* Oh the jon Bon Jovi is very nice Eye Candy!!
Movie or book?
I much prefer a book. With a book, it is up to my imagination to create what I am reading. A movie gives you their interpretation. Take Harry Potter. The first two movies gave the visual that was in my mind but the last ones did not. I prefer the mental jog of a good book over a movie/tv any day of the week.  Me too, I prefer to remember it the way I saw it in the book rather than the movie.
Movies or TV shows?
If I have to watch something, movies. I do not watch television at all and haven't for almost 4 years. While most of the time there is nothing on at the local theatre worth watching, I have to admit I loved the newest Star Trek movie Into Darkness. JJ Abrams has truly created a fantastic new Star Trek franchise and as a Trekkie it is wonderful to see. I haven't seen the latest one yet, but looking forward to it.


Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings?
Books or movie? LOVED LOVED LOVED Harry Potter. I read the books and listed to the books on audio so many times I couldn't tell you how many. I enjoyed the movies but still always return to the books. When it comes to LoTR, I can only watch the movies. Tolkein was a wordy bastard and I find myself trying to fight to keep my mind on his books. This is what I'm worried about with starting LOTR books :/
Damon or Stefan Salvatore?
Uhhh, who? I looked up Stefan and found he was a character from Vampire Diaries. As I don't watch television I literally have no knowledge of who he is. I am assuming Damon is from another television series? They are both brothers from Vampire Diaries, Damon is the totaly bad boy, Stefan a bit softer.


True Blood or Vampire Diaries?
Again - don't watch television so I have no reference but vamps are always good, right? :) Vamps in both shows (but VD is better in my opinion!)


Friends or Sex and the City?
OOOH, this one is difficult. I love both series intensely and have them both on DVD though I haven't watched them in years. But Friends wins out, I think, just because I prefer sitcoms to drama on a daily basis. But if we are going for sexiest character, it would have to be Big. Nom Nom Nom. Oh I loved Mr Big too!!


Star Wars or Star Trek?
Ooh, another hard one, but if I had to choose, it would be Star Trek every time. I loved Gene Roddenberry's view of the future, of races getting along, of there being peace out there rather than just constant war which most sci-fi people focus on. My favorite series are the Original (never wear red down to a planet or you are gonna die), STNG and Voyager and I do like the new orginal that JJ Abrams has created in the movies. He pays wonderful homage to what GR created.

Random
Dominance or submission?
I am submissive so I am attracted to naturally dominant men.
Kisses or hugs?
I grew up in a family where physical was not done. Nobody touched, nobody hugged. So, I do not know how to do that kind of thing. It always feels fake to me when someone hugs me. So we know not to hug you if we ever meet :)
Bath or shower?
Shower for every day but I love baths...just laying back and letting the water wash my stress away. See, I can't do that, I get bored in the bath!
Call or text?
I hate phones. LOL People think I'm crazy, but I absolutely hate phones. So, if I have to use one, I prefer texting all the way.


Date night: stay in or go out?
Both. I love to go to the theater and see plays and go out to listen to the symphony, but I also enjoy what staying home can bring. *weg* :D
Singing or dancing?
If I have to do one, I would choose singing. I am a coloratura soprano. I can't dance worth beans.
Vanilla or kink?
Kink! Kink! Kink! Don't give me any vanilla it will bore the hell out of me. Lol
Cotton or satin?
I love the smooth feel of satin, especially for sheets or lingerie. But I do live where it gets hot so cotton is my friend from April through October. Ooh I can imagine sleeping on satin in extremely warm weather is uncomfortbale



Anything you'd like to add, or anything new you'd like to tell us about while you're here?
Hmm, Well, I am in one of those 'holding patterns' where I am between books. My last release, Bane of My Existence, came out in April and I am working on its sequel.

In August, though, I am excited for my next release which will be through LazyDay Publishing.

As Natural As Breathing is the first in a gay spanking romance series. I set it in the town I am living in right now and that and the characters themselves have made this story very real to me.

For Christian Darringer, life isn’t worth living. Just back from the Middle East; scarred and with permanent damage to one leg, he does not think anyone will want him for anything. Meeting a gorgeous man he finds himself thinking about constantly is not in his plans. Pulled toward the startling younger man with striking blue eyes, he begins to question a lot of things – especially his sexuality. Not one to hide from a challenge, he plunges ahead only to find himself more than just attracted to Logan who is full of life and joy, he finds himself head over heels in love.

Logan Mannette has almost everything he ever wanted: loving parents, happiness, friends and security. The only thing missing is finding the love of his life, a love that is just like his parents’. When he meets Christian at a party, everything changes. Instantly attracted, he does his best to help this sad man and quickly finds himself feeling more than he has ever felt before. Raised in a domestic discipline household, he holds that ideal as what he wants but his interest in spanking became a fetish and when Christian admits that he wants to be spanked,
Logan believes he might have found the perfect man.

Just as everything begins for them, Christian’s past intercedes and one of his brothers makes waves about him dating a man. If it weren’t for Logan’s support, he might fold; but with the love of one amazing man, Christian finds that living his life rather than just existing is as natural as breathing.

Wow it sounds great Thianna!!

Thanks so much for stopping by, hope the weather is nice out there!

Tuesday 25 June 2013

*** REVIEW *** Her Type of Guy Anthology

Her Type of Guy Anthology by Doris O'Connor, Raven McAllan, Michaela Rhua, Ella Grey and Morgan King

For every desire, there's a man to meet it. Someone's annoyance is another's kink. In this naughty collection of short stories, indulge your fantasies, and follow our heroines as they find just the right type of guy or guys…
From bouncing cocks to virgins, slow coaches, true Scotsmen, and messy play partners, sex toy experts and their mischievous friends—these guys are in need of their ladies. Why is one guy too grumpy to believe, another always too early? And can there ever be a future with a hired killer?
Only one way to find out. You might just meet your ideal guy.

I received a copy of this book from one of the authors (Doris O'Connor) in return for an honest review :D I was glad to say yes, I'd been waiting for this anthology ever since I found out it was in writing!

Since there are 10 short stories, 2 by each author, I decided to write a small review for each one as I read it, and put stars out of 5 next to each one.

WARNING!! THERE WILL BE SPOILERS IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY READ THIS BOOK!!

The Man With the Bouncing cock by +Doris O'connor ★★★★★
This is a story about a Dean, a man who's cock literally bounces :) it never goes down (some may think 'oh yeah, how annoying that must be :/ ' but I can imagine it would be). When the new hot teacher Amelie moves in next door, Dean can't stop thinking about her, nor can she stop thinking about him. It takes a while but they eventually get it on after a sexy solo scene in the rain, and Deans problem of his always on the go cock goes away :) Amelie fixes him! This was a fun read, and it makes you thin what a pest it could be to always be aroused.

A True Scotsman by +Raven McAllan  ★★★★
This story is about Charlie, who is standing at the bottom of a cliff in a kilt. He climbs the rock face, with a very sexy voice coming through his ear piece, and wins, therefore claiming his prize, a hot lover, who is also waiting for him 'commando' at the top :) I liked this story, and Ravens description of Charlie in his kilt, commando like a proper scotsman, really put your imagination into overdrive!

Only When Allowed by +Michaela Rhua ★★★★★
This is the story of Alex, who can't seem to enjoy sex properly, as he finishes far too quick. Lillian, his boss, is eager to get her teeth into him and try to help him with his little problem. And thats exactly what she does. After a meeting with some clients, she takes Alex up to her hotel room and teaches him exactly how to wait :) This was a great dom/sub story, and it was nice to see the woman become the dom.

Ghost by Ella Grey★★★★
Lucas is a hitman for the mob, and when on a job, he turns up at someones door to kill them, he gets more than he bargained for. Who opens the door, but his childhood friend Isabella, whom he owes a lot to. So he helps her escape, with disguises, as she is under watch from the FBI. A couple of deaths along the way, but a HEA ending for these 2. I liked this, and I liked Lucas :)


Delightful Consequences by Morgan King★★★★★
Josie and Matt go back to Matts place after a date, only to find that Matts room mate Jon has changed all of Matts room around, added pink bedsheets etc. So to pay him back, Matt suggests doing the deed in Jons room. To Josies surprise, Jon turns up, and Matt demands he stays and watches, no touching himself either, as punishment for raiding his room. For Josie, this goes from a normal date, to a possible future menage! This was fun, it really made you feel that Josie must have been os aware of all of her senses, especially being blindfolded!

Grumpy Pants by +Doris O'connor ★★★★★
Julie's car tyre flattens on her way to work, a gorgeous guy gets out and helps her fit a new tyre. Fit he is, and he sends her insides blazing. She doesn't know but she has the same effect on him. When she gets to work and has to call the new IT boss , Mr Grumpy-pants, she does not expect it to be him, the guy from the side of the road. They both feel each other calling, and end up having some hot sex right there in the office. James, a shifter, claims her as his mate, and it sounds like they're going to be very happy together, forever. I love Doris shifter novels, so this was a great little short :)

No Longer Pure As... by +Raven McAllan ★★★★
Marcus is a virgin, and has his eyes on a woman of the cloth, Cammie. When he is told by Cammie that he has won an afternoon of Flower Arranging at the local vicarage with her, he spends the morning calming himself down enough to be able to spend the afternoon with the woman he really likes. But when Cammie open the door of the vicarage ina low cut dress, and takes him upstairs, he gets more than just flower arranging! It turns out Cammie is a virgin too, she likes Marcus, and wants him to de-flower her :D This was a sweet story, and I really felt happy for Marcus when he got the girl!

Snail's Pace by +Michaela Rhua  ★★★★
Adam owns a bookstore, and his 2 assistants Sophie and June are heard by him, gossipping about how slow he is at everything, and wouldn't you be there forever if you were to sleep with him. So one day after June has left, and the beautiful Sophie tells him she is leaving for a bigger chain, he kisses her, eager to show her just what 'slow' with him can be like. I liked this, and Michaela describes really well the sex scene. Mr Sloely sounds like a good one!

Messy by Ella Grey ★★★★
Carter Hansen opens his front door one day to find a cleaning maid, Arianna, standing there. She overheard his brother calling him Mr Messy, and with her new business just starting, decided to go over and see if she could clean his house. But she soon finds out that his brother doesn't call him Mr Messy because he's untidy, but because he likes to use food in his foreplay! I swear I'll never eat an ice cream with strawberry sauce again in the same way ;)


The Tickle Arms by Morgan King ★★★★★
This story happens before the first story you read in this anthology by Morgan King (Delightful Consequences). In this one you get to see Josie and Matts dinner date, and you can really feel the sexual tension between them both at the table. Matt gives her a gift, and gives her the choice of wearing it. A love egg, which she runs off to the bathroom and inserts. Matt controls it at the the table when she returns, and ends up with his hands under the table, finishing what he started, in public, in a restaurant! I have to say, this story was brilliant, and after reading this one, you begin to understand  little more of the back story in Delightful Consequences :)

★★★★★

I gave this whole book 5 stars as all of the stories were really good. What a great anthology! these 5 authors are defiantly ones to watch! Good work guys!!!

*** REVIEW *** Breaking Bethany by Anna Keraleigh

Breaking Bethany by Anna Keraleigh

"Looking to buy a slave? Looking to sell one? Come to the place where sex slaves are traded and purchased without fear of the law. We have men, women, and mutants available. There are shops with all the latest toys and devices for your property. Come to the Central Hub, a place of Darkness and Desire."

Bethany is on a mission to the Central Hub. She must save her sister, who is kidnapped by slavers. However, there’s a problem, two actually. One is Clarin, the woman who's going to break her into submission so they can get into the hub. The slave training is making her body hyperaware of the feeling she’s having for Clarin. The second is searching the huge spaceport filled with depraved and delicious masters while trying to pass for a submissive herself.
Can they find Bethany’s sister before she’s sold?

I received a copy of this book from the author in return for an honest review :D

I read this in the space of a couple of hours, a lovely short read. The only thing is, it could have been longer!

This is the story of Bethany, who's sister has been kidnapped to become a slave. In order to save her, Bethany must act as a slave herself, to get into the hub, where her sister has been taken. In steps Clarin, with the reward money in mind, and agrees to 'train' Bethany to be a submissive. Things go from hot to hotter in this paranormal/fantasy f/f erotic novel. There is a lot of sex in this story, which is always good ;p But there are also sad parts I thought, when you hear of what the slaves endure, when you read the part of the 'chariot games'.

But... it obviously has a HEA ending (happy ever after) so you're spirits are lifted at the end :D

Great story!

Monday 24 June 2013

Laurel Cremant is guesting here today! Come see what she has to say!

Please welcome Laurel Cremant here today who is chatting to us about romance tropes :D

Dear Dee,

Thanks so much for having me as your guest today! I’m super excited to be here today and talk about my latest obsession--Romance Tropes. Yup those things that naysayers often use to presume that the romance genre is “formulaic” and “repetitive”.

A literary trope can be defined as a common or overused theme or device. . . in other words a cliche. It amuses me to no end that the romance genre is the one most often accused of the use of topes (as if it’s a bad thing) when the reality is, that every form of storytelling has at least one trope used in it’s plot.

Consider the recent popularity of superhero movies. Every single one of them uses the “tortured hero” trope, almost exclusively. Yet are they all the same? No! For example the plot and storylines were very different for Iron Man 3 and the latest Man of Steel movies, yet they both used the same trope. Does that make them unoriginal and bland? Of course not.

The use of tropes within the romance genre is much the same as above. Yes, they are used however, it all comes down to how they are used. Romance authors, especially in the last fifteen years, have showcased such an amazing range of storytelling, that I find the accusation of being formulaic and repetitive down right laughable.

It’s not a secret that some people consider reading romance a guilty pleasure. They look at reading romance novels as some kind of naughty past-time. I say it’s time to come out of the closet. There’s nothing wrong with enjoying a well told story with a happy ending.

For those of you needing a little push, I’d like to refer to the list of confessions below. When I first began my journey as a romance writer I wrote a blog post titled, 5 Confessions of a Romance Reader and Wannabe Romance Author, confessing the following:

Confession #1
Heaving bosoms and quivering members are oh so exciting...not! Contrary to popular opinion, the sex scenes aren't what make a romance novel. It's somehow getting the reader to care whether or not two people end up together in the first place. I can have characters perform every position in the Kama Sutra but if I don't convey any real feeling to the acts and get the reader to root for each moment, then in my opinion its a waste of a scene. I'm currently terrified of writing my first sex/love scene. Aside from it proving to my mother that I'm not pure as snow, there's the fact that a bad love scene can really ruin a good book. If only there was a custom scene generator for this stuff...

Confession #2
Heaving bosoms and quivering members can be super hot! I know this sounds like a contradiction to #1 but who am I kidding? A hot scene is oh so nice to read. There's a reason why the new Old Spice commercials are so popular...that being said I worry about what could be considered too racy or even too tame for readers in today's market.

Confession #3
Sometimes it really is just sex. Too many people still insist on calling sex scenes love scenes. People assume that romance novels must have a staple "love" scene. Seriously people, sometimes a duck is just a duck (yup word association here totally intended). I actually have no fear associated with this confession. All my ducks will be ducks if that's what I'm aiming for.

Confession #4
Mr. Alpha Male loves Miss Plain Jane...I almost didn't even want to add this confession to the list. Okay yes, I will admit that I love a good Plain Jane romance. It pulls at all those residual high school crush heart strings still strung up somewhere in my psyche. I personally blame every 80's teen movie ever made for this (especially the ones with Molly Ringwald). Despite the fact that the Alpha/Jane storyline gets used a lot, there a lot of authors that have found new and more plausible ways of portraying it (Jennifer Cruise's Bet Me is a good example). I really think that as a writer I shouldn't limit myself on a storyline just because the skeleton of it falls in line with a cliche. One of my biggest fears is to not write a story that I think will be great just because I'm afraid of what others may say. Just because the skeleton has been used before doesn't mean that I can't create a storyline that's new, fun and engaging. Whenever I worry about this I just remember my fiancée's assessment of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (the film not the book)--"It was really sad when the Jesus Allegory Lion died"...enough said.

Confession #5
Mr. Alpha Male has to be an alpha male. Okay this one is going to be hard for some people to take, but not every male lead in a romance novel has to be rich, sexy, arrogant and aggressive. First of all in real life men like these are usually arrested for assault. Second of all with the exception of the sexy part I just described Donald Trump. I don't know about most women but when I'm imagining my romantic heroes Donald Trump is not the first example to spring to mind. As a romance reader and writer I want my romantic heroes to have depth and substance. There has to be more than just surface attraction there to justify my heroine falling in love with him. As a wanna be author I often fear that I won't be able to create not just a believable male hero but a believable heroine as well. I worry about creating a hero both my heroine and readers can fall in love with and creating a heroine my readers can relate to who they believe my hero deserves.

When I was preparing for this post and read those confessions again, it was so surreal! It really wasn’t so long ago that I began this wonderful journey in writing. I hope that reading and sharing my confessions will help others to see that a little trope loving isn’t necessarily a bad (or unoriginal) thing.

Thanks Dee for having me on today. Keep on reading and loving your romances!

Best,
Laurel

Thanks for stopping by Laurel!!

ABOUT LAUREL CREMANT
Laurel is a romance author, who like most writers loves to read. Her first love (pun intended) has always been romance. From the sappy YA romance novel to the more risqué erotica novels, Laurel is a sucker for a good love story.

Laurel writes paranormal and contemporary romance and is a self proclaimed, out of the closet nerd. She admits that she can't seem to avoid adding a bit of "nerdology" or "geek-dom" to all of her books. Living in Miami, she also admits that she can't seem to avoid giving her heroines gorgeous shoes, "In Miami, we worship everything strappy, open toed and just plain hot!"

Her debut novel, Negotiating Skills, is currently available for free download via Amazon and All Romance. And Coming Soon (July 2013) via Evernight Publishing, is her next novel titled, Persuasion Skills.


AUTHOR WEBSITE & LINKS

Sunday 23 June 2013

Weekly Recall! 16th June-22rd June

Book image courtesy of http://sweetclipart.com/

Weekly Recall is a new thing I'm going to do each week, where I will look back at the books I've reviewed that week, let you know what I've watched too. Basically it is jsut a catch up of my week! It will be from the previous Sunday to saturday, and the post will be up on the Sunday :D

Sun 16th June - Sat 22nd June

I read and reviewed a few books this week.

  • I finished Call The Midwife by Jennifer Worth (I did start it a couple of weeks ago though). You can find my review here
  • I read The Ravaged Fairy by Anna Keraleigh, which is the second in her Fairy Story Series. You can find my review here.
  • I read Text Me, Tweet Me, Need Me by Susie Medwell, the first of her books I've red. You can find my review here.

As for TV/Movies, well no movies this week (although my other half watched Skyfall and said it was great), but we finished watching season 2 of The Killing on Netflix, and started season 3 last night. Really enjoying that show!

And Elizabeth Morgan joined me for 20 This or That Questions, click here to see her post!

I also done a post about my blogoversary which is coming up soon! Check that out here!

Thats all for this week folks, hope the sun is shining wherever you are!

Dee x

Saturday 22 June 2013

*** REVIEW *** Text me, Tweet me, Need me by Susie Medwell


Text Me, Tweet Me, Need Me by Susie Medwell

Texting and tweeting can lead to trouble when the truth gets out…

Dating your boss is bad. Finding out he’s married with a baby on the way is a whole lot worse, but losing your job when you show him the door really sucks. And when he knows all your family secrets, there’s bound to be trouble. But the job Samantha’s got lined up can put her life back on track. One last date for research purposes before she can finish her article on online dating–then she’s a man-free zone, and it’s serious journalism all the way.

Ben has only one thing on his mind: to keep the promise he made to look after Sam. All he has to do is work out how he can support a girl who distrusts men, hates charity, and definitely doesn’t want rescuing. He thinks he’s come up with the perfect solution, until he realizes it’s his heart, not his money he needs to invest.

But can Sam see past the lies and learn to trust a man again? And more importantly…will Ben still want her when he learns about her past?

CONTENT WARNING: Contains hot texts, sexy showers, a girl who can pack a punch, and lasagne.

A Lyrical Press Contemporary Romance 


I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest reviw :D


I really enjoyed this book.A great short read, the first of Susie Medwell's I've read.

I liked Ben in this, but I always knew from the start he was hiding something. I don't know why,b ut I was reminded of Mr Grey while reading this (sorry Susie, no offence meant lol! I liked FSOG!!). And Sam was a great character too. The part with Andy was great (you'll know what I mean when you read it), and as always the sex scenes were great! Not a massive amount of sex in this one, not as much as the books I usually read, but it didn't take anything away from the story at all, infact it was nice to read a story with a little good sex, and some good background story. It does keep you wondering on certain topics, like Sams step-brother, which added intrigue.

I really did enjoy this book, and would be glad to read more of Ms Medwells work :D

Friday 21 June 2013

*** REVIEW *** The Ravaged Fairy by Anna Keraleigh

 The Ravaged Fairy by Anna Keraleigh

What would happen to a fairy without wings?
Thame is a warrior, a golden fairy who is loyal to the King and new Queen. They are on the verge of war with the Trolls. It’s an ongoing battle that he fought with success...until now. The enemy captures him, cuts off his wings and strands him on the remote Aran Islands. His escape is a miracle, but the night is still young.
Breena never expects to find a half-naked man with a mutilated back in her home. Now she finds herself in the middle of a war she didn’t even know existed on top of discovering she’s only part human.
Can Breena heal Thame's ravaged heart?

I received a copy of this book from the author in return for an honest review :D

This is book 2 in the Fairy series (my review for book one can be found here), and I really liked it!

This book is more about Thame, although King Carrick, Brook and the rest fo teh Fairies are in there too. This story carries on where book 1 finished, with Thame having his wings cut off by the trolls. Luckily, Breena, an obviously caring woman, finds him and take shim back to her house to nurse him to health (if only we all could find a sexy, half naked man lying in the road to nurse and take care of huh? ;p). there we find out who Breena is, we meet her Gran, and we find out mroe about Thame (and his uncontrollable cock!).

Fantastic story, and I would recommend you start on this series! :D

Thursday 20 June 2013

20 This or That Questions with... Elizabeth Morgan!

Hi all!

Elizabeth Morgan is here today, questions away!!!!!


Food
Sweet or savoury?
It all depends what I’m in the mood for. I love sweets. I’m actually sucking on a lolliepop as I write this. (No, I didn’t mean for that to be rude. I actually do have a lolliepop.) Naturally I love chocolate and icecream and other such goodies, but I’m really into nachos at the moment. Oh I love me some nachos!

Let’s just say both. :)

Salad or sandwich?
Sandwiches. They are more filling.

Macdonalds or Burger King?
MacDonalds. I love there cheese burgers. They just taste so nice.

I’ve never been a fan of Burger King. The burgers are okay, but they are really small compared to MacD’s and I really don’t like their chips.

White meat or red meat?
Red. I will always pick beef before any other meat on the menu.

Entertainment
Bon Jovi or Guns n Roses?
Hard to say because each artist has done some great songs, but I think I will have to go for Bon Jovi. He’s also very handsome. Oh he's definately very handsome!

Movie or book?
I love books, but I would have to say movies, because I tend to spend a lot of my free time watching films. I do love watching a good movie

Movies or TV shows?
Depends on the TV show. There isn’t a great deal on TV that I watch, but I love Dr Who, and True Blood. A lot of the shows I use to watch have ended so I have had to buy them on DVD.

So, let’s just say both.

Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings?
Hard question. I like the Harry Potter movies. I think the world building is fab, and in regards to children, who wouldn’t want to be a wizard/witch? But I couldn’t read all the books. I got bored.

Lord of the Rings blows my mind. The world building is amazing. The characters are fab. I actually read all the books and managed to get through them no problem.

So, definitely LOTR.

Damon or Stefan Salvatore?
Do I have to pick? In the first season – possibly even the second – Stefan was my fave, but Damon has really grown on me. I think what is fab about him is that he has always been himself. He isn’t the best guy. He does tend to look after himself, but at least he has never lied and pretended to be someone he isn’t. Not that that’s the case with Stefan, he’s just a little more complex and on a lot of levels and for many reasons.

So, Damon. And... he's hot!

True Blood or Vampire Diaries?
True Blood. Love the series, I think it is sexy, dark, funny and well, violent, but hey vampires, werewolves, shifters etc. this is paranormal and these creatures aren’t all soft around the edges.

I still think Vampire Diaries is a good show. It’s very different to True Blood, but I think it is nice to see the different views given on all of the above creatures. It shows how different authors view them and what they have been able to create with facts and imagination.

Friends or Sex and the City?
Friends. I haven’t really watched Sex and the City, although the episodes I have seen, well, it looks funny.

Star Wars or Star Trek?
Growing up my father always watched Star Trek, so I do like it, and I think the new movies are fab, but I’m going to have to say Star Wars. I remember going to see it when I was six/seven and it was re-released. I just loved it.

Random
Dominance or submission?
I would have to say both. I believe in equality, but I think it all depends on who your partner is and much you trust one another.

Kisses or hugs?
Kisses, but hugs are nice and sometimes needed more than a kiss. agree

Bath or shower?
Shower. I only take baths if I’ve had a really long and horrid day, or pulled a muscle.

Call or text?
Text. I don’t really call people unless I need too.

Date night: stay in or go out?
Either, because as a couple you’re capable of having fun no matter what you do or where you are. well said!

Singing or dancing?
Singing, I have never really been great at the whole dancing thing.

Vanilla or kink?
Both. It all depends on the mood, but with the right person it wouldn’t really matter what you got down too. ;-P

Cotton or satin?
Cotton for comfort. Satin for a hint of sexiness and confidence.

Anything you'd like to add, or anything new you'd like to tell us about while you're here?

Thank you Dee for having me over, it’s been fun. And thank you so much to all of you for stopping by and reading my ramblings. If you would like to read about what I write, what’s upcoming, and what I am currently working on please feel free to head on over to my website: www.e-morgan.com

You can also find me at:


Thanks for stopping by Elizabeth!