Archive for 2010
WE HAVE WINNERS!
June 4, 2010 | Contests
Every quarter my newsletter holds an easy Members Only contest. This last issue was for a free download of FRANCINE ON FIRE, book three in the Magnificent Men of Munich series.
Participants were to email me the nicknames of our three oldest grandkids. The names were conveniently located in the newsletter. The answer was Kid, Tiger and Little K.
And the winners were:
JODI
MAITHE
There was an impressive number of entries, and I appreciate it. 🙂 Thank you all for playing.
If you’d like to have a chance to win free downloads, simply join my newsletter located the Home Page on my website.
Here’s a sample of the book the two winners received;
FRANCINE ON FIRE
Sloane Taylor
Aspen Mountain Press
BLURB:
Francine Daniels doesn’t trust men. Not since two husbands and a con artist ruined her life. After years of struggle – during which she took back control and soared to new heights – there is no place in her plans for a German hottie…Even if she does burst into flames at his touch.
Heicke Brewer already made one disastrous trip down the aisle, and never plans to go that route again. He prefers the parade of international beauties lined up outside his bedroom door to enjoy his ‘satisfaction guaranteed’ reputation…Until he meets an American pixie too hot not to handle.
EXCERPT:
Francine slipped out the side door of the dining room when Heicke turned his back. Less than confident, she walked alone across the silent, black golf course. Her imagination played tricks as the tree branches swayed in the cool breeze, casting spidery images of boogie men in front of her. She looked up at the sky, praying the clouds would clear and all the moon to give off more light.
Dammit. Her shoe caught, yet again, in the wet grass. The damned expensive things were being ruined with every step she took. She wiggled her ankle, only to sink further into the mud. The only option left was to take off the shoe. Gathering her skirt so it wouldn’t get soaked, she bent over.
A twig snapped.
“Holy shitta.”
A hand clamped over her mouth. Jack the Ripper, Charles Manson, and every bloodcurdling creature Stephen King ever wrote about had joined together to attack her. She’d never been so scared, even when she had lived in her old car and been dumb enough to park it overnight at a drug house.
She jerked around, flailing her arms. Crack. Teetering as the heel broke off her sandal, she smacked into a solid wall of muscle.
“Shush Pixie. It is me, Heicke.” He wrapped his arms around her and she choked back a sob.
“Are you crazy?” Her heart pumped faster than a jet engine during take off. “You scared the living hell out of me.”
“It was not my intention.” He rubbed his hand rhythmically over her back, easing out her fear. She snuggled into him, grateful for his warmth. A spicy scent enveloped her as he pulled his coat around her shoulders. “You were very beautiful in the mirror and I became curious as to why you would leave without me.”
“I figured you’d get around to that eventually. After we were, ah, driving back from the shed, I forgot all about the charity donations.” Even to her the truth sounded stupid.
“And you thought it best to come out here alone?” She couldn’t see his face, but his suspicious tone said it all. “In the middle of the night?”
“What? You thought I came out here to lay some guy?”
Jerk.
He tapped a gentle finger on her lips. “No, perhaps I do not understand because of the idiosyncrasies of other languages. At least I hope that is my problem. Please explain about this laying of the golfers and why did not wait for me.”
“You have a problem, all right.” She tried to pull away, but he tightened his grip and her heart skipped a couple of beats. “And there’s no help needed, Pup. I’m perfectly capable of surviving on my own.”
“So I see, and may I add you are making a fine job of it.” Lucky for his, his tone seemed to hold humor. “I know you, Pixie, better than you realize. Logic tells me you are not out here to have sex with someone.”
“Thank you for noticing.”
Have a great weekend. I’ll be back next week. Until then…
Happy Writing!
Sloane Taylor
Sweet as Honey…Hotter than Hell
Comments are off
A REMINDER
June 3, 2010 | Uncategorized
This Sunday is the The Northern Illinois NMF Chapter’s 17th Annual Marfan Syndrome Walk-a-thon.
The event starts at 11:00am to register and the walk begins at 11:30am.
Come on out to TY WARNER PARK in Westmont IL and join the fun.
This is a Memorial Walk in memory of those who have passed. Their names will be posted.
All funds raised will be donated to Pediatric Awareness and Education and Support.
Paramount Tall Club of Chicago will host the outing and Marfan raffle. The picnic will be paid for by the Northern Illinois Chapter.
Please let us know if you are able to attend so we order enough food and drink for everyone. R.S.V.P us at our voice mail number 630-415-0044 or e-mail us at: bklein01@sbcglobal.net
T-shirts for all who participate with a minimum donation of $25.00 or more. There will be door prizes and a raffle after registration.
If you are unable to attend, but would still like to make a donation for this important cause, simply print the form below, fill it in, and mail with your check to:
Bruce Klein
President Northern Illinois Marfan Chapter
1328 Court O
Hanover Park, IL 60133-5511
Pledge Sheet
Name_________________________________
Address_______________________________City,State_____
$Amount_____________
Fed. Tax I.D. 501c #52-1265361
We thank you for your support.
Bruce
Please consider any size contribution. This is truly a good cause. There are no salaried CEOs or staff dipping their fingers into the funds. ALL the money is used for Pediatric Awareness and Education and Support.
I’ll be back tomorrow. Until then…
Happy Writing!
Sloane Taylor
Sweet as Honey…Hotter than Hell
Comments are off
HAVE A HEART
May 27, 2010 | Family
You are invited to
The Northern Illinois NMF Chapter’s 17th Annual Marfan Syndrome Walk-a-thon.
Join us for our Have a Heart Walk-a-thon, Bike or Rollarblade event.
DAY: Sunday June 6th, 2010
TIME: 11:00am Registration Walk begins at 11:30am till ???
LOCATION: TY WARNER PARK in Westmont IL
(see mapsonus.com for directions)
This is a Memorial Walk in memory of those who have passed. Their names will be posted. If you wish to add a name please call or email us.
Please mark your calendars for this great event!!!
All funds raised will be donated to Pediatric Awareness and Education and Support.
Paramount Tall Club of Chicago will host the outing and Marfan raffle. The picnic will be paid for by the Northern Illinois Chapter.
Please let us know if you are able to attend so we order enough food and drink for everyone. R.S.V.P us at our voice mail number 630-415-0044 or e-mail us at: bklein01@sbcglobal.net
T-shirts for all who participate with a minimum donation of $25.00 or more. There will be door prizes and a raffle after registration.
If you are unable to attend, but would still like to make a donation for this important cause, simply print the form below, fill it in, and mail with your check to:
Bruce Klein
President Northern Illinois Marfan Chapter
1328 Court O
Hanover Park, IL 60133-5511
Pledge Sheet
Name_________________________________
Address_______________________________City,State_____
$Amount_____________
Fed. Tax I.D. 501c #52-1265361
We thank you for your support.
Bruce
Please consider any size contribution. This is truly a good cause. There are no salaried CEOs or staff dipping their fingers into the funds. ALL the money is used for Pediatric Awareness and Education and Support.
I’ll be back next week. Until then…
Happy Writing!
Sloane Taylor
Sweet as Honey…Hotter than Hell
Comments are off
It’s Here! It’s HOT!
May 24, 2010 | New Releases
Announcing…my new release FRENCH TWIST. Don’t you love the cover? Tuesday Dube did a great job of capturing the story’s essence.
FRENCH TWIST
Sloane Taylor
ISBN 978-1-60168-293-2
Aspen Mountain Press
WARNING: EROTICA WITH SPANKING
Here’s an excerpt to entice you. 🙂
BLURB:
Interpol agent Claudette D’Laquois is on the run. Dull Uncle Paul and his rundown chateau in Nice, France are her only safe haven…but she never planned on the delectable estate manager who is even more dangerous than the Russian mob boss who wants her dead.
Three weeks of overseeing operations at his friend’s orchard seems like the ideal vacation to CPA Don Hobbs. And so it was—until a French sex goddess pulls him into a world of drugs, intrigue, and erotic fantasy.
EXCERPT:
The throbbing burst into her head again. She rubbed her temples. “S’il vous plait, do not make this more difficult.”
“Hey, I get it. You’re this tough woman who can handle herself in any kind of danger. But, you need to look at it from my point of view.” He stepped behind her and massaged her shoulders, edging up to her neck.
Instant relief.
She sighed with each knead that worked free the stress knots.
“Let’s just say this Cesar doesn’t come alone. You ever figure he’s not a good guy?” Sarcasm streamed with each word.
“I know him.” She shrugged off his hands and turned, her fists balled tight. “You do not.”
“I’m not stupid and I do know a bunch of bullshit when I hear it.” His words bounced off the walls. “You think this fucker is your long-lost savior. Not hardly likely, chickee, if he bailed on a high profile government job and left you to the wolves.” He squinted at her, a vein pulsed along his forehead. “Was your commander right? Did you and James Fuckingbond have a couple of rolls in the sack and now you think he’s gonna be the righteous man of the hour? Is that all it takes with you? A fast fuck and a couple of swats on the ass to make you bend over and suck mud?”
“You dare to speak to me this way?” Red flashed before her eyes. “One afternoon of sex and you think you own me? Know what my life is like? How it should be orchestrated? You assume the right to be my master?” Meeting him decibel for decibel, she yelled, “You are an idiot!”
She swung out her hand, ready to slap his face. Hard.
With an expression cold and fierce, he leaned into her.
“Don’t do it. Don’t do one fucking thing you don’t want done back to you.” He stood his ground, fists planted on his hips. “I’m a nice guy. A fucking gentleman until someone, and I don’t care if she is a broad, muscles me. You got that? Loud and clear? Has it sunk you’re your brain? I will not—”
Wap.
A low growl came from deep in his chest. In slow motion, he rubbed his cheek along her red imprint, eyes narrowed to slits. “That’s it, baby, party’s over.”
He grabbed her wrist and spun her around, flopped onto the bed, and yanked her over his knee.
Rip.
Her cotton skirt shredded like tissue as he yanked it up over her ass, exposing her boy shorts.
“I told you before you needed a good spanking and the time’s come.” The satin panties were ripped away.
Whack.
His hand cracked down on her firm rear. The sting raced across her flesh, charging heat to her clit.
“Ow!” She struggled to get free, flailing her legs and arms, but his free hand pressed across her back, holding her in place. “You will pay for this, you le fils d’une chienne.”
“Oh, I’m sure I will, but not as much as you. And I’m not a son of a bitch. My mother is a nice woman.”
Whack.
“Nice girls don’t talk like that either.”
Whack. Whack.
“Donald, stop before it is—”
Whack.
“Too late? Too bad. Already is and I don’t give a shit.”
Whack. Whack.
His rigid penis pressed into her abdomen and dampness pooled in her panties. Pressure built between her thighs, increasing with each smack. She arched into him, loving it. Wanting this from the day they met.
Dieu, at this moment, he was her master. She wanted to be his equal, but not right now. Now, she wanted him to take control, had to know his brute force, needed him.
His hand slowed, then rested on her tingling flesh. He traced her butt cheek, edging closer to her perineum. She opened her thighs, praying he would slip between them.
He glided a finger along the crease, then dipped lower and stroked her swollen nether lips. Up and down, down and up, and she loved every stroke.
Cream seeped from her and her body begged for release. She no longer held back the moans.
“Had enough?” His words came out thick.
I’ll be back later this week. Until then…
Happy Writing!
Sloane Taylor
Sweet as Honey…Hotter than Hell
DEAD DONE RIGHT
May 20, 2010 | Friends
Lizzie T. Leaf has a comedic talent that carries over into all her work, even death. Unsure? Well, read on my friends for Lizzie’s unique approach to DEAD.
DEAD DONE RIGHT
Lizzie T. Leaf
ISBN: 978-1601682383
Aspen Mountain Press
DEAD DONE RIGHT is the print version of the first two vampire novellas in the DEAD series.
WAKING UP DEAD:
Things change for Deb Stein when she wakes up smelling pine. Thanks to a weird stranger lurking outside the mortuary, the knowledge she is now one of the waking dead doesn’t do much for her mood. Now she’s out for blood, especially the blood of the one who turned her.
DEAD FAINT:
Billie Joyce’s dream trip to the big city ends in her facing death at the hands of a couple of thugs. The face that appeared as she begged not to die wasn’t an angel, but one of the living dead. Now she’s on their team, but there’s a problem—she faints at the sight of her new food source—blood.
These stories may be purchased as individual E-books.
WAKING UP DEAD BUY LINK
DEAD FAINT BUY LINK
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
DEAD HUNTER
Lizzie T. Leaf
ISBN: 978-1-60168-257-4
Aspen Mountain Press
BLURB:
Arie Anne Hews is a trained vampire hunter out for the kill. A chance meeting with the hated beings has Arie in turmoil. Especially, when handsome Dr. Jonas Nickels is on the scene.
Jonas Nickels has no desire to be involved with a mortal, but can’t resist the dark-eyed beauty. Even if he is on her hit list.
Family secrets tinged with evil make an impossible path for star-crossed lovers.
Family secrets tinged with evil make an impossible path for star-crossed lovers.
EXCERPT:
Vampire hunter, ArieAnne has possibly met the man of her dreams, but he triggers her alarm which she chooses to ignore. Is it because of the other emotions he triggers?
Blinded by the driving rain, Arie rounded the corner and slammed into a wall—a wall with arms that reached out to catch her before her ass hit the ground. Steadied against the hard body, she knew she’d scored. The hardness that dug into her stomach shouted volumes about his reaction to their close proximity.
Hot and horny, my two favorite things in a man. Especially when the man is Jonas Nickels.
Jonas transferred his hold on her body to her arm and pushed her toward the door.
“Let’s get inside before we drown.”
She’d be willing to drown if he kept holding her that way, but didn’t resist as he hustled them into the restaurant.
Settled in their seats with their raincoats dripping from two empty chairs, Jonas leaned forward and gave her a look that drove chills and heat throughout her body. “I wish you would have let me pick you up tonight. We could have gone someplace closer to your home and we both would be a little less wet.” He covered her hand with his and smiled.
Arie shifted uncomfortably. The last thing she needed was for a man to ring the doorbell and have Pop answer it. Her father was her best friend but, like all fathers, he seemed to labor under the impression his little girl was an innocent babe-in-the-cradle.
Dating was a subject they’d briefly discussed when Arie was sixteen and it was obvious her father discouraged it.
“You can date when you’re thirty,” he’d joked.
Okay, she was thirty-plus now and still not sure how her old man would react to a member of the opposite sex picking her up for a date, especially when he saw how she was dressed. Her uniform of t-shirt, jacket, loose pants—all in black—with the only contrast her red high-tops, had been replaced by a pushup bra, a scoop-necked mini-sheath and a pair of come-fuck-me stilettos.
And she knew damn well her barely disguised lust for the man she sat across from right this moment, wouldn’t go over with the uptight minister side of her father.
That brought her around to the lust. Why did she feel it so strongly for Doctor Jonas, given her few ventures down that path had been disappointing? The hardness of his male anatomy when they’d collided earlier had excited her. Arie wanted tonight to end with more than a chaste kiss on the cheek like last night. Was she setting herself up for yet another disappointment?
What was wrong with her? She liked men but in bed she hadn’t met one who could ring her chimes.
A squeeze of her fingers pulled her from musing about her lack of sexual excitement. It was time to focus on tonight’s potential. Jonas wasn’t a vampire whose ass she could kick and move on. But then again, there were those chills across the back of her neck. Why did she get such conflicting readings? Did heightened sexual energy play havoc with her system? She’d never experienced this kind of tension before and it was all new to her. A smile played across her mouth at the thought of the possibilities in store for her.
Here are Lizzie’s links to read more on her DEAD series and her other superb books:
WEBSITE
Thanks to Lizzie for sharing her work with us. My VISA will get a good airing today. 🙂 I’ll be back next week. Until then…
Happy Writing!
Sloane Taylor
Sweet as Honey…Hotter than Hell
Cougars and Witches – WOW!
May 19, 2010 | Friends
Today we have award winning author, Lizzie T. Leaf as our guest.
Lizzie started life in Kansas, continued her growing in North Carolina, and currently shivers through the winters in Colorado. She has numerous e-books in varying lengths with several publisher, and her first print book, Struck by Lightning, won dual 2007 Beacon awards, in addition to being a finalist in two other contests. Her novella, Dead Faint was a 2008 Finalist for Best Vampire at Love Romances Cafe.
Since discovering the fun of writing paranormal, she plays with creating vampires, faeries and other immortals. Currently, she is working on a full length paranormal novel set in Scotland that brings in Celtic folklore and a couple of ‘godly’ realms. Mix them together and there will be laughs for sure.
When not creating mischief for paranormal beings, or writing another Cougar story, Lizzie loves to read, spend time with her family and travel, as much as time and budget will allow, with her best friend husband.
We have two books to tease you. Butterfly Kisses is a contemporary Cougar Club release and Dogspell unleashes Lizzie’s humor. Enjoy!
BUTTERFLY KISSES
Lizzie T. Leaf
ISBN:978-1-60168-289-5
Aspen Mountain Press
BLURB:
Tony Roberts is a Wyoming cowboy who’s also the head of a successful New York law firm. And he has a secret: he’s had a crush on his favorite artist for years. When he finally meets Susan, his fantasy becomes reality. Problem is, she’s also the mother of of his employee Scott Clarke–who’s also a good friend.
Susan Mayrah Clarke’s life has been fine without a man, so she’s unprepared for the sudden attraction to Tony when her son brings him home for Thanksgiving. Why did Scott have to bring home a cowboy that makes her wish she were twenty years younger? Unsure of what to do, Susan turns to the ladies of the Cougar Club group for advice.
Susan and Tony can’t resist the physical force that brings them together. Will the difference in their ages ruin their chance at love?
EXCERPT:
Why did his touch when he reached out to keep her from falling send shockwaves down her spine? Pulling her arm free, Susan struggled to banish the heat between her thighs.
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” Once again, a flush surged upward, accentuating his high cheekbones and drawing her attention to his dark gray eyes. The thoughts that danced in her head were not ones the mother of his employee should entertain.
She fought to tamp down the heat that rushed through her body and focus on the mess.
The man may be a wiz in the courtroom, but in the kitchen he is a walking disaster. And tongue-tied.
Where was all the suave glibness Scott raved about when he described his boss? This man reminded her of a teenager in an awkward social moment.
“Why don’t you sit over at the bar with Scott and eat while I take care of this.” The further away from her he was, the safer she felt. There was something about this man that tugged at an emotion she didn’t want to remember right now—lust. She couldn’t deny the thrill that surged through her. His hands on her arms when he’d helped her to stand after they collided left a tingle on her skin that still lingered. She was too old, and too wise, to take a run at her son’s friend, let alone his boss.
It had been a long time since she’d been intimate with anyone, but to have a strange man, a younger one at that, awaken her sex drive was not going to happen. Hell, she’d be one of those Cougars that her sister Renee had gone on about when they talked earlier. Maybe if this was an example of what was in the pond to troll for, she needed to reconsider her sister’s idea.
What the hell am I thinking? Renee is two years younger than me and has always been wilder. I’m not ready to become a card-toting Cougar. At least not yet.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
DOGSPELL
Lizzie T. Leaf
ISBN: 978-1-60435-389-1
Red Rose Publishing
BLURB:
Has Randall McAllister gone to the dogs?
Once again, his witchy teenage sisters screwed up a spell at his expense, leaving him a black Scottie. Doing what comes naturally to dogs, he collides with the car of the town veterinarian. Living with the compassionate Amanda Livingston, he discovers the love of his dreams.
Will he spend his life as a lap dog to the woman he knows is his soul mate, or will he be able to break the dog spell?
EXCERPT:
Rand opened his eyes and groaned. His attempt to move sent pain ripping through his body and someone was using his head as a drum. Not even the dim lights and the soothing croon of Barry Manilow in the background made him feel any better, but at least someone had good taste in music.
Damn, I feel like I’ve been hit by a truck.
The closing of a drawer drew his attention toward an open door into what appeared to be the bathroom. A woman came into view and stopped. The light behind her made the t-shirt she wore transparent and did nothing to hide the curves beneath it.
“You’re awake.” She advanced toward him, and from the light of the bedside lamp he could see the deep rich honey color of the long braid hanging over her shoulder. “Do you need to go outside, or are you not up to that yet?”
Why the hell did she talk to him like a child? Oh yeah. That’s right. You’re a dog.
Memories of the earlier part of his evening came rushing back. Chasing the yellow tom had been exhausting, but the vehicle slamming into him had been worse. Yeah, guess he had been hit by a truck, or at the very least an SUV.
His sisters were dead when he got his hands on them.
Along with the events from earlier, a fuzzy recollection of talking to a grey and white cat while he was stretched out on a stainless steel table, tickled around the edges of his memory. What was it the creature had said? Right. This must be the vet the cat raved about. The feline beast seems to think this woman is a goddess. I can vouch for the fact she sure looks like one.
To learn more about Lizzie and her lively books check out her Website. You can also visit Lizzie on Myspace and Facebook. And if you Twitter, click here.
We’ll be back tomorrow with Lizzie and her fondness for dead. 🙂 Until then…
Happy Writing!
Sloane Taylor
Sweet as Honey…Hotter than Hell
The Secret Side of MC Halliday
May 18, 2010 | Cooking
Few people know our British born guest author, MC Halliday, is a marvelous cook. Below are two of her easy selections that Studs’ loves and you will, too.
LUSCIOUS LEMON HERB CHICKEN
Ingredients
1 x 2kg/4½lb free-range chicken whole*
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 large lemon, quartered
1 whole bulb of garlic, broken into cloves (don’t remove skins)
handful of fresh thyme, leaves stripped from stems
good quality olive oil
handful of fresh rosemary sprigs, leaves plucked
*Sloane note: I used a whole fryer and the recipe was excellent
Method
Rub the chicken inside and out with a generous amount of salt and freshly ground black pepper, then cover the chicken and leave in the fridge until you’re ready to start cooking it. (Pre-seasoning and holding for a few hours will increase tastiness when cooked.)
Preheat oven to 375ºF.
Remove chicken from the fridge, pat it down with paper towel and rub the skin generously with olive oil. Place the garlic cloves, the quartered lemon, rosemary and thyme in the cavity. Bake on a rack in a pan in the preheated oven for around 90 minutes, no need to baste. The chicken is cooked when the thigh easily pulls away and juices run clear.
Remove the lemon and garlic from the cavity; squeeze the soft garlic from the skins and smear all over the chicken. Discard the lemon.
Serve with favourite veggies and roast or mashed potatoes. Hint: some of the garlic pulp can be added to the potato mash for extra good flavour.
HEAVENLY SOLE
Ingredients
2 pounds fresh or frozen skinless sole or other fish fillets.*
2 T. fresh lemon or lime juice
½ c. grated Parmesan cheese
¼ c. butter softened
3 T. mayonnaise
¼ teas. sea salt
*Sloane note: I used Tilapia and it was GREAT
Method
Pat fillets dry then place in a single layer on a cookie sheet sprayed with Pam. Brush with lemon or lime juice then let stand 10 minutes.
Broil 4 inches under heat source about 6 minutes or until fish flakes.
Meanwhile, combine remaining ingredients in a small bowl.
When the fish is ready, remove from the oven and spread mixture evenly over each piece. Broil 2 to 3 minutes or until lightly browned.
The fish will come apart easily so we found it best to arrange the pieces on individual dinner plates to serve.
To learn more about MC HALLIDAY, check out her website. You can also catch up with MC on Facebook and Goodreads. For the YouTube lovers, click here.
I’ll be back tomorrow with enchanting author Lizzie T. Leaf. Until then…
Happy Writing!
Sloane Taylor
Sweet as Honey…Hotter than Hell
When Passion and Life Collide
May 17, 2010 | Friends
Today we have author MC Halliday who writes from the heart and will stir yours. Passion and depth are her creed. Well, see for yourself what MC has to say:
I admit!
I often write myself into my books. Beyond the extensive research and plotting, I seem to write my most troubling experiences into my noir mysteries and works of fantasy. One of my issues that show up in these books is the loss of my mother at a young age, my ongoing dreams she lives still or the suffering that ensued without her protection.
In, THE KING’S DAUGHTER, the heroine discovers her mother is alive:
“Solely, I be here to keep you safe.” The woman’s voice was soft, imploring.
Touched by the gentle tenderness, Magaith said, “Bear out the truth in what you say that I might have faith and depend on you.”
“I am your mother, known as Imagael. And you, my daughter to Bascogne.”
Magaith took pause, could this be? She found her voice. “The king, my father, spoke of my mother, long ago gone to the other-world.”
“I speak full truth, I am mother to you.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
THE KING’S DAUGHTER
MC Halliday
ISBN: 1-59998-033-9
Samhain Publishing
In a medieval Eire where the Druid legacy survives, the bartered daughter of a clan king struggles in a web of dark spells to save herself ~ and her beloved knight ~ while under the watchful eye of a lough wizard.
Due to a lack of guidance but in spite of poor treatment growing up, I remained a terribly gullible, trusting girl even when the actions of others proved otherwise; exactly as the heroine is depicted in my novel of Victorian historical erotica. I could not have written this novel without the insight and courage to weave my own internal struggles through the fictional memoirs, I Came Up Stairs: A Victorian Courtesan’s Memoirs, 1867 to 1871:
“It was this period of weakness and self-doubt that I believe set the stage for what occurred in the coming weeks and months. It was my need for assurance and comfort that caused me to crave love so desperately.”
“The greatest challenge of my life has been to see and accept the actual truth without great pain and struggle against it.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I CAME UP STAIRS: A Victorian Courtesan’s Memoirs, 1867 to 1871
MC Halliday
ISBN 9781770650459
Eternal Press
An epic tale of love and lovers, war and heartbreak woven into the erotic memoirs of a courtesan unashamed of her amorous adventures.
Led from filth and poverty by a gentleman in the hopes of gaining coin for his purse, Mae is shaped into a lady and tutored in the arts of pleasure. With raw sensuality, she creates a seductive dance that entices the peerage in puritanical England, and she quickly becomes favored courtesan to Prince of Wales. Her renown and riches ever rising, she continues to romp with gamely men and women of both the nobility and the lower classes. Eventually, Mae’s bohemian ways cause suffering for those she loves and her own heartbreak. Must she conform to Victorian mores, or can she remain true to her sensual desires?
These intimate memoirs reveal a young woman’s journey from the slums of Whitechapel to celebrated dancer of the Victorian music hall, and courtesan to the highest peers of the British realm. From the years 1867 to 1871, Mae recounts her varied lovers and false loves, and her heartbreaking losses in a quest for happiness.
As much as I write a variety of genres, I believe my books would be less without the depth of my experiences reflected in the character’s challenges and the difficult path to hard won wisdom. My dedication in, The King’s Daughter:
“Everytime there is a struggle, it is a preparation for what is to come.”
Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes from the documentary, The Last Days of Left Eye
“At any place on the road of life we try to do the best we can with the knowledge we have at the time. Our journey is often fraught with rutted cobbles and wide streams but I believe each fall or flounder we might make along the way is a chance to learn, to do better.” MC Halliday
My dedication in, I Came Up Stairs, is one simple sentence:
To my mother, Maureen Grace, long gone and yet, ever the wind at my back.
If you are further intrigued, please visit my website for books currently available and links to long excerpts. I also have trailers on YouTube that might be of interest and regular posts on both Goodreads and Facebook.
We’ll be back tomorrow with another side of MC Halliday you won’t want to miss.:) Until then…
Happy Writing!
Sloane Taylor
Sweet as Honey…Hotter than Hell
Nice Girl Naughty
May 14, 2010 | Friends
is the latest release from Jan Springer, the Queen of Hot and one of her best. Be sure to have plenty of ice water on hand. NICE GIRL NAUGHTY is hot, Hot, HOT!!
Here’s a PG little teaser to set the stage:
NICE GIRL NAUGHTY
Jan Springer
ISBN: 9781419927423
Ellora’s Cave
BLURB:
Someone is murdering red-haired female artists and Summer Colby is smack in the killer’s cross-hairs. Blind since nineteen, Summer is a famous erotic wood carver. When she barely escapes an attempt on her life, family friend and professional bodyguard Nick Cassidy vows to keep her safe.
Hiding together in a secluded wilderness cabin, she’s captivated by Nick’s thick, powerful muscles, firm abs and those hard, yummy male body parts. It doesn’t take long before he’s making love to her up against the bedroom wall and she’s going down on him on her wood carving table.
Nick Cassidy has been working overseas. He hasn’t seen Summer for ten years, since shortly after the accident that left her blind and she told him she didn’t love him. Their sexual attraction is stronger than ever and he discovers she’s still the same passionate woman sizzling with untapped sexual energy he left behind. Sweeping his gorgeous redhead into the erotic filled sex fest they’ve waited for years to experience, Nick realizes their hideout isn’t safe – until it’s too late.
EXCERPT (unedited)
“Hello? Is anyone there?” Summer called out as she heard the nearby alcove door of her California Carmel-by-the-Sea art gallery creak open. She turned to face the soft sound of the footsteps padding into the room where she’d been setting up her newest exhibit of erotic woodcarving.
“Hello? We don’t open until Monday morning,” she called to the intruder. Her assistant, Mary, had left only a few minutes ago to grab them a late night snack so they could finish up tonight and take tomorrow off to do some shopping for more supplies for her next batch of art.
Whoever had entered, it wasn’t Mary because the elderly lady walked briskly, like she meant business. Whoever was there, didn’t respond, but she could hear someone breathing somewhere to her left. Could actually feel her skin crawl as someone watched her. Uneasiness lashed her and she suddenly wished for her assistant to be back here.
Gosh, she hadn’t realized how dependent she was on Mary. Ever since the elderly woman had come into Summer’s life several months earlier, she’d been her eyes, describing the quaint European story book cottages lining the town streets they shopped at or explaining how the blue-green ocean interacted with the rocky coastline when Mary drove Summer to and from her art gallery.
“Hello?” she called out again, getting really nervous at the person’s rudeness for not answering her.
Ever since the accident ten years ago that claimed her vision, she’d learned not to jump at every little sound. Freaking out would only riddle her with unwanted anxiety. She focused on using her other senses. Her ears could pick up sounds a normal seeing person couldn’t hear and her nostrils were definitely picking up the sharp scent of aftershave.
Okay. So it was a man and he possessed a dark dangerous scent she’d never smelled before. Despite not wanting to be, she suddenly felt frightened.
“Are you lost? My assistant can help you.” Despite her fear she managed to keep her voice surprisingly calm. Reaching for the pager she kept strapped in a waist holster, she found herself fumbling with the tight clasp. As it snapped open and her hand touched the plastic pager the man’s harsh voice stopped her cold.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you, Ms. Colby.”
She froze. Whether it was, because of the heavy way he was breathing or because of his thick, sharp, commanding voice, instincts told her this guy meant her harm. Fear zipped up a few notches and for a brief instant she couldn’t think of what to do, let alone which way to move.
“I’ve wanted you for too long, Summer,” the man whispered hoarsely. His breathing was getting heavier, quicker. She sensed him drawing closer. Moving very slowly. Like the cat getting ready to pounce on the blind mole.
Oh frig. He definitely meant to hurt her.
To learn more about Jan go to her website and be sure to sign up for her newsletter for contests. You’ll also enjoy Jan’s blog. And since a lady can never have to many friends, check her out at Facebook.
I’ll be back next week. Until then…
Happy Writing!
Sloane Taylor
Sweet as Honey…Hotter than Hell
Party On
May 12, 2010 | Promotion
Join me today, and several of my good friends, for a fun time at LOVE ROMANCES CAFE from 11:00am – 2:00pm EST. I’ll have an easy contest for you to win free downloads along with offering great recipes and lively conversation.
Hope to see you there!
Sloane Taylor
Sweet as Honey…Hotter than Hell
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