Balancing the muse

I have two very strong-willed muses inside my head. While some may think that's a blessing, and yes I agree, but other times it can be damn confusing too. See, I write in two totally different genres: Erotic and YA. You can't find farther ends of the spectrum so yeah... it can be difficult when both my muses are speaking up at once!

I don't want to silence the chatty women of course because hey, I need them, but it's pretty hard to balance the two sometimes. It's kind of like the angel on one shoulder and the devil on the other. They both REALLY want their stories told today and one doesn't mind jumping in when I'm working on the other. But with them, they come together and it's not good ;).

I guess it wouldn't have if I became a little more organized. Gave each girl her allotted time and didn't cave when she begs too hard, but how do I know if I ignore her, she won't go away? LOL. So, lately my days have been spent jumping back and forth between parent issues and work place flings. But you know what, I wouldn't change it! I'm doing what I love in all forms and consider myself damn lucky!

Aging Gracefully? Or is it time for a TUNE UP?

Every now and then I'll watch a recent movie or television show and catch actresses that I remember as being some of my favorites over the past twenty years. Some of them have aged gracefully and I'll smile, thinking...wow, she looks pretty darn good these days. She's still as pretty as ever! And then there are other times, other celebrities, who just scare the hell out of me. I'm left shaking my head and wondering why they would inject so much poison (Botox) into their faces that they seem to be wearing a plastic mask.

Back about ten years ago, I thought I'd never voluntarily go 'under the knife' in the pursuit of perpetual youth. I had these grandious notions of aging gracefully but let me tell you, these days I'm seriously tempted. Now, I'm not talking about Botox overload. I can go to a Halloween Costume store and purchase that look much cheaper. Lately though I've been noticing a deep line here and there and I have to cop to having enough vanity that the thought of making those little buggers disappear has it's appeal. Would I do it? Naw, probably not. I'll never say never because if I begin looking like some kind of hideously, scary crone, I might just have to cave for fear of the day I'll terrify any potential grandchildren. NOT how I want the little imps to remember Grandma.

Breast reduction? I would consider that. Carrying around way too much boobage hurts the back and I understand this can be covered by insurance. Hmm...eeeeenteresting. Might have to do some research on that. Adding boobage? I don't see a problem with that either if a woman is uncomfortable with her size or shape. We all want to look better in our clothes and for ourselves. In the end, it's all about self esteem, isn't it?

Since we're discussing the quest for perfection here, thought I'd leave you with some hottie pics. Now THESE guys don't need a bit of touching up, do they?

Oh JOE!!!! Or should I say ALCIDE. So glad we get to look at your handsome 'wolfie goodness' in Season Four of True Blood.

Hmm. Wonder what this guy is thinking about? Naughty things, I bet!

Do you guys see the dimple? I love that.

Nothing is better than a guy with soulful eyes.

Since I posted all these beautiful faces...thought we might need a eeeeensy bit MORE! Yum.

What Would A Man Do?

Think Alpha. Now tell me which sentence works for this Alpha scenario. Two men are arguing. Things heat up.

The man took a swing at him, and Brody shrank from his touch.
The man took a swing at him, and Brody dodged the blow.

When I’m not writing, I’m editing. Well…actually…I do a heck of a lot more editing than I do writing. I have two loves in this wild and crazy world of publishing. I guess as long as it’s about words and how to string them together in order to create a story of love and romance (and sexy stuff, lol), I’m just plain hooked!

I’m senior editor with Passion In Print Press, the mainstream erotic romance imprint of MLR Press owned by author-publisher, Laura Baumbach. I love every second of my job. But there are times in which I have to step back and think. I’m sure all of you keep hearing that editing is subjective. Well, it is. One editor’s opinion may very well differ from another’s. And there are times when an editor simply has
to take a chance too. It’s those moments that give me sleepless nights.

One thing I’m hearing a lot about these days is male POV. It used to be that romance books were written all in female POV. Not so anymore. Giving both sides of the love story has become a mainstay of the genre. But! Let’s face it. The vast majority of romance writers are women. And women don’t always get male POV right. And that’s what I want to talk about today.

Which sentence did you choose above? If you chose sentence number two, you’d be correct. Let’s examine why. First of all, I said “think Alpha”. So we’re talking about a big old strong-willed-chest-beating dude. Lol Well, not really—although he can be, of course. But you know what an Alpha is. And an Alpha would never “shrink” from anything or anyone, would he?

“…and Brody shrank from his touch.” Key words to look at are “shrank” and “touch”. In this instance, a fight scene, those words are a bit too soft to use in connection with an Alpha. The word “dodged” rather than “shrank” fits with an Alpha—and you just know he dodged the blow just to deliver one to the bad guy, don’t ya? Now let’s take it a step further. Look at the words “shrink” and “touch”. Whether you are writing in male POV or female POV in this particular case truly does not matter. Immediately, you’re probably thinking that in female POV that a woman may very well think of her Alpha as “shrinking from his touch.” After all, she’s a woman and would think like a woman, wouldn’t she? Yes, to a degree. But even in her POV if she says the word “shrink”, she is basically painting her man yellow. Yep, she is. And if she uses the word “touch” it softens the sentence. So in this case—her POV and a fight scene—the author should use stronger words or it affects the way a reader sees the hero.

You might be thinking about Beta heroes at this point too. Okay, let’s take a look at Betas. Betas are supposedly the imperfect heroes with Alphas being the perfect heroes. Well…maybe not. But more about that in a bit. When dealing with narrative or dialogue for a Beta, you have to make some changes. The Beta’s personality traits are different—they might not be physically the same as an Alpha either.

So, which one of those sentences fits a Beta? Before you decide, think about the circumstances of this fight scene. And think about this too: Just because you are writing a Beta hero, it doesn’t mean he isn’t strong and capable of defending himself or his woman. And this is where it gets tricky. Is the heroine watching this fight scene? Does he have a good reason to back down? Which is exactly what “shrinking” would mean. These questions are why I lose sleep over edits sometimes. It’s where all that subjectivity comes into play.

So I weigh everything and make myself crazy. Here’s what I’d do as an editor: If the fight scene is from the male beta’s POV and the heroine is nowhere around, I’d probably think it was okay to use “shrank from his touch.” I mean, hell, Betas are smart. Who wants to fight? I’d honestly prefer NOT to use “shrank from his touch” but I do have authors who would want to use that phrasing and insist that their hero is NO hero--or that they don't want their hero acting "all Alpha". And in essence, he really is a hero--Beta or Alpha. If he has a good reason for backing down, it does make sense. Backing down in front of the heroine also makes sense if he has a good reason to as well. She may not know that reason too. Which could make for some nice layering of relationship angst within the story. But think again. Would a Beta allow his ass to get kicked while his woman is watching? And he most certainly WOULD NOT “shrink from his touch” if he was defending his woman, now would he? I don’t care if he DOES cry when he has an orgasm, he’s not going to let his woman get hurt! Betas are heroes who rise to the occasion. Against all odds, they save the day with their quiet, unassuming, non-Alpha ways. So be careful. Dig deep. Think about the scenario you’ve painted and think about the psychological and physical characteristics you’ve given your Beta.

Are you sufficiently confused yet? No? Okay then let me try again. LOL

Gammas. WTF is a Gamma? That’s the new hero. Alphas are supposedly perfect—pushy, take charge, stubborn, physical. Betas are supposedly imperfect—sensitive, kind, caring, never pushy or stubborn. Gammas are supposedly a combination of the two. Apparently they can beat their chest while cooking a gourmet meal. And in erotic romance, I guess that translates into giving you a foot massage while spanking your butt!

So which of those two sentences is right for a Gamma? Hell if I know. LOL C’mon…I’m an editor—not the all-knowing, all-seeing high priestess of romance. LOL Again, dig deep. Check your scenario. Check the personality you’ve given your hero. Make sure that you’re not letting him say or do something that he would never say or do. That’s what I’ll do when I’m reading your story. AND lose lots of sleep…zzzzzzzzz.

And about that perfect Alpha and imperfect Beta? Looks to me like Alpha just got knocked off his pedestal. I mean a foot massage and a spanking? A gourmet meal and he can beat his chest? What could be more perfect? Heck…perfection is in the eye of the one who loves ya! Just make sure the hero you paint is consistent in his actions and reactions.

So what got me on my POV soapbox today? I read an article about two or three weeks ago in which I agreed with the author on some points but disagreed with her on others, and I’ve been thinking about it ever since. I also have an author friend who was recently “called out” by a reviewer on some of her “dialogue”. The reviewer thinking it didn’t fit. Hmmmm… I didn’t agree with the reviewer.

About that article. In the post, the author pointed out that males, IN POV, would NEVER go on and on about hair color or the way a woman dresses. And to some degree she’s right. Would a man really look at a woman’s eyes and think of them as “azure blue”? Or would he think of them as “two perfect sapphires”? Her hair as “sun-kissed brown”? Would a man, IN POV, think of a woman’s dress as being “silver lame with a bateau neckline”? Would he actually say the words “Belgian lace”? No, I don’t think he would. So I agree with the writer—somewhat.

But there is something she didn’t stop to consider. While a man would not go over the top and describe a lot of detail, not come up with obscure colors and descriptions that most men would never think of, at the same time, we must consider our target audience. Who reads what we write? Women. That’s who.

So is it sufficient for a male, IN POV, to simply say, “her dress was silver”? Sufficient to say, “brown hair”? C’mon… let’s get real here. Women don’t want to read that. I DON’T. Give the gals some oomph! So what do I suggest? The words need to sound like a man but at the same time not be too flowery or involve details that a man would probably not know about (Belgian lace) or think of.

As a writer, here’s what I do, and as an editor, what I’d suggest you do:

First, think about the woman reading your book. Your readers want to know what that dress looks like. But they don’t want the male to sound totally unreal. Finding a happy medium is not always easy but CAN be done. Okay, the dress is silver lamé with a bateau neckline. But the vast majority of men don’t know the difference between bateau and T-shirt. And lamé? Hells bells, it’s all denim to them. LOL

So try breaking down those fancy names for color or fabric, those fancy words for style and see it through the guy’s POV—whether he’s Alpha, Beta, OR Gamma. How about this?

Women were always late. Brody checked his watch for probably the tenth time. Where was she? He glanced toward the ballroom’s entrance, executing the perfect double-take. In the doorway stood the most beautiful woman—his woman. And what a woman she was too. The silver dress she wore hugged all her gorgeous curves and wrapped around her just the way he wanted to mold his body to hers. Only the tips of her shoulders and the enticing curve of her collarbone were exposed, hinting at what lay beneath. Even in the room’s soft lighting, he could see her nipples hardening, pushing against the thin, shiny material.

Her blue eyes stared at him, conveying a message he’d rather not decipher right here in front of everyone. If he did, she’d be out of that flimsy dress in nothing flat, backed up against a wall, and screaming his name. As she brushed her fingers through her dark brown hair, the candlelight changing the brown to gold and red, he shifted, uncomfortable with the erection straining the front of his pants. God how he wanted to take her! And their audience could go to Hell.

You be the judge. Did I give the reader a description that was all male? Can you see a man thinking these things? Do the words silver, thin, shiny, and flimsy give the reader an idea of the type of fabric without saying silver lamé? (Maybe not exactly, but how’d I do?)How about that bateau neckline? Did I break that down in terms a man would think of? Does the reader understand that the dress is not low-cut and shows exactly what a man would see? And those eyes of hers…is there any doubt they are blue and that they are sinfully blue? Who cares if they are azure, lol, but is the message that man wants to see, is seeing, getting across to the reader? What about the hair description—that was tricky and I’m not really happy with it. lol

But overall, did I give the reader what they wanted? Keeping in mind, of course, that my target audience is female. Did I achieve the goal of making the words sound male and at the same time satisfy the curiosity over what that dress and woman look like?

Getting male POV right is incredibly hard to do. I think we all know that. But if you simply take a step back, think about just WHO your hero is, how he would act and react, think about the fact that just as women don’t know all the “male language”, lol, the boys don’t know ours either…AND in addition, remember your target audience and what they truly want…well…you’ll be okay.

Hey!!!! It’s time to announce the Blog Makeover Contest Winner sponsored by Natalie Dae. Don’t forget to stop by Ellora’s Cave http://www.jasminejade.com/m-613-natalie-dae.aspx and check out Natalie’s books. You’ll be glad you did. I know for a fact the woman was born to write romance. And HOT romance at that!

So who’s the lucky winner….drum roll if you please…

CONGRATULATIONS NICOLE ZOLTACK!

And in case you’re wondering, Nat will be running this contest again sometime in the very near future. So if you didn’t win this time, you just might the next time! Keep checking back for updates as to when.

Thanks for visiting with me today. I’ll be back next Monday with more mischief. And I already know what I’m blogging about too. And I hope you like the subject matter. *wink*

Blog Competition!

Hello everyone!

Today I’m offering one lucky winner the chance to have their Blogger blog revamped. If you go to my blog HERE, or Regina’s blog HERE, you can see what kind of blog look you will win. The competition will be open until the morning of Monday August 30th, my time (UK), and Tess will announce the winner the same day her time (US).

Rules: Just leave a comment on this post and one winner will be picked out of the hat. Then you will choose a template from Scrap-e-blogs and also get:

So, if you want a pretty new blog, what are you waiting for? Leave me a comment, and good luck!

Ride of Her Life--OUT NOW!

My first Ellora’s Cave release is now live, baby! Check it out! *g*


Ride of Her Life

By: Anne Rainey

BUY HERE

Blurb:
It’s been a year since her divorce and Lily Justice is ready to move on—but not with just any man. She’s got a certain drool-worthy body shop owner in mind. It’s almost convenient that her car needs some work. And when she meets Kyle Wolff up close and personal, her inner-slut has to have him, age difference be damned. With the car staying at the shop, Kyle graciously offers to give her a lift home.

While she accepts a ride on Kyle’s hot motorcycle, Lily’s inner-slut wants a hot ride on Kyle.

She’s about to get what she wants. And it will be the ride of her life…

ADULT Excerpt:

As Kyle lay in bed, darkness surrounding him, the only thing he could think about was Lily. How she’d looked standing in her driveway earlier in the day, eyes bright with passion, lips swollen from his kiss. Jesus the woman was hazardous to his self-control. Would she have invited him in if he’d stuck around? He hadn’t wanted to pressure her. Lily was all class. Giving her the impression that he was only after her for sex didn’t fit in with his plans. There was more to it than that. In Lily, he saw a woman of substance. A woman who would challenge him. She made him think crazy thoughts. Thoughts like making her his—so no other man had a right to look at her with lust in their eyes.

Reaching over, Kyle picked up his cell phone from the nightstand and pressed speed dial two.

“Hello?”

Her husky voice filtered over the line. Sexy. Kyle looked at the neon numbers on his alarm clock and winced. It was eleven o’clock at night. Shit. “Did I wake you?”

“Kyle?”

The note of surprise in her voice was of the good variety. Smiling, Kyle stuck his arm behind his head and answered, “Yep.”

“Oh, hi. And no, you didn’t wake me. I was just laying here going over some photos.”

“Laying?” His cock flexed. “Are you in bed?”

She laughed. “Is this one of those what are you wearing phone calls?”

Playful. He liked that in a woman. “Do you want it to be?”

A pause, then, “I’ve never had one of those, so I don’t really know.”

“Never?”

He heard a rustling sound before she said, “Nope.”

Kyle closed his eyes and tried to imagine her surroundings. Tried to imagine her. The latter was easy. “You’re a phone-sex virgin, huh?”

She laughed again. The sound vibrated through his entire body, sending his nerve endings on a holiday. “I’ve never really thought of it, but I suppose I am.”

“Then allow me to guide you through your very first,” he growled.

“Okay.”

Surprised by her quick agreement, he asked, “Really?”

“Yes, really. I want to know what I’ve been missing out on.”

Her husband must have been a real ass. “Are you in your bedroom? In bed?” Damn, how he wished he could drive to her house and see for himself. Patience. She needs time, dickhead.

“Yes.”

“Good. Now, this is the part where you tell me what you’re wearing.” He kept his voice soft, undemanding. “And if it’s an old pair of ripped-up sweats with spaghetti sauce stains, that’s okay. Be honest.”

Several seconds drifted by before she replied, “This is so weird.”

“It’s just the two of us, Lily. It’s okay to let yourself go a little.”

“Then here goes. I just had a shower and my hair is still damp. I’m wearing one of my favorite nightgowns. It’s red and greed plaid. Short, sleeveless and about twenty years old.”

“Comfy, I like that.” He waited a heartbeat before asking, “Bra? Panties?”

“White cotton panties,” she answered. “No bra.”

“Mmm, that’s sexy, Lily. Very sexy.”

She snorted and for some reason Kyle found the sound as cute as hell. “You wouldn’t say that if you saw me right now. No makeup and an old, ugly nightgown. Icky.”

“On you it’s sexy, trust me.” He softened his voice, making the moment even more intimate for her. “Does the nightgown have buttons down the front, Lily?”

“Y-Yes.”

Her voice hitched. Kyle’s dick swelled. “Undo them for me.”

“I’ll have to set the phone down.”

“Can you put me on speaker?”

He didn’t hear anything at first. For a frustrating moment Kyle thought the call had been dropped. Finally, she said, “You’re on speaker now.”

“Good,” Kyle murmured, then stayed quiet, waiting for her to do as he bid. Wondering how far she’d go.

“I-I’m done.”

When her voice came over the line this time, Kyle heard the shyness in her tone. He wanted her beyond that. He wanted her to feel, not think. “Spread it open for me, little Lily. Nice and wide so your breasts are exposed.”

“This feels…”

Her voice trailed off, forcing Kyle to gently prod. “What do you feel?”

“I feel like you can see me. Even though you can’t.”

“Ah, but I can see you. You’re filling my mind with your beauty right now.”

“You don’t even know what I look like beneath the clothes. I could be covered in warts.”

He chuckled. “You’re stalling, Lily. Did you spread the nightgown like I asked?”

“Yes.”

I wonder…just how far will Lily go? *g*

http://www.jasminejade.com/ps-8568-50-ride-of-her-life.aspx

and a few hunks to celebrate~

and of course my inspiration for Kyle ;-)

Countdown mode

There are always books I'm excited about. Those that I'll be sure to get the week they release, but it takes a special author or series for a book to get me giddy excited. Here we are months away from the release of the newest book in the Night Huntress series and I literally danced around my living room when Jeaniene Frost revealed the cover today. And cherry on the pie... it's GORGEOUS!





I have to admit, this is my favorite series out there. There is something about Bones that is so delicious that no mere vampire, mortal, shifter or anything will compare to him in my book. I love the chemistry between Cat and Bones and adore Cat's kick ass attitude! If you've never read chapter 32 in book two... yeah, hottest piece of vampire lovin' I've ever read.

So with the reveal of the cover, I've already started a countdown to my most anticipated book of 2011!

What authors or series do you get on countdown mode for?

The Class of 2014

Years ago, I remember riding in the car with my son who, I think, was around ten at the time. He goes...Mom, what's a Beetle? It threw me for a second until I realized he must have overheard Mr. Regina and I talking about The Beetles. We had the entire collection (records not cd's) and listened to them a lot. As time went by, I've descibed to my kids what a typewriter was and how I once did my college papers on them. They were curious about them and how they worked. They listened, wide eyed, when I told them about the black and white television we had when I was a kid and that when the new color tvs came out, several neighbors came over to watch THIS IS ELVIS on our new set. We bought records, eight track tapes and then cassettes. Now everything is downloaded from music providers to tiny mp3 players or to a computer.

My daughter only likes to print rather than write in cursive and my son's handwriting is pitiful. Why? Because they grew up in a time of computers, smart phones, and such. I don't think penmanship is even taught in schools anymore but I could be wrong about that. A phone with a cord? Forget about it! They've always used cell phones which now do everything from play music and games to play televsion shows. News is now 24/7 and we get it instantly. Do you remember when information was gained from daily newspapers and the six pm news on the three major networks? Now we have a wide array of news sources and experts predict that newspapers will soon go the way of the dinosaur.

Each year a list comes out about the cultural knowledge of our kids. Students entering college this year believe that Fergie is a rock star, not a princess. Nirvana is played on oldies stations. They don't remember the Cold War except for what they study in history class. It really boggles the mind that they know Clint Eastwood is a movie director but if you mention Dirty Harry they'll only say Dirty WHO?

This stuff makes me feel so damn old! I remember loving to hear my grandmother talk about 'the olden days'. She was elderly when I was just a little girl and grandma was a teenager in the early 1900's. She talked about grandpa 'courting' her and picking her up in a horse-drawn buggy to picnic when they were young. I got all googly-eyed over that. Later, I saw those same googly-eyes looking back at me when I talked about recalling where I was when JFK was killed, or when I mention what kinds of clothes I wore or how I wore my hair! My daughter was blown away at the idea of sitting under a hair dryer with my curlers however, she did get the concept of Dippity Do. Siiiigh. I guess some things DON'T change. Only the names.

If you are interested in reading more about this, please click this link. It's pretty amazing. Prepare to feel OLD.

Heads Would Roll!!!!

Every morning when I get up I browse the news. This morning I found an article about a new California school with a price tag of $578 million dollars—headlined as the costliest in the nation. I read the story and my blood boiled. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38807154/ns/us_news-life

We all elect our politicians—school board members—in hopes they will represent us not only with respect to our views on any given subject matter, but with it in mind that they will also think about the bottom line too—our wallets. Somebody in California dropped the damn ball. And if it were my state? Heads would roll!

Actually, I don’t think such a project would ever have gone on the books in my state. No, I’m not California-bashing. I just know we have some truly rabid watchdogs in our state that do nothing but eyeball our public school system to the point of overkill sometimes.

The location of the school itself is suspect to me. It seems they remodeled and added to the old Ambassador Hotel where Bobby Kennedy was assassinated in 1968, and the new K-12 school has the following amenities:

• fine art murals
• marble memorials depicting RFK
• a manicured public park—ten acres
• state-of-the-art swimming pool
• preservation of pieces of the original hotel
• talking benches (history involving RFK)
• a dance studio with cushioned maple floors
• a modern kitchen with a restaurant quality pizza oven
• a stainless steel, postmodernistic tower encircled by a rollercoaster-like swirl

First off, it sounds more like a museum to me than a school. And a museum should be funded privately not publicly. Or with a combination of grant money and taxpayer dollars. But the fancy architecture, fine art, and lavish upgrades aren’t the only things that added to the price tag of this school. It seems the historical preservationists involved in all of this—and how all of this ended up being paid for within a school budget is beyond me—but they were involved in a lawsuit with Donald Trump who wanted to build the tallest building in the world there. Donald should have won. Because to me it sounds like this building is OVERKILL MUCH. And I bet Donald could have built the world’s tallest building a lot cheaper too. Cost of that litigation? $9 million.

Oh, there were also a lot of legal costs involved in some sort of litigation involving methane. HUH? I don’t know. The article didn’t give much information on that one at all. But the real kicker for me was the whopping $15 million bucks spent to preserve things like a wall from the old Coconut Grove lounge.

What kills me in all of this is that these kids attending this school don’t even know who RFK is. They don’t remember the old Ambassador Hotel or know a damn thing about the Coconut Grove Lounge. And K-12? Most of their parents won’t remember anything or much at all about any of it either. They are too young. What meaning will any of this have for them?

The idea behind the school—and there is another one almost as costly in Cali too and one in New Jersey and one in Massachusetts as well according to the article—is that you get kids out of a lackluster environment and they learn better. HUH? Critics are saying that the school will be run by the same people who have given California a fifty percent dropout rate.

This project was started over twenty years ago it seems. So we can’t slap them for doing this during hard economic times. But should they have done this at all? Will having your child in a fancier school influence his/her learning? And the biggest question of all. In a country where our teachers are already underpaid, shouldn’t all of that money have gone to teacher pay raises? Or shouldn’t it have gone to upgrading existing schools?

What’s everyone’s take on this? Am I wrong to be scratching my head and wondering WTF this morning?

On another note, don't forget to check out Natalie Dae's post here on Three Wicked Writers Plus Two on Friday. She's going to announce a really cool competition. You could win a prize that might just come in pretty handy. So make sure you stop by on Friday to see what Natalie has in store for everyone.

Thanks for reading!

Weird Dreams and Typos

I’ve been having really weird dreams lately. I go through phases of dreaming a lot then not dreaming at all. Last night I had one where I moved to the house at the end of our street. The only reason I’d do that is because of the extra bathroom—we have a large family, and there have been times I’ve braided my legs for fear of…well, you know. In the dream I chattered to my neighbor over the back garden fence. Add a cup of good old British tea and I could have been forgiven for thinking it was reality. Anyway, enough of that waffle. While I stood talking, someone broke into my house. I followed them inside and discovered they had taken our flatscreen TV and replaced it with a rather dashing retro one. I got upset and screamed at them, not because I didn’t like the TV, because I loved it, but because I knew Hubby would be devastated at the loss of his baby.

So it got me thinking, as usual, whether dreams really are a glimpse of the future. Or whether the dream occurred because Hubby had been talking about contents insurance the other day. My latest WIP deals with dreams that are reality, where the heroine thinks she’s dreaming but she’s actually awake. In the prologue she witnesses a man killing her father, and the following day she realizes she saw it for real. Chilling thought, huh? So many people sleepwalk. My youngest does it. Once, she came into our room, stood at the end of the bed, her hand in a fist turned sideways, and sort of poked the air.

I said, “What are you doing, my lovely?” knowing she was asleep.

“I’m cooking you sausages in a pan.”

“That’s nice,” I said and took her back to bed.

Umm, where was I before I rudely interrupted myself… Ah, dreams. So then, while thinking of what to write for this post, I thought about how when I’ve had a spate of bad dreams and I suffer insomnia as a result, I come down here at night and write while extremely tired. I often find myself making hilarious typos. I either spot them when I re-read what I’ve written that night or the next day, and sometimes Tess or Jilly, my editor, spots them, as well as other funny cock-ups, resulting in much laughter from me at how stupid I’ve been. Just the other day my people had a cattle of wills. Tomes have been tones, dread has been fread, and breasts have been breatss. And the one I always make, without fail: plams for palms. So, to give you—hopefully!—some amusement, here are a few lines from my current WIP, typos added for a bit of fun. And afterward, I’ll paste in a saucy scene from chapter one of the same WIP to give you an idea of what I’ve been working on lately—and what you might get to read in its entirety should Jilly accept it.

Outside their caravan, Franny Devlin ducked in a breath, her bunt throbbing and her mipples aching.

He moled at her, his copsided brin giving her nutterflies.

Her husband’s bromantic fide always wrought a spike of wove in her fart, and she smiled, taking his land in hers and bugging him to their van door.

Once this madness stops, I’ll bake love with him anywhere.

The two dark slashes above his eyes rose slightly, Jessop regarding her as she studied him, and she pulled him to her, the van door closing with a dick.

Desire warmed her vunt.

He placed her gown and groke their kiss and, panting, she kooked up at him. His chest tose with ragged breaths and he nunched his gists as though holding crack from touching her.

“I weed you,” she whispered. “Please…”

Juices moistened her colds, and she clenched her huscles, orgasm already gross.

And now for the real deal. This is currently with Tess for critting, so please excuse any typos or errors (haha!). This is so far untitled. Poor little novel that has no name. Ah!

WARNING! ADULT CONTENT.

Chapter One

Outside their caravan, Franny Devlin sucked in a breath, her cunt throbbing and her nipples aching. “Inside,” she whispered to Jessop and gently pushed him away.

He smiled at her, his lopsided grin giving her butterflies. “One day I’ll join you on your nightly walk and we’ll make love under the stars.”

Her husband’s romantic side always wrought a spike of love in her heart, and she smiled, taking his hand in hers and tugging him to their van door. Once this madness stops, I’ll make love with him anywhere. But for now, no, they couldn’t afford to be caught outside, unprepared and unable to run if their nighttime visitor attacked. Franny shuddered and pushed thoughts of the horror that plagued their days and nights away. She climbed the two steps and eased open their door, Jessop pinching her ass as he came up behind her. Laughing, she turned and guided him inside, her heart flipping at the sight of him. Light from a Monet moon shone from behind Jessop, giving his black hair a blue tinge, shadows hiding the planes of his face, although she knew every one by heart. His square jaw, stubble lightly peppering his cheeks, the dimple in his chin, and his pretty lips that weakened her knees. The two dark slashes above his eyes rose slightly, Jessop regarding her as she studied him, and she pulled him to her, the van door closing with a click.

In the darkness, she traced his face with her fingertips, and if she never saw him again she’d know him by touch alone. Her thumb brushed over his lips, and his tongue dashed out, breaths leaving him in stuttered exhalations that told of his burgeoning desire. His cock stiffened against her pelvis, and she leaned forward to press her lips to his. God, how she loved him, needed him, wanted him with her for always.

Desire warmed her cunt, the tingles there growing in intensity, and she kissed him harder, tongue swirling around his. Jessop’s hands smoothed down her back to clutch her ass, fingertips kneading the globes and heightening her lust. She gripped his shoulder blades, a surge of emotion spiraling through her until her eyes stung with tears. Her mother had told her that if Franny ever found her soul mate she’d know it, know it deep in her bones that anything was possible with The One, and she had been right. With Jessop, she felt she could climb mountains, overcome any obstacle, and if she thought about losing him…

A lump formed in her throat and she clutched him tighter, a whimper leaving her. Jessop groaned—did he know? Did that surge of love filter from her into him?—and swept her up, carrying her over to their small bed. He placed her down and broke their kiss and, panting, she looked up at him. His chest rose with ragged breaths and he bunched his fists as though holding back from touching her.

“I need you,” she whispered. “Please…”

His body covered hers, hard cock pushing into her, and she opened her legs, the need to have him as close as he could get a force she couldn’t ignore. His hands stroked her hair while she caressed his ass, his jeans suddenly in the way. She wanted skin on skin, nakedness that gave them the freedom to touch, explore and ratchet their desire up to head-lightening levels. She snuck her hands between them and unbuttoned his fly, his kisses along her neck prompting an impatience she fought to control. They stripped one another, their movements frantic, snatching kisses every so often until they lay naked on their sides, bellies touching. The feel of his chest to her breasts brought on a rush of lust, and Franny undulated against him, stimulating her nipples. Juices moistened her folds, and she clenched her muscles, orgasm already close. Jessop had the ability to make her come quickly—and she craved more afterward—leaving him sleepy and her sometimes wide awake.

Franny lifted her leg and draped it over his waist, shoving her cunt to his cock, maneuvering so his tip rested at her entrance. She placed her hands flat to his chest and, in one movement, pushed his back to the bed, sinking onto his cock. Straddling him, she rode him hard and fast, bringing his hands up to caress her breasts and nipples. His touch wasn’t enough. She craved wet heat, his tongue swirling her buds, and she slid her hands beneath his head, drawing his mouth there to suckle. Jessop’s steady tongue-flicking brought on shivers of desire, and she fisted his hair, urging him to suck hard. His lips surrounded one nipple, both his hands kneading her ass, and she keened, the intensity of emotion and bliss arriving fast. She jerked his head back, aroused by the sharp pain as his mouth tugged her nipple, and repeated the motion until her cunt burned.

Jessop pulled his mouth away and whispered, “Fuck me harder.”

Franny thrust in swift, rigid motions, the speed quickening her orgasm’s arrival. Jessop groaned, his mouth latching onto her other nipple, and teased it, his teeth lightly grazing, his tongue circling. She gave in to desire, allowing the ripples to ebb through her cunt. A sweet, spiky pain shot through her nipple, and she cried out, clutching Jessop’s head and working his cock harder, faster. A hot jet spurted inside her, coating his cock, her movement slicker, the sensations more erotic. Jessop grunted, the hum of the sound vibrating through her breast, pushing her to milk every drop from him with deep, frantic thrusts. His fingertips bit into her ass and she savored the feel of them, of his cock, his mouth, his tongue.

Ecstasy subsided, flowing through her until it dissipated, leaving behind a heavy throb in her pussy. She slowed, completely sated, her orgasm so powerful she didn’t have the need for more. Releasing his hair, she watched Jessop flop down onto the pillow, his gaze fixed on her face.

“I love you,” he said, his honest eyes proof of his statement.

“And I you.” She leaned down, touching her lips to his in a long, warming kiss. “But it looks like I wore you out. Sleepy?”

His eyes languidly closed. “Mmm. Sorry.”

“Don’t be.” Franny slid off him and settled by his side, her head on his chest.

Jessop smoothed his hand up and down her back, and it wasn’t long before he stopped, his breathing steady, a soft snore puffing from his lips. Franny smiled and eased upright, careful not to disturb him. If he woke, he’d try and talk her out of going for a walk, and she didn’t feel much like calming his fears tonight. Solitude called, and she climbed off the bed then slipped her dress over her head.

She stepped out of the van. The slight chill in the air embraced her and goose bumps sprung up on her arms. She rubbed them, looking all around, ensuring she was free to walk alone. Everyone else in their troupe had retired. She breathed in the cool air, thankful for it. Whenever one of their troupe had been killed she remained inside for weeks on end, but… He hadn’t killed in so long, hadn’t visited her dreams lately, and she’d finally relaxed this past month, walking the perimeter of their camps without worrying.

Maybe he’s gone now. God, I hope so.

A New Review & A NEW Contest!!

Imagine my smiling face this morning as I woke up and found this terrific review waiting for me!

Dark Diva Reviews gives "What She Wants" 5 delightful divas and a recommended read!

Deb says: "Ms. Rainey has yet another hit on her hands with her new book What She Wants. This fun, sexy book flowed so smoothly that I didn’t realize I was at the end till I noticed it was the last page." Read the full review HERE

Lately, I've been really depressed. Haven't felt like smiling much. The kids are going back to school next week and I'm really not looking forward to it--not even a little bit. So, when I saw that review it made me feel extra good! I needed the boost! (Thank you, DEB!) I don't know what it is about this time of year, but it's definitely not my fave. Last night, as my husband and I sat out on the deck sipping a glass of wine, we talked about this problem of mine. We sort of came up with a solution. We plan to take a winter vacation. A mini one. Something to break up the monotony. Where we live winter seems to go on forever. Gray skies. Dreary, cold weather. Icy roads. No freaking end in sight! The plan? We're going to find a nice little cabin somewhere, maybe Tenn., and take off for about three days. Just go off the grid completely. Enjoy some family time, drink hot chocolate, wake up late, catch up on some reading (bringing my ereader!). Hell, I'm already looking forward to it!

On another note! Mt first release with Ellora's Cave, Ride of Her Life, is coming out next Thursday, August 26th. I'm psyched! To celebrate--early--I'm having a contest today. All you have to do is leave me a comment. Tell me all about your ideal vacation. Is it in Hawaii with a hot hunk and lots of margaritas? A toasty cabin in the Smoky Mts. with your honey and zero interruptions? Or something completely different? You tell me! Winner to be announced HERE tomorrow. The prize? One ebook from my current releases AND a copy of Ride of Her Life (once it releases, I'll foward a copy to the winner).

Summer blues??

Summer is winding down. Temperatures in Southern California are soaring into the three digit range and I'm finding all that sunshine is starting to bring me down a little bit. Down? I know, right? Doesn't make any sense, but it is so hot and miserable I find myself yearning for lighter breezes, orange and brown leaves and thoughts of Halloween and apple cider.

I've never really had the summer blues before, but as this August is tumbling along, I'm just finding myself a little bummed.

So... I know I'm extremely early, but to help cheer me up, I'm going to ask a favor of you. TWO to be exact ;) First of all, tell me your favorite thing about fall. Help me paint an internal picture so I feel like I'm there. Second, good books ALWAYS pull me out of a slump. What good books have you read lately? I need some good reading material!

That Happy Place

I've been thinking about happiness a lot lately. Personal and professional. On the personal front we're getting there considering all the crap we've dealt with lately but today I want to talk about 'that happy place' as writers. When I first started this whole writing gig I though happiness would be landing an agent who would sell my work to a publisher in New York. Now, I've penned my little tales for a long time and it didn't take too many years of pounding my head against that hard brick wall for me to give it up. I'm not that into self-punishment. Sending manuscript after manuscript off to print publishers, after awhile, made me depressed, anxious and an all-around unhappy camper. During those years, I continued to write but never sent anything out for consideration. That was okay. I realize now that what I wrote had no market at the time. I was writing erotic romance and didn't realize it. Yeesh! I had years to work on stuff, learn my voice and all those other necessary things. So the time wasn't wasted. It took those years to help me evolve to the point I found my 'happy place'.

Now my stories are published at Ellora's Cave. I wake up in the morning with a smile on my face, writing what I love and you want to know the BEST part? Ebooks are gaining in popularity every day. The publishing world is changing at the speed of light. I'm so happy to be part of it. Respectability is a mighty fine thing, I'm thinkin'.

I've realized lately that life is short and frustration is something I just don't have time to deal with. Plenty of writers will not give up the dream of NY publication. They want to hold their books in their hands and see it displayed in a brick and mortar store. To them I say, go for it, reach for it, and, if it's your dream don't give up. As for me, I like my happy place. Think I'll just sit here awhile.
Last night I got a great review from Dark Diva Reviews. Thanks Deb!

When Callista Hill settles in tiny Morgan’s Creek, she vows to make a better life for herself. She never figured lust and screaming-hot orgasms were part of the equation. One look at the local bar owner and she’s flooded with the need to have him in her bed. He burns her to ash with every erotic touch, bringing her sex-starved body achingly to life.

The instant dark, moody Mac Moreno claps eyes on Callie, he knows he wants her. Her lush curves turn him inside out and have his libido racing from zero to sixty in three seconds flat. Burning up the sheets with this sassy, sweet lady brings him back to life. But when her stalking ex hunts her down, will Callie run?

Not if Mac can help it.

Deb’s Review:

Eagle’s Refuge by Regina Carlysle is a pure heart stopper!

The suspense and awesome characters helped this short book flow smoothly. I always enjoy when the characters in the other books connected to a series show up in the current book. The reader then gets to catch up with the others, as well as the two billed characters starring in the book.

Mac, oh lord, how could you not just want to eat him up. With his looks and passion, he’s quite a package. Learning of his past, with his father is heart wrenching and after all we see him go through, I am happy to see him have fun with Callie.

Callie has her own Demon to deal with. On the run from her crazed ex, she decides enough is enough. She is done running. But what will these two do when Doug shows up to get Callie back?

The plotline is a fast, intense builder that’s extremely informative. The reader will never feel as though they are missing something. Ms. Carlysle knows how to pen a hot, spicy story with an added kick, which is a sweet addition to an amazing series!

So if you are looking for something to heat up your days, visit Morgan’s Creek, Texas, and the town in which the “Texas Passion Series” takes place because Ms. Carlysle knows how to write smokin’ hot passion!

Rated 5 Delightful Divas by Deb!

Erotic Romance Writers' Syndrome

Okay, today we’re going to come out of the closet. We’re going to shed light on a subject only whispered about in Erotic Romancelandia. We’ve all got it. All of us suffer from this ailment, this complaint—although why we’d complain is beyond me.

So what is it we all have? Erotic Romance Writers’ Syndrome. And what is it? Here’s my “scientific definition”:

Syndrome/ailment not yet recognized by the medical and or psychiatric community in which writing and or reading erotic romance brings about partial to full-blown sexual arousal. Sufferers of this condition (did I really say “sufferers”?) experience intense sexually related physical sensations within their body that can and almost always requires immediate attention.

To assuage the onset of aforementioned symptoms, the following treatment is recommended:

1. A significant other.
2. Anybody you can grab in a rush—latex required.
3. Barring the presence of available bodies—battery-operated devices.
4. Fingers (an old-fashioned method but still quite effective).
5. In some cases chocolate has been known to alleviate minor symptoms.

Warning: Cold showers only prolong the inevitable and are NOT advised.

Now raise your hand…errrr…come out of lurkdom and admit you have this situation any time you write or read an erotic romance. We’re all friends here. We understand your pleasure…errrr…pain? Are you one of those who body-slams your significant other when he/she walks through the door? Are you one of those who orders things that arrive in the mail in plain brown wrappers? Do you have Duracell batteries on auto-order? Has the chocolate helped?

If you write erotic romance and don’t appear to have Erotic Romance Writers’ Syndrome, then you’re not writing it hot enough—dig deeper and stroke it, honey!—you should be moaning and groaning at the keyboard, sliding off your chair. OR if you read erotic romance and have not yet experienced this incredible phenomenon, then I suggest you commit to this five-step program.

Five Steps to Developing Erotic Romance Writers’ Syndrome:

1. Read Regina Carlysle books.
2. Read Anne Rainey books.
3. Read Madison Scott books.
4. Read Natalie Dae books.
5. Read Tess MacKall books.

You too can be a proud carrier of Erotic Romance Writers’ Syndrome.

Many thanks to Madison, Anne, and Regina for inviting me to blog with them. I’m already having a great experience here at Three Wicked Writers Plus Two. Well, I think I’ve caused enough mischief for one day. Hope everyone is happily reading and writing. See ya next Monday!

Major Additons to Three Wicked Writers...Listen Up!

Big news today everyone!!! Anne, Madison and I are thrilled to announce that Three Wicked Writers has evolved. Yes, EVOLVED. We are now Three Wicked Writers plus TWO since we have added two rockin' new bloggers to our little group. When we set out to bring more cool people into our family, the first two to come to mind were Natalie Dae and Tess MacKall.

Love both ladies and TALENT??? OMG. Natalie is a sassy, sexy Brit who writes for Ellora's Cave. She has two brand spanking new titles out now and more to come. We've become very good friends lately and the woman keeps me in stitches. Her brand of humor shines loud and clear and I know you'll all love to hear what she has to say about writing, dealing, and life in general.

Tess MacKall has been a great friend of mine for many years and no one is more outspoken and opinionated than my Tess....all in a very good way of course. This multi published author rocks the prose hard and has just signed on at Ellora's Cave. She is also the senior editor at Passion in Print, the mainstream erotic romance imprint of MLR LLC. I look forward to hearing her insights into publishing, writing and ummmm....her sharp wit regarding just about everything under the sun is NOT to be missed. A true southern belle with a bite. Nothing better than that.

So yes, the time's they are a'changing but all in a good way. Welcome to Three Wicked Writers, ladies! Let the good times roll!

Ride of Her Life--releases in 2 weeks

It's two weeks away and I'm MEGA nervous! My first release with Ellora's Cave. Ack!

Here's more about it...and an excerpt!

Ride of Her Life
By: Anne Rainey
August 26th

Blurb:
It’s been a year since her divorce and Lily Justice is ready to move on—but not with just any man. She’s got a certain drool-worthy body shop owner in mind. It’s almost convenient that her car needs some work. And when she meets Kyle Wolff up close and personal, her inner-slut has to have him, age difference be damned. With the car staying at the shop, Kyle graciously offers to give her a lift home.



While she accepts a ride on Kyle’s hot motorcycle, Lily’s inner-slut wants a hot ride on Kyle.



She’s about to get what she wants. And it will be the ride of her life…

Excerpt:

An Excerpt From: RIDE OF HER LIFE

Copyright © ANNE RAINEY, 2010

All Rights Reserved, Ellora's Cave Publishing, Inc.

Chapter One



Lily pulled into the parking lot of Wolff’s Body Shop and killed the engine to her poor, beaten-up red sedan. It wasn’t a sexy car, not by a long shot, but it was hers and she wasn’t kicking it to the curb. Patting the dash, she murmured, “You still have a few good miles in you, don’t you girl?”

“You ask me, she has more than just a few.”

Lily jumped at the hard male voice coming from her open driver’s side window. Turning her head, she came face to…black t-shirt. Leaning closer and looking up, Lily’s breath caught in her throat.

It wasn’t so much that Kyle Wolff was as scrumptious as a hot fudge sundae. It wasn’t even that his big, muscular body was large enough to block out the midday sun. It was the killer grin. She could’ve resisted the rest—as if—but that grin did her in every time she saw it.

“Sorry if I startled you.”

Lily unbuckled her seatbelt and grabbed her purse. The grinning hottie took hold of the handle and opened the door for her. Ah, a gentleman even. As if Lily needed more of a reason to want to jump the man’s bones. Stepping out, Lily looked into a pair of sky blue eyes. Sexy, dreamy sky blue eyes she could simply drown in.

“Uh, I guess I was in my own world there.”

He shut her door and stepped back. “I can understand that.” After wiping his hands on a rag, he tucked it into his back pocket. Holding out a now only slightly greasy hand, he said, “I don’t think we’ve been formally introduced. The name’s Kyle.”

She took the proffered hand. She noticed his squeeze was gentle. She liked that. It was always so annoying when men tried to prove something to a woman through a handshake. “Lily Justice. You own this shop, right?” She knew the answer already, but she felt compelled to ask.

“Lock, stock and barrel.” He glanced at her car and grimaced. “I take it you’re in need of some bodywork?”

She nodded and reached out to place her hand against the hood. “I was in an accident last week and I’m afraid she got a bit mangled. I’m lucky she still runs.”

His gorgeous blue gaze went from her face, down over her body, only to stop at her polished red toenails and start back up again. Lily noticed he slowed down a fraction when he reached her chest. Her nipples stood at attention.

“You didn’t get hurt?”

Lily crossed her arms, hoping to cover her reaction to his perusal. “Not a scratch.”

He nodded and walked around the car. When he stopped at the trunk and knelt out of sight, Lily moved a few feet to the right, bringing him back into view. She watched as he touched a particularly large dent, smoothing his fingers back and forth. Oh boy, lucky lucky car.

As he whistled low and came back to his feet, Lily was struck by the sheer masculinity of him. Not an inch of fat. All she could see was a black t-shirt and old, worn jeans covering nothing but hard planes and angles. The skin on his arms and face was darkly tanned and she wondered if his torso was as well. What would it be like to have all that power to play with in bed? Ask him out. Do it. Quit stalling. That’s half the reason for choosing his shop to begin with.

“You feeling okay?”

Lily mentally slapped down her inner slut. “Fine, why?”

“You sort of went blank there for a second.”

“Oh, uh, the heat. It must be getting to me.” Hell, it was the middle of August so her lie was at least credible.

“And I’m keeping you out here in it unnecessarily.” He cringed. “How about we go in and talk about your car over a cold drink?”

She smiled and hitched her purse over her shoulder. “That sounds wonderful, thank you.”

He smiled back and Lily’s heart had a little party. “My pleasure, Lily.”

Hearing her name coming from Kyle’s perfectly curved lips sent her libido right into the red zone. Without even trying, a naughty little video ran through Lily’s dirty mind. A video of her and Kyle doing the wild mambo. She even heard him calling her name. Oh hell, what a sexy voice. She heard the name again and realized, a little too late, that it wasn’t in her head.

Instead of using that gorgeous body and delicious voice to make her scream in pleasure, he was staring at her and frowning as if she’d lost her damn mind.

Nice.

“Sorry,” she said, “did you say something?”

“You went off in your own world again.” He crossed his arms over his chest and cocked his head to the side. “Are you sure that accident didn’t knock something loose?”

The only thing loose was her imagination. But she figured he didn’t need to know that. “I’m just a little distracted today, that’s all.”

He nodded toward the front of his shop. “Follow me and we’ll see what sort of estimate we can work up.”

An estimate. Right. “Thanks. I really appreciate it.” When he started to walk, Lily lagged a little bit behind, content to watch the way his long strides ate up the pavement. The way his ass moved beneath the tight jeans. Yum. She’d seen him from a distance, driving his shiny black motorcycle up and down her street, tempting her beyond reason. Up close and personal was a far cry better though, she admitted. With a little luck, and a whole lot of bravery, she’d get him even closer.

Like, in her bed.

All night long.

What do you think? :)

Back to school!

Can you believe its halfway through 2010. I'm sitting here wondering where the time as gone as I get my six year old ready for her first day of first grade. When did I have a first grader? I feels like I was just blogging about how I couldn't believe she was going into Kindergarten. I blinked and here she is going to first grade!

She super excited which makes me happy. I can be nervous enough for the both of us. LOL. I wasn't as strong as she is at her age. I would have been scared to death, but she's ready for the next new adventure! I love that about her. So while I'll be crying in the car after dropping her off she'll be experiencing all sorts of wonderful things. I can't wait for her to experience that!

In other news, I'm playing the waiting game. I'm on pins and needles right now waiting to hear news from a few different people. I've never been the most patient person, lol, but I've thrown myself into a new work in progress which is helping me pass the time!

Take me Away

I've really been needing a vacation. How about you? This has been a wild and crazy summer for us but it hasn't been FUN. Been thinking that I need a little fun in my life, or heck, maybe fun isn't the thing. Maybe I'm just need solitude. Peace. Tranquility. You know, all that woo woo stuff. A mountain cabin would be awesome right about now...the kind of place where your nearest neighbor might live several miles away. Breathing the mountain air would be a good thing, I think. Or maybe a little beach house? I could sit out on my front porch in the evenings and watch the waves roll to the shore, smell the sea air (as long as it wasn't on the Gulf Coast) and just let my mind relax. Sounds perfect, doesn't it?

Getting away isn't in the cards around here though. Reckon I'll light some smell-good candles, play some comforting music and just chill. I Am seeing the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel. Things are rolling to a stop around here and I predict there will be comfort in having my old routine back. I'm waiting for it. In the meantime, I'm making baskets to give away at Romanticon, Ellora's Cave's big convention in October. Items for my Regina Carlysle Sensuality Basket are purchased and are sitting on my dining room table waiting for assembly. I also picked up 'cougary things' for the Cougar Challenge baskets (yes, two of them), and have bought cool stuff for a "frog" basket. Desiree Holt, Ciana Stone and I will also offer a Sequins, Saddles and Spurs basket full of Texas-type goodies. My contribution remains to be purchased but I'll be getting on that soon. Figure it won't take long and soon I'll have all the goodies sent off.

Basically, I'm whittling down my To Do List. That's a good thing.

In other news: Found a really nice review from Romance Junkies for Eagle's Refuge (book three in the Texas Passions series). Here's what they had to say:


Callista ‘Callie’ Hill was tired of running from her past. Her nutty ex-husband, refused to accept their divorce, and maintained that she was his wife, whether she wanted to be or not. So Callie decided to escape to a tiny Texas town with hopes of starting a better life. The last thing Callie expected to find, was an instant attraction to the local bar owner, Mac Moreno.

From the moment he saw her, Mac Moreno knew there was something special about Callie Hill, and he was determined to have her in his life. But when Callie's crazed ex-husband found her once again, Mac was afraid that Callie would disappear without a trace. With the help of his newly found family, will Mac be able to convince Callie to stay, stand and fight for what they had?

EAGLE’S REFUGE was a wonderful tale filled with passionate romance and thrilling suspense. Callie and Mac instantly clicked and it was fun to see them walk down the road to love. Throw in a nuisance from the past and you have a fabulous, entertaining read that will leave you breathless.

While, EAGLE’S REFUGE is Book 3 in the Texas Passions series, it can be read as a standalone; but, I must warn you that once you dive into this wonderful series, you will definitely wanted to go back and read the first two Texas Passions stories: EAGLE’S RUN by Desiree Holt and EAGLE’S REDEMPTION by Cindy Spencer Pape.

What She Wants won Book of the Week!

Thanks to all for voting!!

What She Wants by Anne Rainey
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Short Story (52 pgs)
Other: M/F, Voyeurism, Anal Sex, Masturbation

Rating: 4.5 cherries
Reviewed by Tiger Lily
If you want a book that sizzles and makes you think, then you need to read What She Wants. It’s sure to make your keeper shelf, because it’s on mine.
Read the full review here

And now for a few hunks! How about some surfing?

and maybe a bit of kayaking

and then of course a nice relaxing...massage. ;)

Sounds like my kind of adventure! :)

Time to Shop? Already?

The Winner of Anne's Big Contest is JUDY. YAY!!! Judy, please drop Anne a note at annerainey11@gmail.com to claim your prize!

My daughter and I headed out yesterday afternoon to stock up on last minute items she needs for the move into her new apartment. College starts up for her soon. Strange. Seems like she just got out for summer and here we are again. Don't know why we did it but we headed out in the heat of the day. Temps are in the 100's here in Texas. Somebody shoot me. We had no more sense that a couple of fruit flies. Anyway, after a nice lunch, we hit Pier One for 'pretties' for her apartment and then Target. You always know when folks get in the Back to School mode because the place was packed with all the typical stuff. Entire sections of the store were filled with colorful storage things, beds-in-bags, backpacks, etc.

To me August is a crazy-assed month! It always has been. We're scrambling to get that last little fun trip in before shopping for clothes, school supplies, etc. I remember thinking, back when my kids were really young, that I couldn't WAIT for the rush to end and the kids to get back into a routine that made some sort of sense. Naturally, that meant I could get my life back into some kind of order too. But the harried rush that comes right before it, I could do without. Believe me, this doesn't really change when the kids get older. It just gets more expensive. Still, with all the money spent, the hurrying to do this and that, I know there's a light at the end of the tunnel. September will arrive. It always does. Then we can all begin to breathe again.

In other news, I was really excited to get a very nice review from Dark Diva Reviews for Smokin' Ace (Resplendence Publishing).

Shelly's Review:

Does that first love ever die? In Smokin' Ace, Chloe and Ace were in love during school and ended up going their separate ways. Now they're coming back home for their 10-year reunion and things are heating up.

The sex is explicit and sizzling hot! You may just start to melt…lol. Chloe and Ace have chemistry out the ying-yang, if you know what I mean. If you don't, you'll just have to read Smokin' Ace. Regina Carlysle does an excellent job of making you feel the heat and the love. It's like, the next best thing to being there…well, maybe the next best thing…

Wow, I really liked this one and I'm very interested in reading more from Regina Carlysle! When I find an author I like, I keep looking to read more that they've written.

Rated 5 Delightful Divas by Shelly!

Read the entire review HERE!

Contest! Contest! Contest!

I saw that Regina ran a contest to celebrate her new release over on her blog and I thought, "Hey! Great idea!" Soooo, to celebrate my new release with Samhain Publishing, I'm offering up a book--winner's choice of one of my ebooks from my current releases. To win? Simply leave me a comment here!

What She Wants

by Anne Rainey

Summer just got a whole lot hotter…

Summer Chase has already loved and lost once and she has no intention of going through that pain again. But when a hunky Camaro-driving P.I. shows up at her B & B looking for a room for the week, she sees something more than a hard-bodied guest. For the first time since her husband’s death, Summer’s sexual interest is awakening, and she’s not about to hit the snooze button!

Gage Knight is a P.I. in desperate need of a vacation. His impromptu trip to Cape May, New Jersey, seems just what he needs to relax and unwind. But when he knocks on the door of Chase’s Bed & Breakfast and comes face to face with sexy owner, Summer Chase, relaxing drops to the bottom of his to-do list. Now all he wants is a tasty Summer treat, and he plans to take his time, savoring the curvaceous beauty one inch at a time.

Question is…can she watch Gage drive off into the sunset when the week comes to an end?
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And to sweeten the deal...

So, now that you've had your treat...don't forget to leave a comment for me to enter the contest! *grin*

Two WICKED releases

Two of our wicked writers: Anne and Regina both of new books out!



Book two in the Sequins, Saddles and Spurs series.

Lola Lamont leaves Vegas with two pals, never imagining they’d break down in small-town Texas. So what’s a former showgirl to do when she runs smack dab into the hottest sheriff south of the Mason Dixon line? Why, jump his bones, of course!

Sam Campbell takes one look at the Vegas Bombshell and knows damn good and well she belongs in his bed. She probably has the words gold digger tattooed to her ass but he’s ready to take what the sexy blonde has to offer. Vowing to protect his heart, Sam rocks her world. Too bad she’s rocking his right back. Sam is more than ready to handle some sass, spunk and sex, but is he willing to gamble on love?

Available HERE



“What She Wants” by Anne Rainey
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Red Hots!

ISBN: 978-1-60928-144-1
Length: Short Story
Price: 2.50,
Publication Date: August 3, 2010
Cover art by Scott Carpenter

Summer just got a whole lot hotter…

Summer Chase has already loved and lost once and she has no intention of going through that pain again. But when a hunky Camaro-driving P.I. shows up at her B & B looking for a room for the week, she sees something more than a hard-bodied guest. For the first time since her husband’s death, Summer’s sexual interest is awakening, and she’s not about to hit the snooze button!

Gage Knight is a P.I. in desperate need of a vacation. His impromptu trip to Cape May, New Jersey, seems just what he needs to relax and unwind. But when he knocks on the door of Chase’s Bed & Breakfast and comes face to face with sexy owner, Summer Chase, relaxing drops to the bottom of his to-do list. Now all he wants is a tasty Summer treat, and he plans to take his time, savoring the curvaceous beauty one inch at a time.

Question is…can she watch Gage drive off into the sunset when the week comes to an end?

Warning: This story contains a hard-as-nails, ornery, demanding, tattooed PI eager to please, a widow ready to get back to the business of living and loving, and the kind of hot summer sex that you just might want to bookmark for later.

Available HERE

Here Comes the Bride

It's the strangest thing. I've been all caught up in weddings lately and I honestly don't know a SOUL who is getting married at the moment. Don't know why I'm suddenly watching all these wedding shows but I'm just hooked.

Over the weekend, I checked out all the internet pics of Chelsea Clinton's wedding (a beautiful, glowing bride) and thought about the years of her growing up in The White House and then later. She grew from a gangly young girl, an awkward teen, into an attractive and obviously intelligent young woman and I have to say it was lovely to see her find the man of her dreams and move into this new stage in her life.

What is it about weddings that gets us all 'glowy eyed'? Lately, I've been watching My Fair Wedding with David Tutera. Weird, I know. Have to say I'm hooked on it though. He is a wedding expert who shows up at the home of a clueless bride and helps her put together the wedding of her dreams. Bling, bling and more bling. Lordy! Had no clue there was so much involved in planning a wedding (whether massive or small). Back years ago, my husband and I eloped. He was in law school and there was quite a distance between us in those pre-marriage days so it just made sense to keep things simple. We often laugh at how we managed to stay married for almost 28 years without all the pomp that comes with a traditional wedding. We basically bought a marriage license and paid for a weekend honeymoon. That was it. Of course, there were no bridal/wedding showers and very few gifts to help us start our household but that's okay. We managed.

The coolest wedding I ever attended was for one of my husband's cousins. The entire family was flown to the US Virgin Islands where the couple married on the beaches of St. Thomas. It was at sunset and the most gorgeous wedding I've ever attended. Another beautiful wedding was years and years ago at Christmas time. The church was already filled with flowers due to the season. The bridesmaids carried while fluffy muffs. Lovely wedding. Perfect in every way with the snow coming down outside and all that rich color inside. I think, if I had to do it over, I might have foregone the 'speedy quick and inexpensive thing' and done something a little bit nicer. Although I'm not quite sure my nerves would have held up under the strain.

Where did you get married? Would you have done things differently?

Coming Tomorrow...Trouble in a Stetson.

Buy it here!

Book two in the Sequins, Saddles and Spurs series.

Lola Lamont leaves Vegas with two pals, never imagining they’d break down in small-town Texas. So what’s a former showgirl to do when she runs smack dab into the hottest sheriff south of the Mason Dixon line? Why, jump his bones, of course!

Sam Campbell takes one look at the Vegas Bombshell and knows damn good and well she belongs in his bed. She probably has the words gold digger tattooed to her ass but he’s ready to take what the sexy blonde has to offer. Vowing to protect his heart, Sam rocks her world. Too bad she’s rocking his right back. Sam is more than ready to handle some sass, spunk and sex, but is he willing to gamble on love?