@ReadingRomance Day 8 #NaughtyorNice

Today is the last day of Reading Romance's Naughty or Nice tour. I'll be sending out emails to commentors this coming week with a list of my back titles to choose their free reads.

So to wrap up the 8 days of Naughty or Nice, I ask...What's the sweetest story you've ever read? What's the naughtiest?

@ReadingRomance Day 7 #NaughtyorNice Talapia

"Tilapia fillets are rubbed with a mix of secret spices, then pan fried and served on white bread with a squeeze of lemon juice." This is from All Recipes where I find 99% of my to-make items. (Those recipes I already have, I search for on All Recipes to share!)

Ingredients:

 

3 tablespoons paprika

1 tablespoon onion powder

1 pinch garlic powder

1 teaspoon ground white pepper

1 teaspoon ground black pepper

1 teaspoon cayenne pepper, or to taste

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1 teaspoon dried thyme 1/2 teaspoon celery seed

1 tablespoon kosher salt, or to taste

1 pound tilapia fillets

1 lemon, cut into wedges

4 slices white bread

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

Directions:

1. In a small bowl or jar with a lid, make the spice blend.
2. Mix together the paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, white pepper, black pepper, cayenne pepper, oregano, thyme, celery seed and kosher salt.
3. Coat the fish fillets with the spice mixture, and allow to sit at room temperature for no longer than 30 minutes.
4. Heat a heavy skillet over high heat.
5. Add oil, and heat until it is almost smoking.
6. Place the fillets in the pan, and cook for about 3 minutes per side, or until fish is opaque and can be flaked with a fork.
7. Remove from the pan, and place onto slices of white bread. Pour pan juices over them and squeeze lemon juice all over.
8. Do not underestimate the white bread. It gets quite tasty soaking up all the juices.

The Naughty or Nice Giveaway Hop was organized by Nat @ Reading Romances!

[Enter your text here]

What you can win here: Any of my backstories

Number of winners: Depends but at least 1 per day!

Open to (INT, US or US/CAN): All ebooks, so international

How to enter: Leave me a comment, it's as simple as that!

Hop and enter the other giveaways!

@ReadingRomance #NaughtyorNice and Suzanne Rock

Playing Hooky

Thanks so much for having me here today! Those of you who follow me know that I’m passionate about finding ways to stretch your money. In fact, my blog, Budget Romance, is dedicated to people finding ways to infuse romance into their relationship without spending a ton of money. It also gives budgeting tips, as well as marketing and creativity tips for writers. Today, I’d like to share with you something that has really helped keeping my relationship with my husband fresh – playing hooky.

I know it can be tough to keep that spark alive in your relationship - especially if you have been with your partner for a while. Finances, work and family can be stressful. Even the strongest couples often become victims of comfort and routine. Before long, they take each other for granted and the spark that brought them together begins to fizzle.

It may feel like you can't afford to play hooky from your day job, but believe me, you can. Even if you run your own business, your company will survive without you for twenty-four hours. Isn't your relationship worth it? Take a day off with your partner and do something fun. Enjoy life and each other. Do something you both enjoy or go somewhere that has pleasant memories for both of you. This doesn't have to be an expensive restaurant or hotel. You could go to the beach, or take a walk in the park. See a movie or go to the driving range. Do whatever you find relaxing and just enjoy the time you spend with your mate. Use the day to reconnect and rediscover why you both fell in love in the first place.

Have you ever played hooky with your partner? Where did you go? What did you do? I'd love to hear about it!

In the meantime, check out my new paranormal romance from Siren Bookstrand.

Buy it at Bookstrand.
Blurb:

Cyrah has denied her pagan heritage and tried to live a normal life, but visions of two sexy strangers refuse to leave her alone. She senses trouble in their auras, and knows she must try to insert herself into their lives to stop it. Her strong attraction is difficult to control however, and one miscalculation leaves her captured by a powerful Coven and tied to a Master Warlock’s bed.

When Roman recognizes Cyrah as his destined mate, he makes every effort to keep her close. He lusts after the sexy witch, but can’t deny his attraction for his personal guard, Sam. His emotions are torn and Roman is unable to bind himself to either of them. Then he learns that Sam and Cyrah feel the same. Cyrah has an idea of how all three of them can become mates, but doing so would involve extremely kinky sex, denying ancient warlock tradition, and putting all of their lives in grave danger.

ADULT EXCERPT

Using one of the plants for cover, Cyrah peeked into the side window of Roman’s office. She saw Roman clearly now, and felt the same magnetic pull she had felt earlier when she was trying to pinpoint his location. His aura surrounded him, the soft crimson telling her that his thoughts were centered on more earthly, physical things. It flickered with streaks of green. Calming streaks. She tried to catch a glimpse of the person he was talking to, but the figure remained just out of sight. She could see his aura, however. It was dark green with golden flecks. Roman was talking to a healer, or someone with a calming presence.

She continued to watch Roman as he talked. Her gaze slid down from his firm lips to his broad shoulders and then to his tight, round ass. Desire sparked in her lower abdomen, and her heartbeat quickened. She felt hot despite the central air-conditioning vent right above her.

The attraction she had felt when she first saw him in her vision was nothing like what she felt now. In her dreams he was amazing, but in reality he was breathtaking. Roman Maddock was tall and muscular and took care of his appearance. He had an authoritative presence that spoke to a spot deep inside of her. No woman could resist such commanding masculinity. Roman was definitely drool-worthy.

With each passing moment, the dull ache in her core grew. She wanted to burst into his office, strip off her clothes, and wrap herself around him like a blanket. She could never do that, however. Roman was just a man, and knew nothing of visions and the mating heat of witches and warlocks. She didn’t want to scare him.

Cyrah gasped as the other person in the office moved into her line of vision. It was the one from her dreams, Roman’s companion. She’d know that dirty-blond hair and those angular features anywhere. While Roman was long and lean like a soccer player, his companion was broader, more muscular. She suspected that Roman’s friend had spent a lot of time lifting weights or doing heavy labor to get such a chiseled physique.

Cyrah widened her eyes as she watched them interact. There was an easy familiarity about them, as if they were close friends. Roman said something, and the other man laughed. Then Roman ran his hand down his friend’s arm. The other man closed his eyes. Cyrah saw the man’s aura turn from green to bright crimson. Whatever Roman did made the other man’s thoughts turn more worldly and primal. Cyrah held her breath in anticipation.

Roman slid his hand up and cupped the other man’s cheek. Their gazes met, and Cyrah didn’t need to see their auras to know that they desired each other. Not friends, then, but lovers. She thought the information would squelch the burning heat between her thighs, but it only made it hotter.

Roman leaned forward and captured his lover’s lips. The kiss was gentle and affectionate. Cyrah inched closer to the window and pictured herself pressed in between them. What would they smell like? How would all of those hard muscles feel against her skin? She imagined them kissing her with as much passion as they kissed each other.

Roman swept his tongue into his lover’s mouth. The man eased his hands forward and began to undo Roman’s pants. Their auras turned from crimson to fire-engine red. Cyrah shivered as her need escalated.

The kiss changed from affectionate to desperate. They slanted over each other’s mouths again and again as they tore at their constricting clothes. With their pants removed and shirts unbuttoned, they palmed each other’s chest, shoulders, and ass. They ground their hips together as if they wanted to fuse their bodies into one being. Their auras blended and grew until they filled the entire room, as often happened when people felt strong emotions.

Cyrah knew that she should leave. The lovers obviously wanted some privacy. She tried to stand and walk down the hall, but she couldn’t make her feet move. Her message for them was too important. Besides, she had never seen two men kiss before, and it fascinated her. As she watched, pressure built deep inside her core, and her panties became damp. The urge to participate was overwhelming. What was wrong with her? Never before had she felt such strong desire. A primal longing pulsed through her, making her want to weep with frustration.

Cyrah grabbed her breasts in an attempt to relieve some of the ache. She squeezed and pinched her nipples as she watched the men undress each other but could barely feel her ministrations through her cleaning uniform.

What was it about these men that affected her? They were physically appealing, yes, but she had seen attractive men before. None of them caused such an intense reaction. Was it possible to die of unsatisfied lust?

Cyrah glanced behind her and confirmed that the hall was empty. She positioned herself so that most of her body was shielded by the plant and then undid her pants. She rested her head on the window as she pulled her navy trousers and panties down around her ankles. What she was doing was completely insane, but she couldn’t seem to help herself. The emotions were just too strong.

She spread her knees apart and bit back a groan as cool air kissed her wet folds. Cyrah plunged her finger into her slick channel. Her muscles stretched, but not enough. She needed more, much more. She turned back to the window.

Roman was the first to break the kiss. Both men were breathing heavily as Roman turned his lover around and bent him over the desk. Cyrah moistened her lips as Roman walked around to the other side and grabbed something out of one of the drawers. What was he doing?

The Naughty or Nice Giveaway Hop was organized by Nat @ Reading Romances!

[Enter your text here]

What you can win here: Any of my backstories

Number of winners: Depends but at least 1 per day!

Open to (INT, US or US/CAN): All ebooks, so international

How to enter: Leave me a comment, it's as simple as that!

Hop and enter the other giveaways!

@ReadingRomance Day 5 #NaughtyorNice

No, it's not Friday, but I thought I'd post this anyway. Mostly because it's getting cooler (I'm a summer gal myself) and thought I'd dig out some of my crock-pot recipes when I found this delicious one on bacon-wrapped cocktail wieners I thought I'd share. And then there was this distressing article on bacon shortages!

Prep Time: 45 Min
Cook Time: 45 Min
Ready In: 1 Hr 30 Min

Ingredients
1 pound sliced bacon, cut into thirds
1 (14 ounce) package beef cocktail wieners
3/4 cup brown sugar, or to taste

Directions:
1.Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
2.Refrigerate 2/3 of the bacon until needed. It is easier to wrap the wieners with cold bacon.
3.Wrap each cocktail wiener with a piece of bacon and secure with a toothpick. Place on a large baking sheet.
4.Sprinkle brown sugar generously over all.
5.Bake for 40 minutes in the preheated oven, until the sugar is bubbly.
6.To serve, place the wieners in a slow cooker and keep on the low setting.

Amount Per Serving Calories: 163
Total Fat: 10.5g
Cholesterol: 26mg

The Naughty or Nice Giveaway Hop was organized by Nat @ Reading Romances!

[Enter your text here]

What you can win here: Any of my backstories

Number of winners: Depends but at least 1 per day!

Open to (INT, US or US/CAN): All ebooks, so international

How to enter: Leave me a comment, it's as simple as that!

Hop and enter the other giveaways!

@ReadingRomance Day 4 #NaughtyorNice

Oktoberfest is going on now, and since it's a Regency (1810) happening, I thought I'd post a bit about it. This year is the 179th Oktoberfest in Munich and it's gone from a celebration of a royal wedding (not a happy one--Ludwig had many affairs and the people loved Therese) to an all out tourism extravaganza.

It began with the Royal Wedding on 12 October 1810.

Crown Prince Ludwig, later to become King Ludwig I, was married to Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen on 12 October 1810. The citizens of Munich were invited to attend the festivities held on the fields in front of the city gates to celebrate the happy royal event. The fields were renamed Theresienwiese ("Theres'a Fields") to honor the Crown Princess, although the locals have since abbreviated the name simply to "Wiesn". Horse races in the presence of the royal family marked the close of the event that was celebrated as a festival for the whole of Bavaria. The decision to repeat the horse races in subsequest years gave rise to the tradition of Oktoberfest. 

The Oktoberfest continues in 1811

In 1811, an added feature to the horse races was the first Agricultural Show, designed to boost Bavarian agriculture. The horse races, which were the oldest - and at one time - the most popular event of the festival are no longer held today. But the Agricultural Show is still held every three years during the Oktoberfest on the southern part of the festival grounds. 

More and more things to see and do

In the first few decades, the choices of amusements were sparse. In 1818, the first carousel and two swings were set up. Vistitors were able to quench their thirst at small beer stands, which grew rapidly in number. In 1896 the beer stands were replaced by the first beer tents and halls set up by the enterprising landlords with the backing of the breweries. The remainder of the festival site was taken up by a fun-fair. The range of carousels offered was already increasing rapidly in the 1870's as the fairground trade continued to grow and develope in Germany.

The Naughty or Nice Giveaway Hop was organized by Nat @ Reading Romances!

[Enter your text here]

What you can win here: Any of my backstories

Number of winners: Depends but at least 1 per day!

Open to (INT, US or US/CAN): All ebooks, so international

How to enter: Leave me a comment, it's as simple as that!

Hop and enter the other giveaways!

A Holiday to Remember: Justine Elyot and sexy secrets

A Holiday to Remember

 

Hello, everyone, it's lovely to be here with Kristabel and I love her chosen topic of holidays. As it happens, I've just come home from one – on the Isle of Wight. It was terrific, but it's not the one I'm going to talk about today.

Since I'm here to tour my new novel, Saxonhurst Secrets, I thought it would be very easy for my post to tie into the book, because the village setting is based on a real place – and I have taken holidays there myself, staying with friends and family members.

Now, I'm not going to say exactly where the village is, but I can tell you that it's in the Midlands of England, not far from the Cotswolds and the Malvern Hills, and I'm going to tell you about a few great places to visit in the region.

1. Chipping Campden

A beautiful little town, built of characteristic honey-coloured Cotswold stone, this is well worth a visit if you like poking around little crafty/antique shops and pretending to be a character in a Jane Austen novel. I love that kind of thing, so I always enjoy a day out here.

2. Warwick Castle

Fittingly, given that my novel is paranormal and Warwick Castle is reputed to be haunted to the hilt. Excellent dungeons, amazing exhibitions and a chance to pretend to be medieval instead of Regency. Picture all those imaginary knights on the battlements!

3. The Rollright Stones

These ancient monuments dating back to the Neolithic and Bronze Ages always give me a feeling of mystical chill. Very appropriate to the book, I think. Who built them? Nobody knows. Why did they build them? Probably for the purposes of burial rituals. There is a story that one of the stones is a knight who was turned that way by a witch – another interesting clue to the book.

So, if you're ever down Saxonhurst way – you know where to visit!

Blurb:

On the surface, Saxonhurst is like every other sleepy English village in the Vale of Parham.

But what explanations are there for its unfailingly bountiful harvests, its amazingly successful cricket team, its bizarre and bacchanalian May Day rituals?

New vicar Adam Flint is bent on finding out why Saxonhurst has the nickname 'most godless village in England'. With the help and hindrance of village siren Evie and the strange and remote Lady of the Manor, Julia, he uncovers closets full of skeletons. And not just skeletons - flesh and blood bodies rich in temptations as well...

Will the secrets of Saxonhurst be Adam's ruin?

Where to buy:

Xite

@ReadingRomance Day 3 #NaughtyorNice

Here it is, Day 3 of the Naughty or Nice blog hop. I'm awaiting conversion of my final Hellfire Club Erotique, Devil's Pawn. But here's an excerpt from that story:

Graham looked at the other man. He seemed perfectly at ease with himself; the candlelight made his dark skin gleam. Shaking his head at his own romanticism, Graham wondered at this man, this foreigner.

            He’d been perfectly honest when he told Trent he’d watched him and wanted him. In the last weeks he found honesty cleansing—if he was to go to his grave a young man, he wanted to do so with as few falsehoods as possible.

            The Club had been abuzz with rumors about the Turk since his arrival, yet Malik Trent had done naught to answer any of their many questions. Though he knew little of Trent, Graham couldn’t help but…hope. A dangerous emotion that, but nonetheless hope did stir within him.

            Could this man help?

            Studying him through hooded eyes, Graham wondered. He wanted Trent, and it was obvious Trent wanted him as well. But could he trust the Turk?

            “I would appreciate your help,” he began, almost surprised at the admission. “However, I don’t wish to see you entangled in this unsavory business.”

            “Explain the business to me,” Trent interrupted before Graham could continue.

            Loosening his cravat, which he hadn’t tied properly anyway, Graham slowly nodded. No one had actually offered to help. Then again, he hadn’t exactly shouted throughout the Club the reasons for his suddenly licentious behavior in a group filled with lustful abandonment.

            He stalked to the sideboard and poured a drink. Whisky, not wine, filled his goblet, but Graham didn’t care and knocked it back like a tavern whore.

 

The Naughty or Nice Giveaway Hop was organized by Nat @ Reading Romances!

[Enter your text here]

What you can win here: Any of my backstories

Number of winners: Depends but at least 1 per day!

Open to (INT, US or US/CAN): All ebooks, so international

How to enter: Leave me a comment, it's as simple as that!

Hop and enter the other giveaways!

@ReadingRomance Day 2 #naughtyornice

I just realized I need 2 more titles for my Victorian Menage series. It's a 6 book series, 1 for every month of the Parisian World's Fair with alternating f/f/m and m/m/f. Here are the 4 titles:



Seduction of my Proper Wife (currently being edited) f/f/m
Wicked Seduction (current WIP) m/m/f
Masterful Seduction f/f/m
The Wallflower's Seduction m/m/f

Possible: Seduction of a Scoundrel or The Scoundrel's Seduction

Any ideas for the last title? Right now I think it's my marriage of convenience story but since it's pretty far in the loosely-based around the fair series, I'm not 100% certain of that.


 

The Naughty or Nice Giveaway Hop was organized by Nat @ Reading Romances!

[Enter your text here]

What you can win here: A copy of any of my backstories

Number of winners: At least 1 per day!

Open to (INT, US or US/CAN): All ebooks so international

How to enter: Leave a comment! It's as simple as that.

Hop and enter the other giveaways!

@ReadingRomance #naughtyornice Day 1

Today is day one of the @readingromance's Naughty or Nice giveaway.

The question is: Which do you prefer?Nice doesn't mean not sexy.

Naughty doesn't mean not nice.So...naughty or nice? I prefer naughty. :)...

For more information.

Blood Memories by KJ Dahlen

Kim Dahlen lives in a small town (population 495) in Wisconsin. From her deck she can see the Mississippi River on one side and the bluffs, where eagles live and nest on the other side. She lives with her husband Dave and dog Sammy. Her two children are grown and she has two grandchildren. She loves to watch people and that has helped her with her writing. She loves to create characters and put them in a troubling situation then sit back and let them do all the work. Her characters surprise even her at times. At some point in the book they take on a life of their own and the twists and turns become the story. Of all the stories she could write she found she liked mystery/thrillers the best. She likes to keep her readers guessing until the very end of the book.

Email
Web site
I am on facebook and twitter as kjdahlen
My blog is on facebook at K.J.’s blog

Kim will be awarding a $20 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour.

Spare Time Hobby that isn't writing:

I love to escape the whole world at times, as often as I can. I found how to escape my reality for my favorite authors ‘reality any time I choose. All I have to do is pick up a book. I can go anywhere in the world I want to and I don’t even have to leave my own home.

I love to read about faraway places and places close by. Sometimes I want to read a mystery and sometimes I’ll read about two lovers facing an impossible situation. I don’t really care for the blood and gore of horror but I’ve found a liking to fantasy, romance, mystery, espionage, and every once in a while I’ll read erotica.

If an author can take me into his/her world even for a little while I’ll go on vacation every chance I get. I was lucky enough to hostess a publishing company for a year or so and we had some very good writers. It was great. I’ve read thousands and thousands of books over the years and some of the books I’ve read more than once, just to relive the experience I got the first time.

I love to read and every once in a while I’ll challenge myself to read about something different each month. I have books about everything from soups to nuts and that’s when I found another thing to love, I became fascinated by forensic. I read how the police look for evidence and process it, if I were a younger woman I know what I would want to be when I grew up, but as it is I’ll just read about it and be happy.

Books are my little secret fling. I just love them, they are like a guilty pleasure I keep to myself.

BLURB:

When an accident turns out to be not an accident but murder Savannah must solve a double murder that happened over twenty years ago to find the truth. She was the only witness to her parent’s murder and now their killer is after her. She puts her trust into a man her aunt has known and all these years but evidence soon points to him being involved with the man she thinks killed her parents. Will she prove him innocent or fall prey to his intent? Her life and over two million dollars in diamonds is at stake.

Excerpt:

As the dirt hit the casket, the sound it made echoed through the cemetery and caused Savannah to flinch. The sound was so final but then so was death. Savannah's heart was breaking as she listened to the thud of the earth hitting the wood of her aunt's final resting place. She glanced at the temporary headstone marker. Tears rolled down her cheeks when she read the name on the marker, Donna Marie Kelley.

A voice inside her head screamed at her that the name on the headstone was wrong. It should have read Donna Marie Weston, not Kelley. Donna had been the one person in her young life who protected her after her parents died. She was the one who held Savannah when she was sick or the nightmares got the best of her. Donna had been there to make her laugh and kept her safe all these years.

Donna had died four days ago in a car accident. Her car plunged off the road and down into a ravine. The paramedics said she might have lived if help had arrived right after the accident, but Donna wasn't found until the next day. She had been all alone and in pain when death came to call.

Tears slid down her cheeks as she thought of how long Donna had suffered. The medical examiner's report told her that Donna suffered two broken legs and a fractured rib. The rib punctured her lung and eventually her abdomen filled with blood. The coroner had determined she bled to death internally. The police were looking into the accident, but she knew there was nothing they could do. There wasn't anything anyone could do. Donna was gone and now she was alone in the world.

Savannah glanced at the temporary marker again. She knew Donna wouldn't want her real name on her final resting place but she was tempted to put it there. Savannah George wasn't her real name either. She had been born Georgia Michelle Corbin, but she hadn't been called Georgia for a long, long time, almost a life time, her lifetime.

Glancing toward the sky, Savannah could see the dark gray clouds. It looked as dreary outside as she felt inside. Donna's death had been the result of a car accident, and Savannah hadn't had time to think about her future yet.

Savannah had turned her head to watch the sound when she felt someone walk up behind her. Spinning around she saw a man she didn't know standing there. He was tall and blonde with a full beard. His dark grey eyes were somber as he glanced at the grave in front of him. He turned to look at Savannah before he spoke. "Hello, my name is Jack Russell. I'm sorry to disturb you at a time like this, but I was your aunt's attorney."

Savannah grimaced. She stared at the older, well -dressed man standing in front of her and couldn't help but wonder why Donna felt the need for an attorney. "I wasn't aware she had an attorney," she finally said.

Jack tilted his head. "I haven't had contact with her for a number of years but she first came to see me nine years ago. She told me she had just moved to Seattle, and she wanted me to keep something for her. She gave me this package to give to you upon her death."

Savannah accepted the package from him and glanced at it. She raised her gaze back to Jack's face. "Did she tell you what was in this package?"

Jack stared at her for a moment. "She told me to say you would find the answers to all the questions you wanted to know growing up in there. She said you would find out why she had to keep you safe and a mystery only you could solve." He hesitated, "I didn't know your aunt very well, but I'm sorry she died."

Savannah watched as he turned and walked away. The package she held was heavy, and her curiosity was getting the better of her. She caught her breath as she glanced at the package and saw Donna's handwriting on the outside. She had written her name on the package.

Where to buy the book:

All Romance eBooks

Amazon
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