Guest: Evelyn Shepherd

I'm pleased to welcome Evelyn Shepherd who was kind enough about anything she wanted. So what did she decide on? Don't forget to comment to be entered to win a $20 Amazon GC and follow Evelyn's tour.

Hey ya’ll, so glad to be here! Thanks to Kristabel for having me. I’m psyched to be able to talk to everyone for a bit. For this tour I’ve been doing a lot of interviews, so I’m really excited to just talk for a minute about some more candid thoughts. Honestly when I was first approached with the offer to do a free-reign blog post I was slightly apprehensive.

I’m a terrible blogger, hands down. I can never think of anything to say. It may be because my head is full of so many ideas for stories that there just isn’t room for anything else. So I had to really think for a moment.

I could talk to you about the perfect way to make eggs (which I do not know) or talk about my on-and-off affair with needlepoint. That really isn’t exciting – save the grandma jokes! I’ve decided to talk about some awareness, which also leads back to some of my inspiration for writing. Let’s face it, my life is writing so there really isn’t much else for me to talk about. Not unless you want to hear about my Glee obsession.

Anyone? A little Klaine talk? Anyone?

No?

Well, fine.

Onto the topic. One of the major questions asked during my interviews has been what inspires me. While there are several people out in the world that have inspired me, one of the major things that has pushed me into writing has been my life. I have two sisters, one older and one younger. As the middle child I’ve learned from my older sister’s mistakes (of which she made many) and also been tethered to my younger sister. Around fifth, maybe sixth grade, my little sister was diagnosed with severe autism and MRDD (mental retardation).

I love my sister, but at times it was hard growing up. I was stuck between a rebellious older sister who pushed as many boundaries as she could and a younger, who, while five years my younger, had the mentality of an infant. Fantasy, role-playing, reading, and video games became my outlet. I lost myself in a world that wasn’t my own, a world I could control. Life was easier between the pages of a book. If I could have had a Never Ending Story experience, I would have in a heartbeat.

Eventually that passion turned into writing. It started as a hobby, something I never dreamed of pursuing. I wrote the worst fan fiction. My first was for this anime called Escaflowne. When I got tired of writing fan fiction, I tried my own stories. From there that passion developed.

Writing has always been a part of my life. It has been my greatest escape and without it I don’t know where I’d be. A psych ward maybe? Actually, I probably should be there now! Well, thanks Kristabel for letting me share my story!

BLURB: Valentine’s Day turns into a nightmare when an ancient vampire burns her way through the greater Columbus, ushering in the Aztec God of Death. Theo and Carlos will have to set aside their personal problems in order to put an end to a deranged killer. But as the body count rises, they find outthey’re going up against more than a vampire -– they’re going up against each other.In the midst of the chaos, Theo faces his own personal turmoil. When Lloyd confronts Theo about his feelings, Theo isn’t sure whether his heart still belongs to Carlos or if he truly cares for Lloyd. If he wants to save the world, Theo will have to overcome his troubled heart and harness the power within.


EXCERPT

I thought I was drowning. There was a brief moment—when my vision turned black and my mind went blank—when I was sure I was standing in front of the devil.

How many people can honestly walk away from the devil after shaking his hand? No one. Because once you shake his hand, you never truly leave him. He has a piece of my soul. It was the price I paid to come back to life. Eventually he was going to collect the rest of his debt.

I wasn’t drowning, though, and he wasn’t here for his final pound of flesh. I cut through the water, and reality cleared in the rise of air bubbles. I started on my first lap, focusing my attention on strengthening my knee and not on the thousands of thoughts swirling in my mind. I had screwed my knee up four months ago, and even though I had been out of rehabilitation for almost two months, I still had to work on getting it back to normal.

My back was an intricate network of knots. After a long day, I just wanted to let it all drift away. The Olympic-size pool wasn’t an ocean that could carry me away on the current, though, so I kept on swimming, pushing myself as hard as I could.

There were nights when I woke up screaming. I used to think the nightmares that stalked me were bad, but now the ones that followed me, even during waking hours, were far worse. I was just a step away from becoming a monster, and the nightmares reminded me of how close I was to falling over that edge.

I hit the other side of the pool, flipped in the water, returned to the opposite end. I was able to work out the stiffness in my limbs after the first lap. I continued to do ten more, each one helping take away the heavy burden of the day.

I broke the surface and grabbed on to the concrete ledge of the pool, holding on tight as I dragged in a slow breath of air.

“Mi corazón, are you done?” Carlos’s voice drifted down to me. I could make out his scruffy black sneakers just a few feet away from my hands.

I looked up at him, taking in the low-slung red basketball shorts, the tight black tank, and the inches of glistening caramel skin slicked by sweat. My cock twitched with life.

My name is Theo Bourne, and I’m a detective for the Columbus Police Department’s Preternatural Task Force. It’s my job to control the arcane underbelly of the city. Originally I had been a member of the NYC division, but after losing my partner, I moved back to Columbus.
That was when I met Carlos.

About Evelyn:
Evelyn Shepherd lives in Columbus with a fox terrier named Sunny and a ferocious appetite for sexy urban fantasies and horrors. She spends her time writing, but when she isn't working on her next novel she's either reading or spoiling her nieces and nephew. She is currently working hard at her next novel.
Website
Blog
Facebook
Twitter

Buy Links:
Loose-ID
Barnes and Noble

Amazon

Wednesday Regency: War of 1812

I consider the Regency Era the time period, not specific to England. Then again, in America the only things they cared about when it came to England was keeping them on their side of the Atlantic Ocean. There was definitely no love lost between those two countries.

England didn't truly consider America its own country, and America had their own problems with English naval ships taking Americans off their own ships in the thinly veiled notion that they were Englishmen not Americans and thus subjected to English conscription.

Monday June 18, 2012 marked the 200th anniversary of the start of the War of 1812. America's second Revolution. Presidents, cult songs and a national anthem, legends of Dolley Madison and George Washington, and the White House all came about because of this war. (There's a great History Channel show on it, too.)

From BBC:

American President James Madison signed a declaration of war against Great Britain. The first time the United States had declared war against another nation, it was not an action that enjoyed unanimous support in Congress.

War rarely is unanimously supported, but the reasons for President Madison doing so included:

• British habit of forcing American merchant sailors into the Royal Navy
• Trade restrictions on the US as a side-effect of Britain's seemingly endless war with France
• British support for Native Americans as they fought against the US government's westward expansion.
  

America was on France's side against England...I think they'd have been on any one's side against Great Britain when it came down to it.

10 Things You May Not Know about The War of 1812:

1. The bicentennial of the War of 1812 is a much bigger deal in Canada than in the United States.
2. American leaders expected that Canadians would greet them as liberators.
3. The War of 1812 produced its own Paul Revere, except this folk hero warned the British that the Americans were coming.
4. “The Star-Spangled Banner” was set to the tune of an English drinking song.
5. During the war, New Englanders considered seceding from the United States.
6. Before the British set Washington, D.C., ablaze, the Americans torched a capital city.
7. A serendipitous thunderstorm and a lethal tornado saved Washington, D.C., from further destruction.
8. After being torched, Washington, D.C., was nearly abandoned as the national capital.
9. The biggest American victory came after the signing of the peace treaty.
10. It’s unclear who, if anyone, won the War of 1812. It’s clear, however, who lost.

Friday Recipe with Louisa Bacio

Today I'm sharing Friday Recipes with Louisa who has offered up a truly delicious red beans and rice for her selection. The best part about this is that it's a one-pot recipe!

Easy Red Beans & Rice with Louisa Bacio

First, thanks so much to Kristabel for allowing me to guest today. I’m such a fan of her erotic historical ménages, and I regularly check out her Friday recipes.

In celebration of my new release erotic paranormal The Vampire, The Witch & The Werewolf: A Threesome Wedding Adventure, I’m going to share a traditional New Orleans staple, Red Beans & Rice. As with most recipes, when I started to make this one I stuck with the basics, and then started to veer off. Since I tend to cook a lot of Italian, I like to use a mild sausage, with the casings removed. Finally, in our household, since it’s the perfect one-pot recipe, I throw in a funky veggie such as corn.

Cook it up, and bring home a little bit of the Big Easy.

Ingredients
Olive oil
Small onion chopped
3 stalks celery
2 gloves garlic, chopped
Small bell pepper, seeds removed and chopped (not traditional, but I like yellow for the color contrast)
2 cans kidney beans with liquid
1 can chopped tomatoes (If you can get fire roasted, even better)
½ pound sausage, sliced and cooked – Andouille is traditional
4 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
Salt/ pepper to taste
Top with chopped parsley
White rice, cooked
Can of kernel corn, drained (optional)
** Want to make it vegetarian, substitute soy sausage and bacon.

Directions

1) Sauté onions, celery, garlic and bell pepper in oil until soft and translucent, about 4 minutes.
2) Add in sausage and bacon. If I’m using mild Italian sausage – without casings, I push the veggies to the side and cook the meat in the same pan. Depending upon the type of sausage used, you may need to drain afterward.
3) Add in kidney beans, tomatoes, salt, pepper and corn (if using), and simmer for at least 30 minutes.
4) Serve over hot rice.

This meal tastes even better the second day after the flavors intensify.

Thanks for stopping by!

The Vampire, The Witch & The Werewolf: A Threesome Wedding Adventure

Planning a wedding can be stressful and crazy-making. Planning three weddings at the same time? That’s insanity. While The Vampire, The Witch & The Werewolf embark on a nuptial excursion, Silver & Nick hold down the home fortress in New Orleans.

And as if everyone doesn’t have enough to deal with, the Voodoo King comes calling with a magic elixir that diminishes sexual inhibitions and an eerie quiet spreads across the French Quarter. Life as they know it may never be the same.

The threesome is forced to put off honeymoon bliss in order to banish the demons of their past, and embrace the uncertainty of the future.

Available via Ravenous Romance, Amazon and other eRetailers.

I’ll give away one copy of a book from my backlist to one commenter. Please leave an email address where you can be contacted.

Until next time,
Louisa Bacio
http://www.facebook.com/louisabacio
http://www.twitter.com/louisabacio
http://louisabacio.blogspot.com

New erotic series

Erotic or erotica? Erotic romance? Either way, it's got sex and it's got romance. And a Happily Ever After. So definitely romance.

This new trilogy will be a Regency series, but this time all m/f. Well...there might be a bit of a hint of a threesome, but no actual ménage scenes. I have another trilogy sketched out that is also Regency this time definitely a ménage trilogy.

In going with the question of Tuesday: Do you prefer a trilogy with all the same romace couples/threesomes? Or does it not matter if all the stories are linked?

Wednesday Regency: Death of the Prince Regent

William Henry, House of Hanover, August 21, 1765 - June 20, 1837

The Prince Regent died on this day 175 years ago, thus beginning the Victorian Era.

The Prince Regency, or William IV as he was later crowned, was known for excess, which was reflected the society around him.

Series preferences and Hellfire Club Erotique

This series is slightly different than my Regency Ménage Tales in that they're not all ménage and they're more connected than the Regency Tales. There's actually an overall mystery/thriller arc!

Which leads to a question...when reading a series do you prefer that series to be the same within the romantic-arc? The Hellfire Club is not--I have 2 ménages, one m/f, and one m/m. The final story in this series is planned to be a ménage.

Should I have kept them all the same? Should they all have been ménage or all m/m or all m/f, or even all f/f? By mixing up the couples (or threesomes) does that make it less appealing?

Blurb for m/m Hellfire Club story, which desperately needs a title.

Goals 24 and house cleaning

I took a few days off to make a long weekend and feel so accomplished I need to shout it out.

• Almost finished my new m/m Hellfire Club Erotique story and titled it! The Devil's Pawn: A Hellfire Club Erotique.
• Also did the blurb for it!
• Will be sending it off to my editor within the next 2 weeks, then the book converter as soon as I get the edits back, so hopefully it'll be out by the end of July!
• Made an Olympic cake out of cupcakes (see not too bad picture of it to the right!) for a Father's Day Extravaganza.
• Cleaned. And cleaned and cleaned! I cleaned so much, my house now looks like I'm ready to show it to potential buyers (I'm not which is a shame, because it looks beautiful!)


• Organized my office area. Technically I suppose I could lump it in with cleaning but the office area is a special place for unfilled papers, potential shredding or filing of papers depending on how long they've sat around, pieces of writing ideas, and other misc. junk.

I do love working in a clean space. (It's the cleaning I do in spurts!) What does your office or other working space look like?

Friday Recipes: Grilled Pizza

More specifically, Grilled Zucchini Pizza. I know what you're thinking, I'm a pizza purist, too! But trust me...well trust me if you like pizza, zucchini, and firmly believe cheese makes everything better.

Prep Time:10 Min
Cook Time:10 Min
Ready In:20 Min
Yield 10 zucchini pizzas

Ingredients
1 large zucchini
1/2 cup butter, melted
3 cloves crushed garlic
1/2 cup mozzarella cheese
1/2 (14 ounce) can pizza sauce

Directions

1. Slice the Zucchini into thick rounds. Combine the melted butter and crushed garlic in a small bowl. set aside.


2. When the coals on your barbeque are almost burned down, lay your zucchini slices on the grill.


3. Let cook for three minutes then turn over and brush the butter/garlic mixture on each slice.


4. Cook for three more minutes and turn over again and brush the other side with the garlic and butter.


5. Cover the slices with pizza sauce and cheese and let cook until the cheese begins to melt.
   
   Nutritional Information
   Amount Per Serving Calories: 114 Total Fat: 10.5g Cholesterol: 29mg

Wednesday Regecy: Cards

Until oh, 2 weeks ago, I never thought about what Regency playing cards looked like. I cared more about what they played rather than much else. I still don't understand Faro or Whist, but alas, I play a mean hand of rummy and poker and am pretty satisfied with that.

But, thanks to whatever urge led me to search for them, and Eveyln K. Duncan's post on Regency Era Pictoral Playing Cards - Ackermann's Repository, I present you with the following authentic (pictures) of Regency playing cards.

Blitz-Lucy Felthouse's Off the Beaten Track

Off the Beaten Track by Lucy Felthouse

When workaholic Libby Strong’s friends and family make her take a long overdue holiday, she’s not impressed. A week of lounging by a swimming pool and doing nothing is not her idea of fun. In an act of rebellion, she books a day trip, touring in a jeep. When her guide arrives, Libby’s astonished to discover she’s the only patron going on the trip. But as hunky Demetrio takes her off the beaten track and deep into the beautiful Portuguese countryside, she soon leaves her worries behind and hangs on tight for the ride of her life.

Available from:
All Romance eBooks
Resplendence Publishing
1PlaceforRomance.com
Amazon UK
Amazon US
Barnes & Noble

Excerpt:
Libby huffed and puffed as she made her way up the steep slope leading to the rear exit of the hotel complex. She swore the builders had had secret CCTV cameras installed so they could watch people suffer their poor planning for years to come. At least it was early. Had it been lunchtime, she’d surely have passed out with the heat.

Ah well, Libby thought as she finally reached the road, it’ll be worth it. This trip is going to be amazing.

As she stood on the mercifully flat pavement and got her breath back, a thought niggled at her. Nobody else was here. Panicking, Libby wrenched open her bag and pulled out her paperwork. She examined it, then a glance at her watch confirmed she had both the right date and time. So where was everyone? Yes, she was ten minutes early but surely the others should be here by now? Looking down the slope she’d just ascended, Libby frowned as she saw it was deserted.

Everywhere was deserted.

Fuck, she thought, perhaps they were all here earlier and they’ve gone without me!

The rumble of an engine distracted Libby from her worries. Turning, she saw a jeep trundling down the road towards her. She watched hopefully as the driver pulled the vehicle up beside where she stood and reached into the passenger seat.

Picking up a clipboard, the man glanced down, then at her, and said, “You are Libby Strong?”

She nodded.

The man grinned widely, revealing dimples in both cheeks, and hopped out of the jeep. Walking around the vehicle to where she stood, he held out a hand.

“I am Demetrio. Your guide for the day.”

Libby took his hand and shook it. It was warm and strong. Much like the rest of him, she suspected, as she gave him a subtle once over. He was tall, with black curly hair to his shoulders, luscious brown eyes and olive skin. A white t-shirt bearing the holiday company’s logo covered his top half—though without obscuring his impressive biceps—and he wore longish tan colored shorts on the bottom. A pair of non-descript white-ish trainers and faded red cap completed his outfit.

“I’m Libby,” she said, even though he already knew her name. She was just being polite. “Pleased to meet you.”

They broke off the handshake and Demetrio smiled again, then moved to the passenger side of the jeep and pulled open the door.

“Please,” he said, gesturing she should get in.

Libby did as she was told, but couldn’t help asking the burning question.

“Where is everyone else?”

Demetrio waited until she was safely in the passenger seat, closed the door and made his way to the driver’s side. He got in, then turned to her.

“There is nobody else. You are only person on this trip. You get best views!”

He laughed then , the flash of white teeth against olive skin resulting in an unexpected jolt in Libby’s nether regions. She studied his profile for a few seconds, then grudgingly admitted to herself that Demetrio was, in fact, very attractive. Despite the fact she was a red-blooded woman, she rarely noticed such things.

Like most people, she’d come on this holiday to recharge her batteries. Unlike most people, she’d been practically forced into it. Libby was somewhat of a workaholic, which left her little time for anything else. It was this fact which had cost her her last relationship. The long working hours, frequent rain checks on their dates and her lack of interest in any kind of affection, let alone sex, had finally caused James to walk away.

Libby had barely noticed. She’d just carried on working, and working…until her friends and family had finally intervened. They’d booked the holiday to Portugal, arranged with her boss for her to have the time off, and basically given her little choice but to go.
*****
Lucy is a graduate of the University of Derby, where she studied Creative Writing. During her first year, she was dared to write an erotic story - so she did. It went down a storm and she's never looked back. Lucy has had stories published by Cleis Press, Constable and Robinson, House of Erotica, Noble Romance, Ravenous Romance, Resplendence Publishing, Summerhouse Publishing, Sweetmeats Press and Xcite Books. She is also the editor of Uniform Behaviour and Seducing the Myth.

Find out more at http://www.lucyfelthouse.co.uk/. Join her on Facebook and Twitter, and subscribe to her newsletter at: http://eepurl.com/gMQb9

Insight and Oh yeah Weekly Goals 23

I've come to the conclusion that having a weekly goal sucks. Which is a complete turnaround for me, as I'm a creature of goals. I like making short goal lists every day (even if only mental lists) because then I'm assured of completing them. It's worked for me for years, and I always feel very accomplished:

• Goals/checklists help keep things in perspective


• They are useful in separating the What do I do first? from that overwhelming feeling of looking around.


• They cut down on the sitting on the couch feeling of helplessness and/or laziness that often happens after work.


• I like lists! I admit it, I'm one of those people who do. I can't help it, I have lists for everything, all filed in appropriate places based on what they're for (writing, day job, house, etc.).

All this leads me to also say that despite my OCD tendancies, there are times when that list should be torn to shreds, those goals left for another day, the checklist ignored. This week is one of them!

Because in the infamous words of Scarlet O'Hara, Tomorrow is another day!

Friday Recipe: Steak

To be more specific, Marinated Flat Iron Steak. Why? Because I wanted a little different for the steak, saw this, and thought--effortless perfection! Or maybe my stomach growled. I can't be sure.

Prep Time:10 Min
Cook Time:10 Min
Ready In:6 Hrs 20 Min
Yield 6 servings

Ingredients
3 tablespoons honey
3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon dried tarragon
1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary, crushed
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon white pepper
1 pinch salt
1 1/2 pounds flat iron steak

Directions

1. Whisk together the honey, vinegar, olive oil, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, tarragon, rosemary, garlic powder, white pepper, and salt.


2. Pour into a resealable plastic bag and add the flat iron steak. Squeeze out excess air, seal, and marinate in the refrigerator at least 6 hours.


3. Preheat an outdoor grill for medium-high heat and lightly oil grate.


4. Remove the steak from the marinade, shake off excess, and discard the remaining marinade.


5. Cook on preheated grill to desired degree of doneness, about 4 minutes per side for medium-rare.
   
   Nutritional Information
   Amount Per Serving Calories: 312 Total Fat: 19.8g Cholesterol: 77mg

The Escape: A Hellfire Club Erotique

A friendly reminder that the first in my Hellfire Club Erotique series, The Escape, is free for the entire month of June at All Romance eBooks. (Read here about why it didn't work on Amazon and B&N.)

Gabrielle Bertrand believed the men she loved had been beheaded during the French Revolution’s Reign of Terror. Now promised in marriage to a general of the revolution, she still fears for her life and has resigned herself to the union.

And then fate intervenes and she sees Eric LeClaire and André St. Germaine again. Eric and André have spent the last two years searching for Gabrielle, terrified she’d been killed during one of the revolution’s roundups. Now that they’ve found her again, neither will let her go.

But with National Police after them, and years spent apart, will Gabrielle return to her lovers? Or will all three of them face the wrath of Madame Guillotine?

Wednesday Regency: law

A few weeks ago I did a post on Law in the Regency and referenced Garrow's Law (BBC). I used much of what I learned for the 3rd in my Hellfire Club Erotique series, Aycliff's Vow. I wanted to use more, but didn't want to bore.

What I didn't see in Garrow' Law, but added to the story, was about the newspaper. The scandal sheets of the day were much like, and often worse than, our tabloids today. In fact, I'd say the scandal sheets were almost like the websites so prevalent today, the ones where every lurid detail about celebrities can be learned.

So while I did take a little liberty with having the newspaper men standing before Aycliff's house, following him, hounding him for quotes, I'm fully confident that humanity has not changed in 200+ years, that scandal sells no matter the time, and that if one paper could scoop another (whether or not that term was in use then) that paper would no matter the lengths it had to go through.

Excerpt

Where to buy:
All Romance
Amazon
Barnes and Noble

Blitz-Grace Elliot's Hope's Betrayal

One wild, winter's night two worlds collide.

Known for his ruthless efficiency, Captain George Huntley is sent to stamp out smuggling on the south coast of England. On a night raid, the Captain captures a lanky lad, but finds his troubles are just beginning when the lad turns out to be a lass, Hope Tyler.

With Hope as bait, the Captain sets a trap to catch the rest of the gang. But in a battle of wills, with his reputation at stake, George Huntley starts to respect feisty, independent Hope. Challenged by her sea-green eyes and stubborn loyalty Huntley now faces a new threat - his growing attraction to a sworn enemy. And a love where either Hope betrays her own kind, or Captain Huntley is court-marshalled, is not an easy destiny to follow.

Available from:

Amazon
Amazon UK
Smashwords

Injured on a smuggling run, Hope wakes to face the naval officer who captured her.

Hope kept her eyes closed as she became conscious of a man's heavy tread pacing the room. She waited until he was at the window and opened her eyelids a fraction. With the light behind him she saw an athletic man with wide shoulders, tall enough to have to stoop under the sloping eaves. Her stomach felt hollow with foreboding, for without doubt, this was the same man who'd pursued her over the dunes.

He must have sensed a change in her breathing, for suddenly he turned. He stared, with piercing blue eyes that penetrated her soul. Dressed in a naval uniform, the jacket cuffs ringed with gold braid, the man exuded authority. He continued to stare, his face unreadable; wilful, she decided, and yet uncommonly handsome. She blushed and reached for the covers, pulling them up to her chin.

"So, enough pretending. You are awake at last." His voice, deep and melodic, brooked no argument.

"Please, sir, where am I?"

"Under house arrest." He growled, obviously no friend. And yet, she touched her bandaged head, someone had taken care of her.

"You are in pain?" His consideration was surprising.

"Not so much now."

The answer pleased him. "Good, then you have some explaining to do."

"Please, sir, who are you?"

The man threw her a sideways glance and started to pace.

"Captain Huntley, RN. And you are?"

She decided against lying, her name alone couldn’t incriminate her family.

"Hope Tyler."

"Well Miss Tyler, have you the slightest idea how much trouble you're in?"

"Yes."

The Captain stared at the ceiling. "A man died because of your felony. A Revenue man. He leaves a wife and three children."

"I'm so sorry." She whispered in distress.

"His fellow officers are baying for blood."

Hope trembled, things were worse than she imagined.

"Someone must hang for his death."

Her throat closed over.

"Be it you…or the man who pulled the trigger….my men don’t care." Captain Huntley stepped closer, his presence dominating the room. She couldn’t breathe, he seemed made of granite, his eyes like flints, sparking with anger. "But I'm different." His expression softened imperceptibly. "I like to think of myself as a fair man."

Hope nodded, to encourage him.

"Any fool can see you are just a bit-player, a lackey. The men I want are the leaders, those who finance the contraband and organise the landings. Tell me who they are, and I shall intercede on your behalf with the authorities."

"What if I don’t know their names?"

His wide mouth twitched downward. "Then I cannot help you."

She would have shaken her head had it not been too painful. "The men you speak of aren't stupid. They will know I am taken, and know if I betray them. If I do… they will come for my family."

"Then put them behind bars."

"It's too risky. This way, it's only me."

He tried to hide it, but he looked surprised. She saw him drinking in the logic of her words and a shadow darkened his face. Clasping his hands behind his back, he turned to stare through the window.

"Tell me," he said benignly, "what does it feel like to be abandoned? Because that's what the smugglers did. Sailed away without a backward glance and left you to your fate."

About the Author:

Grace Elliot leads a double life as a veterinarian by day and an author of historical romance by night. Grace is an avid reader and believes intelligent people need to read romance - as an antidote to the modern world. She works in a companion animal practice near London and is housekeeping staff to five demanding felines.

"Hope's Betrayal" is Grace's third historical romance novel - to find out more please visit her.

Blog: Fall in Love With History

Twitter

Guests and Weekly Goal 22

Richard Dawson died! I know he was the host of Family Feud because just last week I looked up the Hatfields & McCoys and apparently the descendants of the feuding family were on a show...with a pig on stage. Huh.

I think I'm going to stop numbering these goals...I have no idea what week of the year this is, I can only tell you that June sneaked up on me and I don't know where May went.

1. Add more romance to my current m/m story. You'd think, as a romance writer, I could do that. But no, I have sex, I have plot, but I need romance! I refuse to not have romance!
2. I'm going to have more guests on my blog, so if you're interested, drop me an email and we'll schedule something.

Aycliff's Vow: A Hellfire Club Erotique now available.

All Romance
Amazon
Barnes and Noble

5 star review for Covet

A thousand thanks to Silla Beaumont at Just Erotic Romance Reviews for the lovely things she has to say about Covet: A Regency Ménage Tale:

What a fantastic story Ms. Reed has developed! Covet is both sweetly sensual and highly decadent, a truly blissful combination for any fan of MMF ménage stories. While the erotic encounters do take a while to develop between the three main characters, when they happen it is well worth the wait! From frantic and highly charged encounters to slow and methodical seductions, Covet has a little bit of fun for everyone's taste.

Thank you, Silla!

Friday Recipe: Penne with Chicken and Asparagus

I'm a big fan of chicken and pasta-together and separately. Add in fresh asparagus and you create perfection! I don't have asparagus in my garden, I admit to not knowing how it's grown, but perhaps for next year I can make room and add some in! This delicious recipe is from All Recipes, as normal.

Prep Time:15 Min
Cook Time:20 Min
Ready In:35 Min
Original Recipe Yield 8 servings

Ingredients
1 (16 ounce) package dried penne pasta
5 tablespoons olive oil, divided
2 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cut into cubes
salt and pepper to taste (skipped this part)
garlic powder to taste (did not skip this!)
1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth
1 bunch slender asparagus spears, trimmed, cut on diagonal into 1-inch pieces
1 clove garlic, thinly sliced
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese

Directions
Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to boil. Add pasta, and cook until al dente, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain, and set aside.

Warm 3 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Stir in chicken, and season with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Cook until chicken is cooked through and browned, about 5 minutes. Remove chicken to paper towels.

Pour chicken broth into the skillet. Then stir in asparagus, garlic, and a pinch more garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Cover, and steam until the asparagus is just tender, about 5 to 10 minutes. Return chicken to the skillet, and warm through.

Stir chicken mixture into pasta, and mix well. Let sit about 5 minutes. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons olive oil, stir again, then sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.

Nutritional Information
Servings Per Recipe: 8

Calories: 332
Total Fat: 10.9g
Cholesterol: 20mg
Sodium: 117mg
Total Carbs: 43.3g
Dietary Fiber: 3.1g
Protein: 16.7g