Summer is here !!

It's summer time and that means clothes come off...well, at least we dress with less. You may be asking yourself what you can do to fire up the ol' relationship. I suggest you use the heat as a tool. Change ino something that shows skin, but not too much. You want to leave a bit to the imagination, and have something for him to remove later. Pack a picnic basket with fingerfoods, because what's sexier than feeding each other? Don't forget the bottle of wine. Choose a quiet spot underneath the shade of a tree and let your imagintion run wild. Have ice cubes? Rub a piece along your skin, especially around the cleavage area. Need sunscreen? Of course you do. Ask him if he'll get the unreachable places: back, shoulders, and thighs. Love to read? Why not read him a chapter from your fave erotica novel?


Here is a recipe that you'll both enjoy:

Peppermint Bark

2 cups crushed peppermint candies or sticks (I place the candy inside of a plastic bag and crush them with a rolling pin)

1 1/2 pounds melted chocolate (white or dark, your choice)


Mix candies with melted chocolate. Pour onto greased cookie sheet. Let harden overnight. Break into pieces and store in a tightly sealed container.

He'll think you slaved all day to make these delicious treats, but who has to know it was this easy?

Short vs. Long: Size does matter

I wouldn't consider myself a seasoned writer, not yet. With six published eBooks, two awaiting contracts, and several awaiting last minute polishing, I would say I have enough experience to say that size does matter. Now kindly remove your mind out of the gutter. I'm talking word count. I am currently working on a short erotica and it's certainly been the most difficult for me.

Actually, this story started out as a novel, but somehow during the first few chapters, I quickly learned that it was destined to be 15,000 words or less. It wasn't that I couldn't fill up the pages with sexy scenes and hot dialogue.I believe this is where my writer instincts kicked into gear. Some stories are meant for fast punches. I compare it to eating an ice cream cone in the middle of the summer. If I buy a large cone it's a sure thing that I won't get to enjoy the entire thing before it melts. However, if I buy the smalller size of the richest, most sinful ice cream in the shop, every lick is like a pleasure to the senses.  Exactly what it's like writiing a short erotica. Because it's smaller, every page must offer pleasure to the readers' senses.

I'm excited as I finish up the last few chapters.

Look Better Naked !!

As I was searching through Books at Amazon one title caught my attention: Look Better Naked !
Don't we all have this fear to a certain degree? How we look naked? Honestly though, I'm not so worried about what I look like naked as much as I am with clothes on. Besides me, the only person who sees me naked is my man...and like most men, what man has ever turned away because we have a muffin top?

With that being said, I was pulled in in by the tagline, The 6-week plan to your Leanest, Hottest Body--ever! I don't know about you, but that's not a bad challenge. I'd like to have my hottest body ever. I already work out, I'm at the weight I want to be, but just like everyone, I have flaws that I'd love to change. So, I ordered the book. Yup, I was sucked in...

I received it in the mail today and as I opened the front cover, page 2, I read the 2 words, The Diet. Great...I never have liked diets. Secondly, the next words, "A 2-day clean-food cleanse" didn't make me jump with joy. *sigh*

I'm gonna do this though. I will. That's why I'm blogging about it, because I know that YOU will encourage me, right? If anyone wants to join in, send me a post.

Stephanie Beck

I am excited to have Stephanie Beck blogging with me today. She is a great writer and her creativity is out of this world.

Walking Characters by Stephanie Beck

Smut Interrupted needed a cowboy. Unfortunately, we don’t have a whole lot of those in my home state of Minnesota. Lots of farmers, lots of gardeners, but while cows are a familiar sight in pastures around the state, their horse riding wranglers, sadly, are missing.

As I pondered my lack of cowboys problem, I went about my daily life. Lucky me, I happened upon some Texans in the grocery store. Now, I know not all Texans are cowboys and not all cowboys are Texans, but these old boys—late 40’s—had what I’d been having a hard time putting into words: they had swagger.

They were at the store with who I presume were their wives. Both women were super short and all those ladies needed to do was point to the higher shelves and away those boys would go, always with a smile on their face. Once I saw one pause at fruit snacks, get a box and toss it in the cart. His wife must have given him a look because he gave her a quick kiss and ambled on. She smiled and shook her head (yes, I saw these things from my cart where I hid behind my three kids—the little stinkers caught me while distracted and I ended up spending an extra 20 bucks on treats!)

By now, if you haven’t notice, I’m a bit of a character stalker. By the time I finished with my shopping I had a better handle on what qualities I needed beside hat and boots.

Cowboys by nature, are nurturers. They might be dusty and cuss, but think about it. They are shepherds to animals. I decided my character needed to have that nurturing instinct. A lot of times that instinct comes out in protectiveness. I gave Andy a protective streak that makes me smile. He’s got the swagger, but he uses it for good, just like the grocery store cowboys.

It always makes me curious to know which characteristics stand out to people. For me, the grocery store cowboys’ nurturing stood out, but I’m sure someone else would have noticed something else. (they had hella cool belt buckles too).  I can’t wait to grocery shop again. Who knows who I’ll see?

All the best,

Stephanie Beck

www.stephaniebeck.net

Smut Interrupted by Stephanie Beck

Anna and Andy are at a sex addict class against their wills. Seeing each other after years apart opens up all kinds of sexy fun doors. Class attendance is mandatory, but making the most of their breaks is a perk neither expected.

Sneaky Smut Preview!

~Excerpt~

“My name is Andy Bowmen and I’m not a sex addict. I just made the unfortunate mistake of hooking up with one of my sister’s friends and then dumping her ass. She told my sister about my sexual preferences, who told her husband—who happens to be my boss. He signed me up for this goddamn class, with an ultimatum of being fired if I didn’t attend.”

Andy settled his black cowboy hat on the metal chair beside him and looked straight at her, his familiar expression sending shots of lust to her groin. “And you, miss? Is your name as pretty as your face?”

“Now, now.” The moderator, an older gentleman who’d introduced himself as Doctor Anderson shook his head. “This is a serious problem. If you’re here under pressure from your family, it means they saw an issue needing thoughtful consideration. This is also a neutral zone. No directing sexual innuendo or terms toward your fellow participants. Miss, would you like to introduce yourself?”

She still didn’t want to, but with Andy looking at her with his eyebrow cocked, she didn’t see a choice. “My name is Anna. I’m here because I made the mistake of giving my stepmother a key to my house. She used it while I was working, found a small, tasteful stash of smut, and threatened to have a sex addict intervention with my father and mee-maw if I didn’t attend this class.”

“Smut?” Andy asked.

She licked her lips, remembering the last time she’d had them wrapped around his penis. “A few magazines and a toy. She blew things out of proportion, and now I’m here to make sure she doesn’t tell my mee-maw. That’s all.”

Buylink: http://www.decadentpublishing.com/product_info.php?products_id=532&osCsid=b2ru23rdtgos10r0t14nr3u5f5

Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Smut-Interrupted-Edge-Series-ebook/dp/B007XJ6N16/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1335725218&sr=8-1

Dreaming Ivy...Releasing in 4 days...

Ivy stepped into the corridor. She stopped and listened. Out of the corner of her eye she saw a shadow sweep across the wall. She turned as it disappeared. “Hello?” No answer. She stomped down the hall and burst into the room. “Hello--”

The room was empty.

Ivy swallowed the taste of fright. A shiver raced across her skin. She had seen someone, or had she? She rubbed her eyes. Maybe the shadows were playing tricks on her.

A loud crack in the floor behind her sent Ivy twisting. The sun from the window blinded her. She acted on impulse. She drew her fist back and punched--landing on something solid. The force behind her connection with skin and bone sent her off balance, flailing backward. A hand on her wrist pulled her hard against a steely frame.

She met a dark stare, just as she felt wobbling. The impact of her body had sent him a step back. He lost his balance. Together they fell. The air whooshed from his chest as Ivy landed on top of the stranger.

She closed her eyes and remained still. She wanted nothing more than for the floor to swallow her. Several long seconds floated by. Neither of them said a word. She finally opened her eyes.

Embarrassed and confused, Ivy laid her palms against his shoulders, pushing herself up. She looked directly into his not-so-pleased expression and gulped. Enchanting green eyes, prominent cheekbones, midnight hair...and a pissed-off set to his jaw. She’d made a mistake--a huge one. “Max Shepard.” It wasn’t a question.

He narrowed his eyes. “Ivy Kennedy, journalist and amateur boxer?”

The deep, rich tone of his voice did funny things to the pit of her stomach. His voice wasn’t the only toned part of him. Pressed together gave her an up close and personal testimonial of his physical assets. Broad chest, tight abs to long legs, she could feel tight muscles and a curious bulge. She scooted her hip around the swelling in his jeans. Heat and realization spread through her body.

One corner of his mouth lifted. “It’s my cell.” Could he see straight through her?

“Cell?”

He reached into his pocket and held up his phone. Ivy was certain her skin changed into the perfect color of mortification. She wondered just how bad this could get. Pasting a smile on her face, she said, “Nice to meet you.” The temperature rose between them into the triple digits. Their bodies seemed to melt together. He didn’t look like the pictures she’d seen on the internet. He looked more distinguished in person. “You’re older than I thought,” she blurted.

“Older?”

“Older, in a good way.” She licked her bottom lip and nervously pushed her hair behind her ear. “My mother said I have a bad habit of saying the most awkward things and rambling--” She swallowed. “--like I am now.” She moved slightly.

His zipper started to swell again. Was that another cell phone in his pocket, or… Before her mind could complete the thought, he wrapped his large hands around her waist and lifted her off him. He set her on her feet as he came to stand in front of her. “That’s better,” he said as he backed up. “Damn.” He kicked rug that must have been the reason behind their fall.

He stood there, silent. This was a complete disaster. She’d managed to give him a black eye to match the dark scowl on his face. She needed to start searching for a new job. Marshall would have her head for this.

Confessions of a Romance Writer...

I have a confession to make. Writing romance novels isn't always what you think it is. I know you must believe that romance writers are sexy sirens with high libidos ready to try out our "skills" on the next poor soul that we sniff out. Nope, not even close. In fact, I felt anything but a sexy siren this last week. In between tenperature taking, medicine giving to a sick wee one, I sped through a chapter full of lust and misbehaving characters, who didn't get to make love because, well, I didn't feel like I was up for it. Yup, I made my characters walk the line this last week. However, what I did get was an amazing idea for an awesome ending.

You see, I've been struggling with this military romance for some time now. As I would accomplish one story detail, I'd lose the hankering for another.  In fact, this is a rewrite. I know you may be thinking, "Put the damn thing away and try something else" but nope, the characters had me hooked. It started out at 60,000 words and during this second time around, I cut a third of the book. I have been grappling with the ending--back and forth. I've been lost between several ideas. Plus, and I can't give away any secrets, this is a tricky sucker of a book. And now I think, by golly, I have a rocking ending, at least I believe so.

So what I'm saying is, I'm working my ass off to bring you, my readers, something that'll make you go 'Wow!!" And if there are some screamers out there, screaming is welcome too. Until my baby takes shape into a final mansuscript, please read some of my other eBooks. Each one has a part of me buried within the words. And keep the emails coming!!! Your words of encouragement make my writing world turn.

Best wishes to all of you ;)

Pizza and Romance...huh??

When asked to define romance, candlelight, wine, champagne, a full  moon, long walks, longer kisses, are a few things that come to mind. However, not everyone agrees. For instance, I think sharing a pizza can be just as romantic as taking a long walk on the beach. Sure, I'd like to eat a pizza while sharing intelligent conversation and continue it while taking a long walk while holding hands. Amazingly though, I don't need candlelight and the moon for passion to spark. One of the sexiest moments I remember was connecting eyes with my lover from across the room. No words were needed. In that minute of time we shared romance. I saw love in his eyes.

Romance is scary for a lot of folks...sorry men but I'm mostly talking about you. Men can be afraid of failure when it comes to sweeping a woman off her feet. I can't say I blame men for this fear. I can only speak for myself, but at about the age of 13 I started having romantic notions of what love meant. I knew I wanted my partner to open the door for me, hold the umbrella over my head in the rain, sneak up behind me and wrap his arms around my waist and nuzzle my neck, start my car on cold mornings...and these are just a few of my thoughts on love. Yes, men, love is a two way street. I know you want your ego boosted. Women realize this. I believe a relationship is a give and take party. Like the saying, "Scratch my back and I'll scratch yours." For the doubters, this is a true statement. Is there any denying it? The more you give, the more you'll receive. The most important thing is, never allow anyone to believe that you have no expectations.

Leave love notes for your partner to find. Bring her a single rose, not for any reason but just because. While she's standing at the sink, kiss the back of her neck. And if candles are her thing, or his thing, light one up tonight. Have a love affair with your partner. One never knows what fun they can have until they try.