xmlns:og='http://ogp.me/ns#' Kryssie Fortune: March 2017

Tuesday 28 March 2017

Serving her Scientist by Jessica Brand & Blushing Books #excerpt #hot



  • Playing unauthorized games has consequences
Blurb
Paul and Donna are happily married. Maybe their marriage isn't the hot, pulsing sex romp it was when they first said their I dos on the beach so long ago, but it's safe, dependable. Boring. Donna, ever the bookish librarian, spends much of her spare time playing computer puzzle and word games in the internet. Paul's work as a rocket scientist in the military weapons industry requires that his computer remain safe and virus free. State secrets are at stake. That's why his lovely, but sometimes naughty wife is forbidden from playing her games on it.
Ignoring his instructions once too often, the inevitable happens and she infects his computer with an internet virus. Realizing the depth of her mistake, she is willing to do almost anything to atone for her sins and accepts that she will receive an old fashioned spanking as punishment. Much to her surprise, despite the pain, she finds the whole ritual exciting, awakening feelings that have lay dormant for years and arousing her to such a point that she craves more. She confides in her best friend, Peta, and is shocked by Peta’s in depth understanding of the benefits of erotic pain and punishment. Peta consults with Paul and then puts into motion a chain of events destined to change forever the tenor of Paul and Donna’s lives.
DISCLAIMER: This story contains the spanking of adults, elements of bondage, discipline and power exchange. If these activities are not to your taste, you are advised not to buy this book.

Excerpt
I heard him arrive but was still a little startled when he stormed through the door. It was most unlike him but his demeanor simply proved what I’d already suspected. “You’re home early,” I said, failing to mask the nervousness in my voice.
“Bad day at work,” he replied.
I said nothing, which was most unusual.
“Don’t you want to know why?”
“Um, er, ah, sure,” I replied with faux brightness.
“Computer got trashed, hit by a software virus,” he said, watching me closely.
My body language told him all he needed to know but still I remained mute. I felt the color drain from my face and my legs clenched tightly together, my whole body tensed, as I looked away. I was afraid my legs would give way if I kept eye contact with him.
“We might have lost a couple of months’ worth of data. We won’t know until the analysts manage to go through it all and see what they can recover, if anything.”
I knew my look was of unmitigated fear as the ramifications dawned on me and it was all I could do to stop myself from bursting into tears. It wouldn’t have been to gain sympathy but I could see that I’d hurt my man. “D… don’t you have b… backups, you know, recovery disks or tapes or something?”
“Yes, of course we do,” he snapped, more harshly than usual. “That’s not the point. We’re not supposed to be corrupted in the first place.”
He glared at me, trying to maintain control of himself. I knew that he knew and it was his turn to remain silent. I was glad he did because I feared what he might say if he spoke. My bottom lip was quivering. I couldn’t control it any longer. I burst into tears. “I’m so sorry,” I sobbed. “It was all my fault. I was on the computer playing a game when I clicked on a link.” He glared at me and I looked away.
“Tell me,” he demanded.
“Nothing happened at first but later I noticed the computer behaving strangely. I re-booted it, hoping the virus software would deal with the issue, if there was an issue. I thought it had been fixed. I was too scared to tell you.”
“So you were willing to risk, who knows the value of my work, because you were scared? I don’t fucking believe it. You really deserve to go over my knee.”
“I do,” I sobbed. “I promise I will never do it again. I will take whatever punishment you think I deserve,” I said without even realizing what I was saying.
His hands were at his sides, his fists clenched as he struggled to control his temper. I had never seen him so upset and, for a second, I feared what he might do. He had never hit me before but this was a level of fury I’d never seen from him.
“I’m going out. I’ll deal with you later.” He turned and stormed out, slamming the door behind him.

Buy Links:



About Jessica Brand


Jessica was born in Melbourne, Australia in 1958. Having lived in many parts of Australia and overseas, she now resides in Sydney and writes for fun.

With a lifelong interest in her subject matter she finally decided to put some of her experiences and fantasies into words, toning them down somewhat for public consumption. Her first book was released in mid 2014, using the pseudonym of R. R. Greaves. This was followed by a new release in Feb 2015 and there are a number of new stories in different stages of production.

With a particular interest in specific forms of erotica, the stories have a lot of explicit detail that comes from years of "hands on" experience. All have a strong element of power exchange between consenting parties. While most involve a key female character submitting to a powerful male, they have a mixture of dominant characters with women submitting to other women, men submitting to women and men submitting to other men.

A key part of the exchange of power between the characters involves the use of consensual physical and mental force, BDSM and spanking.
Check out her other published works:
Book 1 The way the cards fall – Femdom
Book 2 The making of a mistress – Femdom
Laura’s longing
Spanking Jade

Visit her website: http://www.rrgreaveseroticauthor.com/

Thursday 23 March 2017

Made Maleen: An Erotic Twist on a Fairy Tale By Jeanne St. James #Eggcerpt Exchange





I have another guest today. Please welcome Jeanne St James as she tells us about her boo, Made Maleen.

Genre: Contemporary Erotic Romance
A Novella loosely based on the Grimm’s fairy tale Maid Maleen.

Blurb:

“Just let me love you.”

When Maleen King’s father catches her naked in the hay loft with her high school sweetheart, he sends the eighteen-year-old away to receive a college education and rise above the humble beginnings of an Idaho dairy farm. Now fourteen years later, Mal comes home to run the farm after the death of her father. The stress of a disastrous marriage and being a NYC stock broker made her long to return to a simple life.

Braydon Daniels, devastated when Mal’s father sent her thousands of miles away, has thought about her every day since. Now, over a decade later, he finds himself alone, divorced, and beaten down by the trauma of his broken marriage. When Mal comes back to town for her father’s funeral, he realizes the feelings he once had for her are just as strong. There’s one little snag, though. His ex-wife is the woman Mal has hated her whole life. And they have a child together.

Despite the struggle to recover from their past relationships, the undeniable attraction between them still exists. Can they rekindle the passion they once had?

Excerpt:

Mal picked at her black pencil skirt, pulling the scratchy fabric away from her skin. She was anxious to get back to the house and change into an old, comfortable pair of jeans. She wished she still fit into the worn pairs she found in a box at the bottom of the closet in her childhood bedroom. But like Braydon, she had also matured. Which meant having curves that no longer fit into junior skinny jeans.
As she walked down the ramp from the funeral home, it surprised her to find a car other than hers still left in the parking lot. She figured she would be the last one leaving, especially after staying to make arrangements with the funeral director for her pop’s cremation.
She stumbled and caught herself by grabbing the metal rail running alongside the concrete incline.
He looked good.
Shit. Good was a gross understatement. That was like saying a sundae full of ooey, gooey hot fudge, wet walnuts, colorful sprinkles, a pile of real whipped cream, and a cherry on top tasted only good.
Her stomach growled. She wasn’t sure if it was due to the fact she found herself now hungry for a sundae, or the sight of Braydon Daniels leaning his ass against the side of a pickup truck, his arms and ankles crossed as he watched her approach.
She looked down at her blouse. Yep, her nipples had hardened into two mountain peaks. She sighed. Way to be so obvious, Mal.
Though she could kill two birds with one stone: Eat the sticky sundae right off his—what she could only imagine—firm stomach. She bet his six-pack had indentations where the melted ice cream and fudge would pool until she licked away all traces of the sweet goodness.
Mal faltered and had to take a deep breath before closing the gap between them.
“I figured that was your car.”
She wasn’t used to his deep voice yet. The voice of a man, not a teenager. He was parked only two spaces away from her bright red Audi R8 convertible. With the upgraded 5.2 L V10 and manual transmission, the pretty little sports car had set her back a cool $166,000. Five-hundred fifty horses weren’t cheap. Though a beauty and hell of a lot of fun to drive, out here in Bum-fuck, Idaho, the car was nothing but a joke.
Oh, it impressed her colleagues back home in New York, but here a manure spreader was more useful. Suddenly, she realized she mistakenly thought of New York City as “home.”
“How’d you guess?” she asked, trying not to be too apparent when her gaze skimmed every inch of him.
He laughed, shaking his head, and glanced down at the pavement for a moment. When he looked back up, he pinned her with his greenish-gold eyes.
She did her best not to squirm.

Available at Amazon for only 99¢ or FREE in KU: http://amzn.to/2klYO8o

Author Bio:

JEANNE ST. JAMES is an erotic romance author who loves an Alpha male (or two). She was only thirteen when she started writing since it gave her an escape from teenage angst! Her first paid published piece was an erotic short story in Playgirl magazine. Her first erotic romance novel, Banged Up, was published in 2009. She is happily owned by farting French bulldogs. She writes M/F, M/M, and M/M/F ménages.

She has a few new releases coming up in 2017. So keep an eye on her website at www.jeannestjames.com or sign up for her newsletter: http://www.jeannestjames.com/newslettersignup

Connect with Jeanne here:




Tuesday 21 March 2017

An Interview with Brandi Evans and an Excerpt from her Book His Forbidden Submissive.


 Submission or freedom? No matter which path she chooses, her life will change forever.

Please welcom Brandi Evans as she shares some fascinating facts about herself


What is your writing environment?

Silence. My ADHD requires it. At the very least, there can’t be any words being spoken, so TVs and crowds are out. I can listen to classical music or music in a foreign language, but words I understand distract me. Like seriously. ;-)

Oh, and there are lots and lots of Starbucks cups scattered around me. My Muse thrives on cinnamon dulche lattes, often with extra shots of espresso. All I know is if I don’t strike it rich sometime soon, my Muse may bankrupt me.

What is your writing process?

Feeling my characters. As in going deep into their thoughts and practically becoming them. Understanding them. As a result, my stories are very internal, which I like. On the flip side of things, however, becoming my characters often leaves me feeling emotionally spent.

What is your favorite scene in your new release?


Hands down Vivian’s first bondage scene. *fans self* The anticipation, the vulnerability…the massive amount of orgasms she has before her Dom, Brock, takes mercy on her. What isn’t to like?

What are you working on now and when can we expect it to be available?

The next story in my Restrained Fantasies series. I’m tentatively calling it Reading His Sub, and it features Dom detective Carter Burkes and sexy, curvy bartender Raven. I’m also working on a cowboy ménage featuring two half brothers and the cowgirl they both want. Plus, I’ve gotten right back on some of my older stories, so I’ll have those going soon.

What do you like to do when you are not writing?

Reading, spending time with my kids, and finding new excuse for not cleaning. :-)

What is one interesting fact about you that readers don’t know?

I’m painfully shy and socially awkward. Very much so. Being online, however, is much easier for me. I guess it’s that buffer of anonymity that allows me to be myself, and it keeps that nagging voice in the back of my head in check so I can relax.

Top 3 things on your bucket list?
1. Go on a European tour.
2. Kick city life to the curb and build a tiny house out in the middle of nowhere so I can live in peace.
3. Take my kids on a year-long, cross-country, home-schooling road trip.

Where are you from?
Currently, I call central Arkansas home. I say “currently” because I moved around a lot, both as a kid as an adult, but I’ve been here almost ten years now. Guess having kids roots ya, LOL.

When and why did you begin writing?

Well, one day at lunch, I was bored and decided to finally put pen to paper and tell the story that had been flying around my brain for years. No really, that’s what happened, LOL. I’m weird like that.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?


Honestly, I’m still not sure I do. It’s weird. I do it. I love it. I can’t imagine doing anything else. But sometimes—okay, a lot of times—I just feel like I’m faking it.

What inspired you to write your first book?

My very first book has yet to see the light of day. It’s hidden away deep in the recesses of my computer. I take it out every once in a while, and say, “Ya know, I’m gonna clean this up and get it out there.” But yeah, I never have. The writing is pure crap, LOL. Still, I like the story. It’s a murder mystery with a serial killer and chance love, which was always my favorite genre. Is it weird that I don’t write it anymore? (I probably don’t want to hear the answer, LOL.) But the story just came to me, and it’s, honestly, still my baby.

Do you have a specific writing style?

Have you ever seen that meme that says “My housekeeping style is best described as ‘there’s been a struggle’”? Well, I feel like my writing is a lot like that, LOL. At least in the beginning. I get an idea, and I just go with it. As a result, my stories turn out to be very “internal”. I utilize deep POV to really get in my character’s head because I like knowing what makes my characters click.

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

Hmm. It’s probably the same thing I always want people to grasp. That love trumps hate. That love isn’t about gender. That love doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It’s about finding the one person in the world you can’t live without, holding on for dear life, and riding it out, no matter where the romance takes you.

What books have most influenced your life most?

Hands down, that would be the Harry Potter series. I’d lost my love of reading for a while there (*gasp* I know!) and J.K. reawakening it in me in a big way. I also really enjoy Suzanne Brockman’s Troubleshooters series. I think I found that series when she was on book 7, and I went on a massive reading binge!

If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?

Stephen King. He seems so no-nonsense, giving credit where it’s due and slashing those deserving of criticism. I find that simultaneously uplifting and terrifying. I’d have to work extra hard to keep from getting daily verbal thrashings. ;-) Besides, one of my all-time favorite writing quotes came from him.

“Sometimes you have to go on when you don’t feel like it, and sometimes you’re doing good work when it feels like all you’re managing is to shovel shit from a sitting position.”
~ STEPHEN KING

What book are you reading now?
I just finished 1984 by George Orwell, and I promised myself I wouldn’t start anything else until this draft is finished, LOL.

Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?

I hang out with authors (online), so I’m always meeting new authors. So yeah, new authors are always grabbing my attention. Well, new authors to me. ;-) And there are way too many to list, LOL.

What would you like my readers to know?

That I love talking with readers, so please visit the contact page of my website (brandievansauthor.com/contact.html) to find all my online hangouts, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram…

Do you take your character prep to heart? Do you nurture the growth of each character all the way through to the page? Do you people watch to help with development? Or do you build upon your character during story creation?

Yes, yes, yes and yes, LOL. Feeling my characters, a in going deep into their thoughts and practically becoming them, understanding them. As a result, my stories are very internal, which I like. I also enjoy watching people at Starbucks. More than one character from my stories were seeded from people I saw there.

Have you found yourself bonding with any particular character? If so which one(s)?

Yes. Brock, the hero from His Forbidden Submissive. He’s a Dom with a heart of gold. As if that alone wasn’t enough to make him the most desirable man on earth, he’s also a (good) bad boy. Tattoos everywhere. Shaved head. Six pack. Muscles big enough he could bench press a small mountain.

Yeah…Brock.

*sigh*

Have you ever felt that there was something inside of you that you couldn't control? If so what? If no what spurs you to reach for the unexperienced?

Always. I call them The Voice in my Head, aka my stories. They can get rather insistent.

If you could have dinner with 7 fictional character, who would they be?

That’s a tough one. Hmm... Let’s see. (In no particular order)

1. Dumbledore.
2. Harry.
3. Hermione too really.
4. Sherlock Holmes
5. Gideon Cross
6. Gandalf.
7. Brock (from His Forbidden Submissive. Sorry, I’m just really in love with him!)


To find happiness, she must do something she swore she’d never do again. Let a man control her.

Blurb

After beating cancer, Vivian goes on a mission to cleanse her life. First on the list, kicking her cheating, controlling husband to the curb. Second, she must discover the answer to a question that’s been haunting her. Is the love she harbors for Brock, her bad-boy brother-in-law, genuine or a chemotherapy-induced illusion?

Brock loves a woman he cannot have, his brother’s wife. To claim her would be a betrayal. He knows loving her is wrong but he can’t help it. So when circumstances bring them back together, he can no longer deny his forbidden attraction, and they unite in a fury of passion, lust—and bondage.

But Vivian isn’t prepared for Brock’s BDSM lifestyle, no matter how sexy he looks with his tats and leathers. After ten years with a controlling husband, submission is terrifying—but so is never being with Brock again.

Submission or freedom? No matter which path she chooses, her life will change forever.

Publisher’s note: His Forbidden Submissive contains adult material, including very strong language, depictions of bondage and discipline, and graphic descriptions of sexuality. If you do not care to read such material, please do not open this book.

Purchase Links
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Brandi-Evans/e/B004D05W56/
Book Page on Brandi's website: brandievansauthor.com/hisforbiddensub.html
Amazon buy link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XGFTB2L
Blushing buy link: http://www.blushingbooks.com/item/bbdd1217/brandi-evans-his-forbidden-submissive/1.html



Excerpt 
“Get  on your knees, my  pet.”

But,  like  with  his  last  command,  she  hesitated.  A  war  must  have  been  raging  inside  her,  the conflict  revealed  in  her  darkening  eyes.  She  wanted  to  submit;  she  didn’t.  Maybe  he  could  offer  a little, um, encouragement.

“You  got  a  good  look  at  my  world,  but  while  you  were  taking  everything  in,  I  was  watching you.  I  got  a  good  sense  of  what  turned  you  on  and  what  made  you  feel  uncomfortable.  And  now I’m  going  to  use  what  I  learned  to  help  your  inner  desires  come  out  and  play,  just  like  you  asked.” He  kissed  her  nose.  “I  gave  you  a  lot  of  liberty  earlier.  I  wanted  you  free  to  ask  questions,  see everything,  but  that  liberty  ended  when  you  gave  yourself  to  me.  From  here  on  out,  you  do  what  I say when I say. Is  that  understood,  sub?  Say  yes,  Sir  if you understand.”

“Y-yes,  Sir.”

“Good  girl.”  He  stroked  an  index  finger  against  her  temple,  cheek,  and  neck.  “Do  you remember  your  safe  word?”

She  nodded.

“I want  to hear you say  it.”

“Red,  Sir,”  she  whispered.

“Very  good.  If  you  use  your  safe  word,  I  will  stop  whatever  I’m  doing,  no  questions  asked, but  remember  this—”  He  tightened  his  grip  on  her,  not  enough  to  actually  hurt,  but  enough  to  get her  full  attention.  His  next  point  was  important.  “Your  safe  word’s  not  a  word  you  throw  around when  you’re  a  little  uncomfortable.  Aside  from  severely  pissing  me  off  and  interfering  with  my ability  to  read  you  properly,  you’re  never  going  to  get  a  good  evaluation  of  your  own  sexual threshold.  You’ll  never  know  what  really  turns  you  on  or  turns  you  off  unless  you  truly  allow yourself to experience  the  lifestyle…



Author Bio

Brandi Evans was raised by a caravan of traveling Gypsies. She spent her days learning the ways of her people and her nights lost in legends as old as time. Okay, not really, but that's way more interesting than the truth!

In reality, Brandi grew up the oldest child of an ordinary family. Grade school, middle school, high school. Nothing extraordinary happened until she left the nest. She joined the military, went to college, got married, and became a mom. And somewhere along the way, she discovered she liked to read—and write!—stories hot enough to melt eReaders.

Social Media Links/Contact
Email: brandi@brandievansauthor.com
Blog: http://brandievansauthor.blogspot.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Brandi-Evans/674481219297772?ref_type=bookmark
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/eScaNr
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/brandievans1/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/brandi_evans
Instagram: http://instagram.com/brandievansauthor
Tumblr: http://brandievansauthor.tumblr.com/

Special Note
I’m doing a big giveaway that I’d like to share on the blog tour. Here’s a link to the blog where I spell out the details: http://brandievansauthor.blogspot.com/2017/02/want-to-name-book-character.html.






Saturday 18 March 2017

Kitty Gail's Last Stand - #sundaysmut


Abigail straightened her blonde wig, put on her mask, and strutted into the Masked Night’s BDSM club like Catwoman. Of course, everyone went incognito here, their names assigned by the vetting committee. Tonight, she’d become Kitty Gail, a sassy sub on her way to a first-ever hookup with the mouthwatering Dom, Master Jay.

The low moans of a woman bent over a spanking bench sounded bittersweet to Abigail’s ears. Knowing she’d never visit the club again added an extra swagger to her step. Not coming back for her monthly spanking would be…difficult. In the real world, she exuded confidence, carefully hiding the scared little girl inside her that even her family had disapproved of.

Damn it, she needed that spanking. It reminded her of how much she’d moved on and let her cope with the doubts that always chipped away at her confidence. The mind-blowing orgasms that followed were an added bonus.


But after tonight, Kitty Gail, with her figure-hugging blue catsuit and mask, would morph back into boring schoolteacher, Abigail Montgomery. Permanently.





Blurb

Abigail Montgomery, a small-town schoolteacher with zero self-confidence, dreams of the Dickensian Christmas her family never enjoyed. Each month she attends a masked BDSM club, but her next visit will be her last. If she doesn’t marry within the next year, her brother won’t inherit Montgomery Hall. Desperate, she advertises for a husband.

Jared Armstrong, a former Marine sharpshooter and occasional Dom, needs $125,000 to get his family out of a hole. His solution--to marry Abigail Montgomery for her money. His only regret is his wife won’t accept his spanking lifestyle.

Soon, Abigail dreams of making their marriage real, but she promised Jared a divorce two years after their wedding. Can they share some Christmas magic as their relationship faces extortion threats, a kidnapping, and an attempted murder? Or will Jared walk away and break her heart?



Buy links


Friday 17 March 2017

A Snake on a Stick and Gods without Trousers. #army #medicine #romance #excerpt

See serpents around a staff? Think doctors.

Why?

Simply put, because the Greek God, Apollo couldn’t keep it in his trousers.

His half mortal son, Asclepius was taught healing by the centaur Chiron.  The Greeks thought snakes were sacred, imbued with wisdom, healing, and resurrection.  Legend tells us that a snake licked Asclepius’s ear and told him secret knowledge.


Asclepius became a doctor extraordinaire. He carried a staff wrapped around with a serpent in honor of his mentor. Here's how the ancient Bulgarians pictured him on a mosaic.


That’s one stick and one snake, people.


So why does the US Army Medical Corps badge have two serpents and wings.

Because someone messed up. A poor translation of Homer described the staff of Hermes as being able to charm the eye of men and assumed that meant herbs, healing, and alchemy.   

Gods and staffs seem to go hand in hand – apart from Zeus. He had a lightning bolt, of course.
Just look at this statue of Hermes. What is it with gods and trousers.  Anyway, check out the snakes and wings on his staff in his left hand.

Hermes carried a staff with two snakes. It was a symbol of trade, eloquence, trickery, and negotiations. I bet Hermes was a dab hand at Find the Lady or selling the Brooklyn Bridge.

Thanks to that shocking translation, Hermes's Caduceus and the rod of Asclepius had become muddled. 

In 1851 Army Hospital stewards had the Caduceus, the staff of Hermes, and it’s been a symbol of military medicine ever since. 

I leaned this while researching my book, Desire, Deceit, and the Doctor

Tagline
After Adam Montgomery walked away and left her pregnant, dare Mandy trust him with her heart again?

Blurb
Twelve years ago, Mandy Devlin moved away from her friends and family--under threat. If she returned in the next ten years or told anyone who fathered her baby, her boyfriend’s great-aunt would bankrupt her family. She’s a single mom who dreams of her lost love and a good spanking. When she’s finally free to return to Westhorpe Ridge, the last person she expects to see is Adam—the man she loved and lost so long ago. 

Dr. Adam Montgomery doesn’t know he has a son. Thanks to his great-aunt’s will, he has nine months to find a bride or he loses Montgomery Hall and the fifteen million dollars she left him. Although he seduces Mandy on his first night home, he still believes she betrayed him twelve years ago. No way would he marry a woman like her.
 

As Valentine’s Day looms, someone tries to kill Mandy. Is Adam trying to get rid of her? Or can Mandy trust him to protect them?

Buy links
Loose id         http://bit.ly/2kTGqp5 
Kobo                http://bit.ly/2kH27b8
Amazon UK     http://amzn.to/2lPNv9N
Amazon USA   http://amzn.to/2kJbtmK

Kryssie Fortune Social Media

Blog            http://kryssiefortune.blogspot.co.uk/
Twitter         https://twitter.com/KryssieFortune
Facebook    https://www.facebook.com/KryssiesFortune
Pinterest      http://bit.ly/1OGFnjc

Amazon Author Page  http://amzn.to/2hA0ZVO

The books hot and explicit, but this excerpt isn't 
The engine stopped, and she heard a car door slam. She needed out of the trunk, but no one came for her. What if they abandon the car and leave me? I don’t want to die trussed up in a car trunk. A fresh wave of fear washed through her, along with a spike of adrenaline. Her body trembled, but time slowed and her thoughts cleared. She needed to take things one step at a time.
Step one—get her arms free. She wriggled around, hoping the rough ride had dislodged something she could use to cut the rope. Bingo. Her fingers touched a metal box. Maybe it held tools or a knife. She almost wept when she couldn’t open it. The hinge stuck out from the box, so she twisted some more, running the rope against the hinge. Periodically, she stopped and tensed her wrists in an attempt to pull the nylon strands apart.
She’d no idea how long she worked at her bonds. It seemed like hours until the rope finally gave way. Relieved tears filled her eyes. Rather than rub her wrists, she tugged off the hood and pulled the gag from her mouth. She’d never been so thirsty. She’d give anything for a cold beer right now.
Step two—find the release mechanism the law said every car should have in the trunk. She felt claustrophobic, so scared she could barely move, but she forced herself to concentrate. There, in the corner, a glow-in-the-dark lever beckoned. Wriggling like a maggot in a fisherman’s box, she kicked it for all she was worth, and the trunk lid popped open.
The air smelled wonderful, if slightly musty, but silence and utter darkness surrounded her. She listened a while, decided her captors had left, and slipped out the trunk. No lights shone through the darkness. Using her hands rather than her eyes, she found a lug wrench and flashlight alongside the spare tire beneath the space she’d just escaped. She grabbed both, quietly shut the trunk, and headed into the darkness.


Wednesday 15 March 2017

Circles of Fate by Pamela S. Thibodeaux #Eggcerpt Exchange


Five Facts about Circles of Fate
My husband (now deceased) was stationed at Ft. Benning, GA while in the Army. That was before I knew him but he talked about it often.
Thibodaux is an actual city in Louisiana although spelled slightly different than my name (Thibodeaux), the two are pronounced the same – Ti-ba-dough with the i as in “it”.
There was a café in my hometown of Iowa, Louisiana named the “Feed Trough”
Although more regulated now, military in lieu of jail was an option in the past especially during war time.

Circles of Fate was initially written in 1989 and comprised of two five-subject notebooks. I typed it using a word processor in 1994 then the files were converted to rich text format (rtf) by a friend so that I could put it on my computer. That was in 2000. It sat virtually untouched on my computer until 2014.



Blurb: Set at the tail end of the Vietnam War era, Circles of Fate takes the reader from Fort Benning, Georgia to Thibodaux, Louisiana. A romantic saga, this gripping novel covers nearly twenty years in the lives of Shaunna Chatman and Todd Jameson. Constantly thrown together and torn apart by fate, the two are repeatedly forced to choose between love and duty, right and wrong, standing on faith or succumbing to the world’s viewpoint on life, love, marriage and fidelity. With intriguing twists and turns, fate brings together a cast of characters whose lives will forever be entwined. Through it all is the hand of God as He works all things together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.

Excerpt:

“Promise me you’re sure or I won’t let you go.”
She would have to convince him or he’d never let her leave. She also knew he’d see through anything less than complete honesty.
“Oh, Todd,” she whispered, her voice urgent. “I wish it were that easy. I’m sure I have to try. But I want you to know something…” She hesitated, unsure how to say what she needed to say. “If things were different, if he weren’t so determined, if nothing was left between us, if I didn’t think there was a chance, I would stay.” Her eyes searched his for some sign he understood.
A ghost of a smile played around his sensuous lips, he nodded. “I know,” he whispered. “And I understand,” he said and gathered her close once more.
She should leave. Shaunna knew Joe waited for her, but was unable, unwilling, to end it, to end them, just yet. She held him firm in her embrace, committed the feel of his body to heart.
“I have to go,” she whispered, then clung, not yet able to turn him loose.
“I know,” he answered and tightened his arms around her. With a sigh of surrender, he stepped away, loosened his hold but rubbed her back and shoulders in a tender gesture.
“Don’t look back,” he whispered then dropped his hands to his side, clenched his fists.
She saw the struggle in his eyes, felt it in her heart, as each fought not to grab hold and cling. They gazed at each other, read the naked truth in each other’s eyes.
Neither wanted to be the first to walk away.
Shaunna touched his face, traced his features…his eyes, his jaw, his mouth. A shiver shook her when he held her hand and pressed his lips to her fingertips.
“I almost wish we had made love the other night.”
Almost?
The word echoed between them like a silent scream. The despair in his eyes slashed her heart another degree. He shook his head, swallowed hard.
“Know this. If we had, you would not leave here today.”
She stroked his cheek, her smile tender, bittersweet. “Take care of yourself. Please,” she whispered then placed her mouth on his.
Lips met on a sigh, breaths mingled on a sob. Each of them committed the kiss to heart, and fought not to cling to the other. With a final touch, a last trembling smile, Shaunna did one of the hardest things she’d ever done in her life.
She left.

Purchase Links:
Smashwords: http://bit.ly/136qK7n


Author bio: Award-winning author, Pamela S. Thibodeaux is the Co-Founder and a lifetime member of Bayou Writers Group in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Multi-published in romantic fiction as well as creative non-fiction, her writing has been tagged as, “Inspirational with an Edge!” ™ and reviewed as “steamier and grittier than the typical Christian novel without decreasing the message.”

Links:
Website address: http://www.pamelathibodeaux.com  
Twitter: http://twitter.com/psthib @psthib
Amazon Author Page: http://amzn.to/1jUVcdU


Tuesday 14 March 2017

Meet Iris Blobel and read an excerpt from her book Innocent Tears. #Eggcert Exchange

Advice is what we ask for when we already 
know the answer, but wish we didn't.”




Please welcome my latest guest by Iris Blobel as she shares her book, INNOCENT TEARS



♥♦♥  SYNOPSIS ♥♦♥ 
Becoming a parent can be daunting at the best of times, but for Flynn, a business lawyer in Melbourne, it almost pulls the feet from right underneath him. He’s become a father to six-year-old Nadine literally overnight! He had no idea about her existence, and the news throws him into chaos, even more so when he is asked to take over custody. 

With the help of Emma, an employee at the hotel where Nadine and her grandparents are staying, and his parents, Flynn tries to do the right thing. Yet, the right thing in his eyes differs from his parents’, and Emma is voicing her opinion as well. And right in the middle is little Nadine, still grieving the loss of her mother and finding a wonderful friend in Emma. There’s no doubt she’s afraid where and with whom she will settle. 

But in the end, it’s a letter Flynn receives that helps him figuring out what to do.



♥♦♥  ~  OUT NOW  ~  ♥♦♥ 


♥♦♥ MEET THE AUTHOR ♥♦♥
IRIS BLOBEL

Iris Blobel was born and raised in Germany and immigrated to Australia in the late 1990s. Having had the travel bug most of her life, Iris spent quite some time living in Scotland, London as well as Canada where she met her husband. Her love for putting her stories onto paper has only emerged recently, but now her laptop is a constant companion.

Iris resides west of Melbourne with her husband and her two beautiful daughters.

Next to her job at a private school, she also presents a German Program at the local Community Radio.


Social Media Links:



♥♦♥ EXCERPT ♥♦♥


“My Mum is dead.”

Somewhat startled by this statement, Emma peeked over the reception desk into beautiful green eyes that belonged to a cute little girl with brown curly hair and a freckled button nose. She couldn’t help but smile. There was something in the girl’s eyes that held a hint of mischief and curiosity, as well as some sadness, and Emma was drawn to her instantly.

“Nadine!”

The stern voice of an elderly woman approaching the reception caused Emma to flinch. The girl stiffened with eyes wide open.

“My apologies for that,” the woman said to Emma, though her expression didn’t actually reveal any signs of apologies. The woman’s face reflected a life of bitterness, the lines appearing deep and weathered.

Emma smiled. “No need to.”

An elderly man joined them, and after a brief nod of acknowledgement she asked, “May
I help you?”

“Yes. We would like to check in. Gibbs. William and Teresa Gibbs,” the woman replied.

Emma typed the name on the keyboard, and while she waited for the details, she smiled at the girl, and asked, “Holidays?
Nadine’s face spread into a small smile, but it was enough to show she had her two top teeth missing.
“And I see the tooth fairy has been to see you recently.”

“Excuse me–” Mrs. Gibbs glanced at Emma’s name badge. “–Emma. Can we proceed with the check-in please?”

“My apologies, ma’am.” Emma read the details on the screen, made a few notes and turned around to activate the automated door card in the back office. All the while, she felt Mrs. Gibbs’ glare on her and instinctively pulled on her navy uniform skirt feeling slightly uncomfortable.

Emma sighed inwardly. In her early twenties and she still lacked confidence in what other people thought of her. Tucking an escaping strand of her tawny hair behind her ear, she tried to keep a positive attitude because, after all, she loved working at the All Stars Hotel in Melbourne. It was something she always wanted to do—to greet people to this beautiful city and make their stay as comfortable as possible. And she was often told how popular she was with staff and guests alike for her positive attitude, her generous heart, and kind spirit.

“Ma’am, that’d be room five-o-two. If you go to the right over there, take the lift to the fifth floor and follow the hall to the near end, you will find room five-o-two on your right.”

Teresa Gibbs took the card from Emma and turned it in her hands
.
“Ma’am, you slide that into the door instead of a key. I’m happy to ask someone to come with you and show–”

“I’ll be fine. Thank you.” And Mrs. Gibbs turned to go.

Emma leaned across the counter and smiled at Nadine. “Enjoy your holidays,” she said and winked. “And come see me sometime to tell me about the tooth fairy.”

“We’re not on a holiday,” the girl said in almost a whisper. “We’re here to meet my dad.”