Blog Tour: Daydream's Daughter, Nightmare's Friend by Nonnie Jules

Hi Samantha!

Thanks so much for hosting the 10th stop of the DAYDREAM'S DAUGHTER, NIGHTMARE'S FRIEND Blog Tour!  It's Saturday, which means it's the weekend, so this makes it an even greater stop for me!  Nothing to do when I leave here but...well, more writing *deep sigh*.  But that's ok, seriously, because I simply love to write and that's what I'm going to share just a little wee bit about here today with your readers...loving what you write.

First, introductions must get out of the way.  My name is NONNIE JULES and I am a wife, a mother, a dog lover, an extremely loyal friend and an avid book reader.  I live in Louisiana surrounded by many, many animals.  We live on a farm of sorts so I will allow your imaginations to run wild here, although we're not milking cows or feeding chickens, so don't let your mind run that far.  

I fell in love with reading when I was a little girl.  From the wonderful stories that I read, I knew that I one day wanted to write one just like them.  I started by keeping a diary in the 3rd grade and until this very day, I journal.  I moved on to dibbling in short stories, then poetry, then writing for a small paper, until one day I said to myself "Everyone is always telling you that you're good at this, why not just jump in and write something for publication?" I had no idea what I would write about and then that light bulb popped on in my head.  I was going to write about a topic that I was a pro on....raising daughters!  And that topic was also one that I loved to talk about.  

In May of 2013 I published "THE GOOD MOMMIES' GUIDE TO RAISING (ALMOST) PERFECT DAUGHTERS," 100 Tips On Raising Daughters Everyone Can't Help But Love!  Writing this book took me a mere 17 days and I know that eyebrows raise when some hear this and I have even been asked "How did you write something so good so quickly?"  Well, I had lived that book.  I had taught those tips to my daughters and others that I had come into contact with thru out my journey of life, so therefore, I didn't have to research.  Check out the trailer here:  http://youtu.be/zg15rptFN2g.  (You may purchase atwww.amazon.com/dp/B00CP62O56, www.createspace.com/4355124or get your autographed copies from www.nonniesbookstore.com).

My second book,"DAYDREAM'S DAUGHTER, NIGHTMARE'S FRIEND"  a novel which is due for release mid-September (yes, the date has been pushed back for those who are aware of its original release date) is still me writing about that which I love...my favorite subject...Daughters.  Here's the blurb:  "Marisa was a good girl, until someone made her mad.  Living in hell with her mother and step-father was nothing short of a daily struggle for survival.  When Marisa can't stand the abuse any longer, she snaps and does the unthinkable.  Will she be able to survive leaving one hell being forced into another?  Will the man she married be able to understand and forgive her secrets and her past?  Stay tuned for the bumpy ride of Daydream's Daughter, Nightmare's Friend."  Check out the trailer here: http://youtu.be/qbUK3XQ5-dA.  Now for this one, I had to do major research.  I had to travel on countless occasions to the city of Houston where this book is set out of,  because I wanted to experience and also be knowledgeable of the places that I made mention of in the book.  I loved writing this novel so much that I often left my family to visit that city to make it a really great read.  

When you write, if you're not writing from your heart, it won't be good.  You have to love what you write, or you won't put your all into it, and if your all isn't in it, how good do you think it will be for the readers?  Don't just write for writings' sake, write with passion, write with commitment and write from your deepest place.  That's what I do.  When I finished penning "THE GOOD MOMMIES' GUIDE..." I KNEW that it was good because I felt it deep down and I would read it over and over and over again.  Some might think that this bit of advice is just for newbies just starting out, but it's for everyone, those that have yet to write and even for those who have written multiple books.  Always write what you love!

Before I leave I would like to ask that you all please check out my blog WATCH NONNIE WRITE! here at www.nonniewrites.wordpress.comand if you enjoy what you read there, take a minute to FOLLOW me.  

Since today is the 31st of August, I would also like for you to visitNONNIE'S BOOK STORE to register for an awesome book promotion which ends today.  You will find all the details there on the home page.  While you're there you will find an excerpt from"DAYDREAM'S DAUGHTER, NIGHTMARE'S FRIEND" and you may also pre-order an advance copy of the book for a phenomenal low price.

I hope that this won't be the last time we meet, so do FOLLOW me on Twitter @nonniejules and on FaceBook under the same handle.

Thanks once again Samantha for this great opportunity, and to all your readers I wish nothing but peace, love, happiness and many great reads!!!

Nonnie

Breathless Press Fourth Anniversary: Interview with DD Syms

Please welcome author DD Syms as we celebrate Breathless Press' Fourth Anniversary. Be sure to enter the rafflecopter below to be in with a chance of winning:
Grand Prize: 1 Kindle Fire
Second Prize: $25.00 Gift Card for Breathless Press
Third Prize: $10.00 Gift Card for Breathless Press
Fourth Prize: 10 x $5.00 Gift Cards for Breathless Press (individual gift cards, 1 per person)

Breathless Press is an e-book publisher specializing in Romance and Erotic(a) stories.

Our mission statement is simple: To provide the opportunity for readers to connect with romance authors through the purchasing of quality e-books at a low price.

Starting in the summer of 2009, Breathless Press came into existence. Since then, we have been producing top end romance and erotic stories for valued readers to enjoy.

Interview

What is your name and where do you live now?

Donald "DD" Symms and I live in just north of Los Angeles.

First off, how has your week been?

Terrific. I balance family demands with a large household and a writing career so I've finally got a structure together that works.

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and how long you’ve been writing?

Writing in three different areas has always been important to me. Information, entertainment, and lifting up others has been a lifelong passion. My first venture into writing was as a child and scribbling together a family newspaper. I've written plays and studied short story writing in college. My professional career in marketing and non-profit management included writing brochures and real life human interest stories. I'm finally honing my fiction.

Did you always want to be a writer? If not what did you want to be?

Writing, broadcasting, and acting have been lifelong desires and I've done each. During my mid-career stretch I got into more management and admired those who could manage a business or organization. My interests though have always circled back to writing.

What is the name of your latest book, and if you had to summarise it what would you say?

Boarding is the title. Imagine boarding a plane without knowing the final destination. Life is like that and Jessie Carter the heroine experiences the unknown feeling when she gets asked to create a dress in one day for a famous model.

Please tell us about your current release.

Boarding opens with Jessie Carter in a meeting with a man who can either propel her fashion design career forward or send her packing home in continued obscurity. We watch her relationship with her boyfriend twist and turn and how the decisions they make bring them together and threaten to pull them apart. She discovers that true friends are life's greatest pleasure.

Where did you come up with the idea to write your book?

I originally wrote about Jessie in my initial short story Layover – about a steamy night spent in a motel near Chicago's O'Hare Airport. Airports are dramatic places and I began thinking, "what was Jessie doing before she reached Chicago?" I mentioned in Layover she had been in New York for a fashion shoot and I began pondering "why was she in New York?" I originally thought the story would be a novella around 25,000 words but I wanted to dig deeply into the character and I wound up with a story over 55,000 words.

Did you have any say in the title / cover of your book?

I chose the title and I conveyed the details of the story to Victoria Miller the graphic artist who did a wonderful interpretation of the characters, flying, and the New York City skyline.

Do you have plans for a new book?

Yes. I'm digging into Arrival and will delve more into issues surrounding the fashion industry such as fair trade, jealousy over a company's success, and the romantic and erotic twists and turns in relationships. I'm about 40% of the way into Arrival and I'm picking up steam.

Do you have to do much research?

Both Boarding and Arrival required me to spend a fair amount of time researching fashion trends, designers, and the industry. I spoke with a fashion designer who had worked for Tommy Hilfiger and she told me about 12 hour and 14 hour days – that surprised me. I've done more research for Arrival and will contact a few more fashion designers for their input.

DD Symms has four books published with Breathless Press. Travel is woven through the lives of the characters, representing the changes we all experience. 

He lives in southern California and hikes in the mountains with his wife, wishes his dog would stop sleeping on his side of the bed, and would like to take more walks along the beaches north of Malibu. 

DD Symms has seen the gritty as well as pleasant sides of life in Los Angeles and gets to frequently return to the woods back East. He hates being stuck in traffic and loves the cultures the many varied restaurants represent in So Cal.

Writing has been part of his professional and personal life since his college days. He's done some acting and sees a natural relationship between portraying characters, creating them—and living with a household of them.

He doesn't believe in finding inspiration and then beginning to write; he is adamant that one begins writing and then discovers inspiration and a place where the story will develop and thrive no matter what the personal circumstances.

Find DD on his website and Facebook.

Purchase DD's books from Breathless Press, Amazon and ARe.

Jessie brushed back a curl of her red hair, wet from the rain that

soaked her after the taxi mistakenly dropped her off one block

away from Twenty-Third Street and Park Avenue. A droplet from

the tip of a curl landed on her neck and trickled down her shoulder

blade like an ant with tiny feet tickling her flesh.

She leaned back against the chair and wiggled, but the droplet

had already zigzagged to the waistband of her panties and to

the valley of her ass. Wiping it away at this point would have been

awkward and impolite, so she concentrated on him studying her

sketches, fighting to keep her eyes open and ignoring the pounding

sensation in her temples. At least he could offer her a bottle of

water. 

He lifted his shoulders, glanced out the window, and ran a

finger along his chin. She brightened and waited. He lowered his

head. Good Lord, don’t tell me this is round two.

The weariness from the British Airways flight that she boarded

after her design competition in London had her tight in its grip.

The craft had dipped and rolled through a storm over the Atlantic

like a gravity-defying roller coaster at Six Flags and she had deplaned

at JFK Airport only four hours earlier with legs weak like

boiled spaghetti.

All she wanted was for him to say yes or no—to accept or

reject her fashion concepts. Jessie fantasized about gripping his

collar and running her nose against his tan face and chiseled jaw.

She would whisper how much she admired his wide shoulders

and sturdy neck and if he would say something, then he could do

anything to her he damn well pleased.

That way she could retreat back to the hotel to take a nap, a

warm bath, and enjoy the remainder of her Tuesday afternoon.

Ugh. Using sex just to get something was repulsive and only

added to the stress. She crossed one denim-clad leg over the other

to keep from sliding along the vinyl upholstery and into a heap

on the floor.

The thought of actually meeting someone connected to Veve

Rousoulette had been a long-anticipated dream that played out

while Jessie planned to escape her one-bedroom apartment in the

Los Angeles enclave of Van Nuys. She’d fly confidently to New

York, rent a luxury sedan, and then waltz in to an elegant room

and shake the model’s hand while her people eagerly reviewed a

portfolio of innovative sketches.

Reality wasn’t as neat or simple.

Jessie Carter is visiting New York City when she gets the chance of a lifetime: to design a dress in one day

for the model she reveres, Veve Rouselette.

Jessie's entrepreneur boyfriend, Raymond, fears losing her to a pursuit of fruitless dreams and wants her to settle for a position in his high tech firm. 

She finds herself attracted to the bisexual lover and assistant to the model's manager, Callan Delongpre, who encourages her talents. With sensual tastes and raw sexuality he shows Jessie a world she only fantasized about.

In a race against the clock, Jessie must conquer her boyfriend's challenges and a gossip columnist's mission to destroy Veve's reputation.

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Cover Reveal and Giveaway: To Steal a Highlander's Heart

Today I'm revealing the cover for my next release, To Steal a Highlander's Heart. I'm also holding a big giveaway to celebrate. I'm giving away a $50/£50 Amazon GC and 5 x $10/£10 Amazon GC's. Enter via the rafflecopter below. 

And without further ado...

Ta dah! Isn't it gorge? Let me know what you think!

Alana sets eyes on Morgann for the first time in several years and what does he do? He captures her! But Alana refuses to go meekly with the sexy Highland warrior. Her kidnapping will reignite the rift that’s existed between the two clans since her father accused Morgann of theft and she doesn’t want to see her father harmed in the inevitable war that will ensue.

Unfortunately for Alana, the faeries seek to interfere with her plans to escape. The sidhe have a debt to repay and Tèile, the green faery, is determined to mend the rift between the clans for good. And that means ensuring Alana and Morgann marry.

Morgann has his own reasons for taking Alana and they are nothing to do with marriage or war. He wants to use her to reveal a secret from the past, the one that had him accused of theft. If only he didn’t find his childhood friend so attractive. When circumstances force them together, Alana’s life is threatened and war is imminent. Can Morgann reveal the truth without losing Alana? And will the faeries meddling help or hinder his cause?

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Love Lust and Lipstick Stains Giveaway

Love Lust and Lipstick Stains is pleased to announce the start of our 2000 likes giveaway. We started our Facebook page only six months ago and we're thrilled with how it's been received. It quickly grew into a great place to share and promote romance and erotica reads of all heat levels and now we have a blog and an in-progress website. We're proud to have worked with some amazing authors on promoting their books and stand behind being all inclusive. In spite of the ever increasing popularity of hot romance, it's still hard to find avenues to promote it and we look forward to the next few months when we'll be introducing some exciting opportunities to offer new ways for authors and readers to connect.

Now we must say thank you to all the authors and also publisher, Jupiter Gardens Press for making this giveaway possible. Thanks to them we've got a great prize list as you can see! We wish all the entrants the best of luck and do remember to keep an eye on our Facebook page for more giveaways in the future.

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Cover Reveal: Tainted by Christina Phillips

Please welcome Christina to my blog today as she reveals her cover for her latest release, Tainted. Be sure to enter the rafflcopter below to win an e-copy of the previous book set in this world, Betrayed, a $10 Amazon Gift Card and swag – Bookmarks, Postcards and Fridge Magnets.

Blurb

A dangerous love that Rome will never allow…

Driven by the knowledge he failed to protect his king and embittered at losing the woman he loves, Celtic warrior Gawain despises the lust he feels for the beautiful Roman patrician, Antonia. She is everything he’s never wanted in a woman, yet she ignites his passion like no other. Despite the danger of discovery he embarks on an illicit liaison with her, determined to uncover the reason for the infinite sorrow that haunts her eyes.

Newly arrived in Britannia from Rome, Antonia is inexplicably drawn to the cold, tough Celt whose touch stirs a desire she long thought died at the hands of her brutal former husband. With Gawain she learns the pleasure of sex and his unexpected tenderness thaws her frozen heart. But she hides a deadly secret that could be her undoing, and knows her growing feelings for him can lead nowhere. Yet when a shadow from her past threatens her future Antonia is torn between the Empire of her birth and betraying Gawain, the man she’s grown to love.

Inside Scoop: This medieval romance dabbles a wee bit in the paranormal.

A Romantica® historical erotic romance from Ellora’s Cave

Read Chapter One of Tainted

Add to your wishlist from Ellora's Cave

~~~~~~~~Excerpt~~~~~~~~~

A door opened to her left and she turned to see Gawain stroll in from the bathhouse. Her heart thudded against her chest, making it hard to draw breath, and the pit of her stomach trembled with strange, liquid heat.

He looked utterly foreign, a savage warrior, and sunlight glinted on the barbaric jewelry around his throat and at his ear. He smiled, a slow, seductive smile that sent tremors through her blood and did nothing to ease the constriction in her breast.

Except for Elpis, she was alone with a strange man, a man she had virtually propositioned in the street. A native of a conquered land who made no secret of the fact he despised her people. And yet it wasn’t derision that glowed in his eyes. It was lust.

For her.

“Lady Antonia.” His smoky voice wrapped around her senses, as potent as though he had wrapped his arms around her naked body. “You kept your word.”

“Did you doubt I would?” She scarcely recognized her voice. She sounded like a sultry seductress. Perhaps, after all, Gawain would never guess what a novice she was when it came to playing such dangerous games.

He stopped in front of her, so close that the amber flecks in his dark eyes mesmerized her. “No.” The word sank into her blood, igniting sparks of pleasure that skittered across her exposed flesh. “You want this as much as I do.”

It was true. Why should she deny it? “Yes.”

Author Bio

Christina loves writing dark tales of tough, sexy warriors who are brought to their knees by their heroines. A mystical touch of fantasy or paranormal usually weaves its way through her stories, although strangely enough this wasn’t her intention when she first starting writing her Roman/Druid romances. But when ancient gods and goddesses get involved, it’s best just to go with the flow :)

She is published by Ellora’s Cave and Berkley Heat and has dipped her toe in the indie pub waters. She is a member of the Romance Writers of Australia, Romance Writers of America, the DarkSide Down Under Group Blog and Historical Hearts Group Blog.

Christina is an ex-pat Brit who now lives in sunny Western Australia with her family. She is also owned by three gorgeous cats who are convinced the universe revolves around their needs. They are not wrong.

Connect with Christina:

Website    Facebook    Twitter    Goodreads    Blog   

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10 Ways to Seduce Samantha Holt

I saw a Facebook post on this entitled 10 Ways to Seduce a Writer and, honestly, I didn't agree with most of it. 

As if writers have time to eat or even converse over a meal! I jest of course but seriously us writers are a pretty hermit-like, preoccupied type. Well I am at least. So maybe this should be 10 Ways to Seduce Samantha Holt...in fact I'm going to change the title now...

10 Ways to Seduce a writer Samantha Holt
1. Lock her in a room with her computer for a day as a treat.
2. Ensure you have plenty of coffee in stock. Especially the frothy type.
3. When she goes off into a dream-like trance, DO NOT say a word!
4. Don't complain when she wakes up at 2am searching for a pencil and notepad. Instead have a notepad and pen at the ready.
5. Rescue the slowly burning tea when she's lost in writing having promised herself she'd only write for half an hour more.
6. Pat her lovingly on the back as she bangs her head against the keyboard in frustration.
7. Don't get jealous when she falls in love with yet another hero.
8. Remind her that her writing doesn't suck, that 2 star review doesn't count for much and that she will finish this book even if it seems like she never will.
9.Celebrate the short-lived highs with her and commiserate the long-lived lows.
10. Read her books. It will give you an insight into her crazed mind.

Does anyone have anything to add to that? Reading that, it makes me realise just how hard our partners have it. I'm fairly sure they didn't realise what that were signing up for, so I think we have to be really grateful to them for putting up with us and supporting us on the adventure that is writing.

Book Tour Stop: The King of Threadneedle Street by Moriah Densley

Please welcome Moriah on her blog tour for The King of Threadneedle Street. Be sure to enter via the rafflecopter below as she will be awarding a genuine Victorian-style pearl jewelry set inspired by the book, including necklace, bracelet, and earrings to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour.                                  
He owns three shipping companies, a diamond mine, and his own castle.
He knows Portuguese, Hindu, Mandarin and Morse code.
His assets net thirteen million.
Lord Preston wants the one thing money can’t buy…

Andrew Tilmore, Lord Preston, the financial prodigy dubbed “The King of Threadneedle Street” wants the one prize out of reach: his childhood sweetheart. The papers can waste a sea of ink scandalizing over his lavender-eyed Alysia; so what if she is the daughter of his father’s mistress?

Alysia Villier learned the craft of the courtesan from her infamous mother―by osmosis apparently. A gifted artist who almost won the Prix de Rome, Alysia is not interested in following in her mother’s footsteps, since Andrew ruined her for any other man. But with her legal guardian—Andrew’s father―in control of her inheritance, she has little choice in the matter.

Keeping Alysia out of trouble and away from eager suitors becomes a cross-continental quest for Andrew. Not his old-fashioned family, the disapproval of the ton, nor even Alysia’s dedication to duty and propriety will stop him. Playing newspapers and investors like pawns, tumbling world markets, inciting riots… has he gone too far?

Purchase from Astraea Press | Amazon | B&N

Perhaps the people around her were speaking; she couldn’t say, for she was momentarily stunned and not sure why. Then she heard the voice again. A British, bass voice. “Excuse me, pardon.”

Was it her imagination? She shook her head.

Evigny and Ramsgate were pushed aside, and there stood Andrew, a head taller than the others and gloriously angry. Her heart stalled then kicked. She couldn’t breathe.

He gave her a low, formal bow. Pressed a slow kiss on the back of her gloved hand before turning it to press the palm to his face. Closed his eyes and inhaled deeply at her wrist. Grazed his nose along the inside of her forearm, as though hundreds of eyes were not observing.

One of the men nearby, probably Ramsgate, scoffed, “And without an introduction! Such presumption! Come now, who is—”

“We have met,” Andrew took her glass, and for the second time that evening, Leduc found himself holding it while another man cut in.

“Andrew.” Her voice caught, and her throat felt swollen. A dozen gasps sounded around her, seeming to echo.

She became aware of a chorus of lowered voices. “That is Lord Preston!” or jealously, “How does he know Miss Villier?” said as though her name meant horse manure.

“Lord Preston, The King of Threadneedle Street.”

“Lord Preston, youngest peer to sit in the House of Lords.”  

All hail Lord Preston, the demi-god. Who should not be here.

She was suddenly conscious of how she must look to him, no longer the plump, modest country maiden to whom he had bid farewell over a year before. After a year of Madame Desmarais’ strict diet of vegetable juices, sprouts, and deprivation of sweets, Alysia was a noticeable one or two stone lighter. She thought she was an inch taller, as well.

But that wasn’t mortifying. Alysia resisted the urge to cover herself with her fan. She didn’t want him to see the pleated silver bodice in translucent gossamer, wasp-waist corset and low Parisian décolleté. Wisps of gossamer—a poor excuse for sleeves—sat low on her arms, exposing her shoulders and half her back. The cosmetics, the exotic perfume, her hair coiffed in semi-dishabille topped with jeweled combs…

She must truly look a harlot to him. Did he think so? He was certainly staring.

Ignoring the protests of her so-called admirers, he led her to the dance floor just in time for the next waltz, oblivious to her wooden movements. He pulled their dance position completely closed. Pressed against him from shoulder to knee — oh, the shock! His thighs rubbed hers, leading the steps as he had over a year before at his sister’s wedding. It seemed ages ago.

Constrained in the corset, she couldn’t draw a clear breath. If the dizziness grew worse, she would faint in his arms. At least his shoulder blocked her view of the room. Alysia had no desire to survey all the curious and accusing glares she knew were aimed at her.

Oh, why did Andrew have to appear this evening? She felt like an opium addict locked in a closet saturated with the scent, smoke, and juice. Tentatively his fingers moved over the exposed skin of her back, across her shoulders, blazing a sensation strangely like fire and ice together. His head turned a little and rested against hers. He hummed softly in her ear as though it was perfectly ordinary that they should be waltzing at a ball in Paris on a random autumn evening.

Moriah Densley sees nothing odd at all about keeping both a violin case and a range bag stuffed with pistols in the back seat of her car. They hold up the stack of books in the middle, of course. She enjoys writing about Victorians, assassins, and geeks. Her muses are summoned by the smell of chocolate, usually at odd hours of the night. By day her alter ego is your friendly neighborhood music teacher. She lives in Las Vegas with her husband and four children. Published in historical and paranormal romance, Moriah has a Master’s degree in music, is a 2012 RWA Golden Heart finalist, 2012 National Reader’s Choice Award “Best First Book” finalist, and 2012 National Reader’s Choice Award finalist in historical romance. She loves hearing from readers!

Find Moriah on her website and Facebook

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Book Tour Stop: Hunting Laura by J.A. Bailey

Please welcome J.A. to my blog today as she shares a hot excerpt. Be sure to enter the rafflecopter below as she's giving away a $10 Amazon GC!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Blurb~~~~~~~~~~~~

Laura

Laura has just signed up for a term at the exclusive school for submissives. But all is not as it seems. The sexy blonde is hiding the real reason she's there. As the classes progress, Laura is forced to face some truths about her problems with sex along with her growing attraction to her mentor, the dark and distracting Mr Hunter.

Mr Hunter promises to whip her into shape as a sub but before long he is uncovering many of her deepest secrets and desires. But will he discover her biggest secret? And can Mr Hunter really help Laura overcome her issues with his rough methods?

Niall

Niall Hunter, a teacher at the exclusive Hollybourne school, knows there's something unusual about his submissive student, Laura. And it’s not just her issues with sex...

While his desire for her wars with his duty, Hunter is determined to help her conquer her problems and find out every secret inside that head of hers. Will he be able to fix what is broken?

As their relationship heats up, Hunter realises he wants more than just a teacher/pupil relationship, but after being hurt in the past, can he trust the secretive woman? And does she feel more than just gratitude for him?

Content warning: Contains adult scenes.

Purchase from Amazon.

Biography

J.A. lives and works in England and has been writing for many years now. She loves to create stories with a distinctly British feel and all her stories involve strong, virile men, intelligent women and the raunchiest scenarios possible. You can find J.A. on Facebook at www.facebook.com/onlysexystories

Excerpt

He pulled several lengths as Laura watched, seemingly oblivious to her presence. Her heavy legs remained rooted even as she tried to persuade herself to go. Just get out, Laura. Walk away and leave. Hunter paused at the end of the lane and stared at her, sending a shiver through her. Cheeks flaming, she dove under and swam furiously. She didn’t stop until breathless and exhausted. Unfortunately he was still there and she was still frustrated.

His dark gaze studied her as she swam over to the edge and gathered her breath. “Why did you do that?”

Blinking away the water, she scowled. “Do what, Sir?”

“Swim as if you were trying to escape something. Were you trying to escape me?”

Laura released a spluttered laugh. “Of course not.” His eyebrow twitched as if he didn’t believe her. Damn him. “You were doing the same,” she added.

He chuckled, the sound unexpectedly lifting her heart. “You might be right.”

They stared at each other. Surely he heard her pulse pounding? When he looked at her like that, she was sure he could see everything. Did he know the truth? Was that why he’d taken a disliking to her? Shit. She was such a fool for agreeing to this. No job was worth this.

Courage sapped by his dark eyes, she swam over to the steps. On her like a tiger, he swam quickly after her and she failed to prevent the surprised yelp as she grabbed on to the metal steps and his arms came around her, gripping the railings. She twisted around to find him looming over her, the water dripping from his hair onto her face. The haunted look no longer lingered in his gaze, instead hunger seeped into it and twisted her stomach.

“You are trying to swim away your frustration,” he stated.

Laura gaped up at him, her shaky fingers curling around the stair railings, just beneath his hands. His body pressed into hers, making the steps dig into her back.

“Are you frustrated, Laura?”

“Are you?” she threw back.

A wry smile quirked on his lips. “Yes. God help me, I am.”

His mouth came down upon hers, causing a gasp. She heard his muffled curse as his hands twined under her damp hair and his tongue pressed into her mouth. Powerless against the onslaught, she gripped stupidly at the railings as her body responded to his touch.

Arching into him, she kissed him back. Even as she fought it, her body craved him.

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