Dear Readers,
Long-term relationships are like roller coasters. Though the first plunge is usually the biggest, as the ride evolves there are lots of peaks and valleys that bring back that lovin' feeling—your first fight, the day you making that lasting commitment, break-ups/make-ups, screw-ups (both big and small). In fact, it seems like the times of high-drama (be they filled with happiness or heartbreak) make it easy to stay focused on your partner. And then there are those days...months...even years that slip by without excitement, intrigue, or turmoil. That's when the ennui sets in and, IMHO, it's these times that are difficult to weather and most often lead to an irreparable rift.
If you have the choice between making love with your partner or watching an rerun of Law and Order and you choose Law and Order—DANGER, DANGER! LOL. You need to take action now! And I would know because not too long ago, my life-partner and I fell into a rut that almost put an end to our relationship. Almost. Thankfully we were able to open up to each other, indulge each other's fantasies, experiment a little...okay experiment a lot and we resurrected our passion with a vengeance. It's this experience that was the basis for my novel Love Game, available now at Ellora's Cave.
http://www.jasminejade.com/ps-8987-50-love-game.aspx
The book explores the staid relationship of a couple that's been married for longer than a decade and the lengths that they go to fall in lust with each other all over again:
Battling housework, Sandi wonders if the spark in her marriage has disappeared. When her husband interrupts their hot-shower lovin’ to take a call from work, she’s positive the magic is gone.
In an attempt to spice things up, she gets a makeover and sets a date with her hubby for a night of passion and romance. There’s only one problem—Roberto doesn’t show. But all is not lost. Alejandro, a silver-tongued Latin loverboy wrapped in an expensive suit, volunteers to keep her company for the evening. He says all the right—and deliciously wrong—things, leaving Sandi no choice but to see him again…and again and again.
One by one, Alejandro strips away her inhibitions, pushing her to act out her darkest fantasies, desires so private, she’s never mentioned them to anyone, not even her husband. Blindfolds, bondage with silk ropes, sex on the roof—nothing is off limits. But everything is not as it seems. The game’s afoot—a love game—rekindling the scorching-hot passion in Sandi and Roberto’s marriage.
I hope readers can identify with the ups and downs Sandi and Roberto go through. Yes, some nights you're tired. Some days you're grumpy or you really do have a headache. Not to mention the kids are doing their best to give you gray hair. But if you're reasonably well-rested, in decent health and you find yourself with some grown-up alone time, you can't go wrong by giving your partner some good, good lovin'. Mix it up. Keep it fresh. It's overcoming the boredom that comes with any routine that will take you on that roller-coaster ride again. Falling in love—or lust—again...ain't it grand?
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http://cindyjacks.com/default.aspx
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An Excerpt From: LOVE GAME
Copyright © CINDY JACKS, 2011
All Rights Reserved, Ellora's Cave Publishing, Inc.
I perched on the edge of his bed as he hung up his sports coat. He walked over and took a seat next to me. Fingertips skittering to the hemline of my dress, Alejandro said, “Now, what about those panties I’ve heard so much about.”
“Not yet.” I pushed his hand away.
He pouted, sliding off the bed onto his knees. “You want me to beg you?”
Peering down at him, I put a finger to his lips. With a swipe of his tongue, he licked the skin between my thumb and forefinger. I laughed and gave him a gentle shove. His gaze boring a hole in me, he lunged and took me down onto the mattress.
I worked the buttons on his shirt and he sloughed off the garment. For a moment, I stared up at him and the gorgeous expanse of his unblemished chest. He nuzzled my jawline and moved his lips past my ear.
“Let me see you.”
At first, I wasn’t sure what he wanted me to do, but when he moved off me and propped himself up with pillows, arms folded over his torso, I realized he expected a show.
“I was promised sexy underwear.” He motioned with his hand as if to say the floor was all mine.
Taking a deep breath, I decided I could do this. In fact, it might be fun. I crawled off the end of the bed, kicking off my heels.
“Leave the shoes on.”
A mocking expression on my face, I stepped into the stilettos again and propped one leg on the bed, pulling up the skirt of my dress to give him a peek of the red lace beneath. A wicked grin parted his lips.
I unzipped my dress and slipped it down around my waist. Immediately, he focused on the plump mounds of cleavage formed by the cups of the camisole and he swallowed hard. The power I had over him went to my head and I grew bolder. I let the dress flutter to the ground and stepped out of it. Doing my best supermodel strut, I walked to the side of the bed. Knees together, I dropped low, licking my forefinger and running it between my breasts. For just a second, I spread my legs, giving him another peek at the panties and then promptly closed my thighs. A low growl rumbled in his throat.
I stood, hands on my hips, and swiveled to display the bow at the cleft of my backside, looking over my shoulder to watch his reaction. He clambered off the bed and caught me around the waist. For all his talk about wanting to see the lingerie, he stripped it off me and threw it to the floor.
* * * *
Leap
Cindy Jacks
Author website:
Buy-link:
http://www.jasminejade.com/ps-8822-50-leap.aspx
Blurb:
Just when Lila has resigned herself to the fact the most exciting chapters of her life are over, a blast from the past walks into her bakery. Six feet of gorgeousness named Gavin drops by as she’s closing up shop. They were once high-school sweethearts and it’s been more than twenty-five years since they’ve seen each other, but time hasn’t diminished the sweet heat between them. Soon enough the sparks—and the frosting—begin to fly.
As they rediscover each other’s bodies, it’s clear Gavin’s no longer a boy as he shows Lila the man and skillful lover he’s become. Though Lila knows this whirlwind romp could be an act of insanity, his touch unleashes the sensual woman she’s forgotten she could be. And she thinks—maybe—she has one more leap in her.
An Excerpt From: LEAP
Copyright © CINDY JACKS, 2010
All Rights Reserved, Ellora's Cave Publishing, Inc.
Gavin followed her through the swinging door to the back. With a low whistle, he looked around the kitchen and asked, “Is this place all yours?”
“All mine.”
She walked over to the Purposeless Cake and stared down at it. Pulling a box from beneath the worktable, she started to put it away, but then though better of it.
“Are you hungry?” asked Lila.
“I could eat.”
“Good.” She pulled a knife from a drawer, cut slabs of cake and served them up on heavy-duty ceramic plates. Gavin grabbed two stainless-steel forks from a gray plastic silverware tub to his right.
She handed him his plate.
“This looks great,” he said.
“Taste it.”
He shoveled a bite into his mouth and moaned. “Oh my God. This is— Damn.”
Lila grinned. “Thanks.” She took a bite of cake. “Not bad, if I do say so myself.”
Pulling up two barstools, she sat and motioned for him to do the same. Lila studied him as he moved to take a seat. Taller, broader. Gavin had become fully a man. Though he was clean-shaven, she wondered what he’d look like with a beard. Could he grow one now? His dark hair led to about an inch or so of well-filled-out sideburns. Yeah, she was sure he could grow out his facial hair and he’d look pretty damn good if he did. Not that he didn’t look great as he was. The cropped, clean-cut look worked for him. A whisper of gray touched each of his temples and he wore that well too.
Her gaze wandered down his frame. No excess flesh or jutting bone. His tight musculature shifted his frame with ease. Clearly he took care of himself, worked out often. A picture of him shirtless in some imaginary gym, sweat dripping down a cut chest and abdomen, appeared in her mind’s eye. She blinked away the thought, trying to focus on his words and ignore the pounding of her heart. Her hand strayed to her matronly bun and the bobby pins holding it in place. She picked them out of her hair, one by one, and shook out her shoulder-length tresses.
“Mom said you’ve been at this location for the past ten years. I can see why,” said Gavin.
She cleared her throat. “Jack helped me set it up after we got divorced.”
“After?”
“It was a pretty amicable split…as divorces go.”
“My ex, Irene, and I went through a pretty rough one a couple years ago.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
He took another bite of cake. “It’s all good now.”
Lila worked on her piece for a few minutes in comfortable silence and then asked, “Why did you come here tonight, Gavin?”
He glanced around the room and gave a little shake of his head. “To see you.”
“I get that. I mean what were you expecting from me?”
He rubbed his hand on the front of his jeans. “No expectations. It’s—it’s just good to be back. You’re part of my memories of home. I guess. No, I mean you are. Definitely.” He grunted and rolled his eyes. “I’ll stop rambling now.”
She let out an amused huff under her breath. “You’re fine.”
She slid her fork over her plate and scraped up the last of the frosting and crumbs. Her tongue darted over the fork tines and licked them clean.
Gavin reached out his hand. “You got a little chocolate…”
He brushed his thumb over her bottom lip. She let her tongue graze the tip of it. Shocked by her own audacity, she shied away from his touch but he cupped her face in one hand.
Eyelids lowered, Gavin leaned in. Dark lashes rested against his cheek. Warm lips skimmed across hers. The hand under her jaw slipped beneath her hair and cradled her neck. Lila’s body relaxed into the kiss, sliding her tongue over his. For a moment she lost herself in the scent and the taste of him—chocolate richness and the citrus undertones of his cologne, but all too soon, she remembered the shards of glass lodged in her heart. Pain at the memory of Alan’s departure stabbed at her.
“Maybe we shouldn’t be doing this,” she murmured.
“Maybe not.” He gave her a quick, soft kiss and then a longer, more urgent one.
Shouldn’t be doing this, Lila thought. A list of reasons she should rebuff his advances scrolled through her mind. She was still getting over Alan. She hadn’t seen Gavin in over twenty-five years. Jesus Christ, a quarter century. Nothing good ever came from rushing into sex. But who said they had to go that far? Well, she did want to fuck him. No denying that. But the last thing she needed was…was…?
The feel of his heated mouth against hers overrode her common sense. Oh, to hell with it. Why not?
****
Thank you for hosting me today, Kayden. And thanks to the visitors for dropping by and reading about my new release, Leap, available now at Ellora's Cave. Don't forget to leave a comment. One lucky commenter will be chosen at random to receive an e-book copy of Leap!
~Cindy
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The Cornwall Coven, Book Two; Carnal Magnetism
Kayden McLeod
Publication Date: January 8th 2011
Genre: Erotic Paranormal Romance (Vampires, M/F)
Publisher: Silver Publishing
Publisher Website: http://silverpublishing.info/
Heat-Rating: Five Flames, Explosive
Pre-Release Reader Review:
http://kaydenmcleod.blogspot.com/2010/08/pre-release-reader-review-carnal.html
“Kayden McLeod spins a tale in Carnal Magnetism that sucks you in at the beginning and doesn’t let you go. You won’t be able to put down this entrancing story of a vampire family formed from need, but able to stay together because of love.” –Review by, Stacey Krug
Tagline:
Trust only works when it’s both ways
Summary:
The RedLine is the perfect haven for a man of Ryder’s extensive desires and tastes. He uses the women of the club, much like they do him, with little care to know anything more than names, sometimes even less than that. His reputation for open-minded, tantalizing sex is renowned, and willing victims for this particular vampire are never at a shortage. At least until Catalym crashes into his life, taking over from the moment they’d met. And it isn’t long before her past life’s tribulations follow her, including a dangerous ex-boyfriend who hides far more than Ryder or his friends ever guess.
Excerpt Six (RATED PG):
***This is a song Catalym wrote within Carnal Magnetism,
about her life and the experiences it has given her.
She sings these lyrics for her first-time-ever public appearance.
Caged
By, Catalym Cornwall
By the light of a candle I write these words
And the world goes by obliviously
No one ever feels my pain
Day by day I waste away
Waiting for my life to be done
This existence is never-ending
Many centuries have come to pass
Dreams of average weigh down my heart
Finding it hard to hide the hatred
Trapped within my own flesh of loneliness
I don't want to live my life in a cage
All I ever want is to be free
Like a bird flying over the ocean
Or the fish swimming in the wide blue sea
Live life, like you'll die tomorrow
Spend it wisely, or you'll find it gone
Never let yourself be put inside that cage
Always fight for what you are
Spread your wings and fly above them
Tired of being someone else’s obsession
In a world who never bared my presence
No longer wanting the unwilling pulled toward me
It is a curse too much to shoulder anymore
I can touch you
Feel what you feel
Make you want me
A drug never seen
I'll consume you
Your thoughts become only of me
I'll seep under your skin
No one can rid them self of me
My birth to this world
Is an apocalypse of ecstasy
Light seen at the end of the tunnel
Yet further away with each step
I will never be truly free
Of what I am capable
What I was born to be
I don't want to live my life in a cage
All I ever want is to be free
Like a bird flying over the ocean
Or the fish swimming in the wide blue sea
Live life, like you'll die tomorrow
Spend it wisely, or you'll find it gone
Never let yourself be put inside that cage
Always fight for what you are
Spread your wings and fly above them
The world shuns me
I am its disgrace
...And to all...
Who will ever know me
