Welcome to my domain...if you dare...

Welcome to my blog about life as a writer and the craziness it involves with struggles of daily life. Make yourself at home but only if you don't mind a little messiness from time to time. This isn't the Home and Garden blog or Martha Stewart so don't expect cute little crafts with homemade goodies. That's not happening in the world of vamps, weres, and other things that go bump in the night...well...maybe homemade blood cakes topped with 'scream a la cream' sweetness along with the sexy alpha males who serve it up.

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Writer's Wednesday....Lori Leger

Hello everyone!  Please help me welcome my friend and fellow Ass Cheek Angel, Lori Leger!  Lori and I met at the 2010 NRWA conference.  She is a regular blogger for the Angels and she's one terrific author and phenomenal woman.  Welcome, Lori, and thank you for being here today!


Website link:  http://www.lorilegerauthor.com

 
Hey Kellie/J.D., thanks for having me…you’ve saved me from a food induced coma by mere minutes.

Was your road to publication a delightful stroll in the park or a tiring jog over hot coals?

I’m leaning toward the tiring jog over hot coals. I discovered I was good at it my senior year in high school when I breezed through an advanced composition class. A seventeen year marriage and three kids trumped all thoughts of writing after that, although I did keep a journal at one time. By year fifteen, I’d accepted the fact that my marriage was doomed to fail, and prepared myself by going back to school in computer drafting technology. I just wanted a sensible way to support my kids and myself if I ended up alone. Within six months of graduating, I got a job with the state of Louisiana, drafting road plans. Three months later, my marriage ended. A year after that, I married a co-worker, the head of the survey party -- a man who valued trust and fidelity in a marriage as much as I did. Thirteen years later, my future daughter in law, Trish, asked me to read one of her manuscripts. It gave me the jump start I needed to start writing again. I wrote four novels in that first year, always striving to perfect my craft. I took online workshops and classes, read books on writing in between. Four years and dozens of increasingly more positive rejection letters later, I was bitten by the self-publishing bug. And here I am, trying to promote myself by guest blogging.



Tell us about your real life romance.

I believe I just did. My second husband and my story bears a striking resemblance to Sam and Carrie’s in Some Day Somebody – MINUS the stalker, of course. We are happily married to this day, with five children and eleven grandchildren between us, and one more on the way.



Favorite romance movie?

Ladyhawk…Michelle Pfeiffer and Rutger Hauer as a couple in love, traveling together, but kept apart by a curse that turns her into a hawk during the day, and him into a wolf during the night. My kids and I must have watched it fifty times over the years.



Classic Novel you would like to see turned into a movie?

I’d have to say that my favorite classic novel is “To Kill a Mockingbird” and I hope they never remake it. You can’t get any better than Gregory Peck as Atticus Finch. That man was classy! Honestly, haven’t they all been made into movies already? I can tell you that I’d love to see a couple of Lisa Kleypas novels turned into movies. Sugar Daddy and Blue Eyed Devil.



If you were going to cast the hero of your books, what actors would get the parts?

That’s easy…Ed Harris for Sam Langley of Some Day Somebody, Nick Ballard for Jackson Broussard of Last First Kiss, and Bradley Cooper for Scott “Red” McAllister of Brown Eyed Girl. They’d have to add some auburn highlights to Brad’s hair, of course, but that shouldn’t be too difficult.



Do you believe in love at first sight?

I’m a realist, so I guess I don’t. I believe it takes time for real love to grow between two people. I also believe it grows best if it starts as a friendship. If you can still stand being in the same room with a man after fifteen or so years of marriage, there’s a good chance it’ll be forever.



How likely are people you meet to end up in your next book?

Oh Lordy! My books are full of people I meet, so if I were some of those people, I’d try very hard not to piss me off.



If you could time travel would you go forward or backward?

I’d love to go back to see how my grandparents and parents lived, but only if I could live in a cooler climate. Me with no air conditioning in south Louisiana…ugh…not anything I’d like to experience on a permanent basis.



What was the best advice you were given leading you to getting published?

Sabrina Jeffries and Claudia Dain both told me to keep plugging away at it and my perseverance would pay off.



What did you do to celebrate when your first book was published?

I drove to my mom’s house to bring her a set of them. The look on her face as she held my books in her hands was priceless!



Tell us a little about your WIP.

I’m making final edits to a short contemporary romance called Hart’s Desire. It’s about a young couple, Melinda Dawson and Greg Hart, whose interfering parents keep them apart in the early seventies. The heroine gets pregnant her senior year in high school and she’s sent to a home for unwed mothers in Texas. Rather than be humiliated, their parents keep the pregnancy from everyone in their tiny home town, including the father of the child. To avoid dealing with the father, they tell Greg that Melinda couldn’t face admitting to him that she wanted to break up, so she went to live with an aunt in California.

Melinda nearly dies in childbirth, and by the time she gets her strength back, her baby is long gone. When she gets out of the home, she calls her boyfriend to ask for his help in finding their daughter. His mother tells her he’s recently joined the Marines and can’t be reached. Crushed and desolate, Melinda stays in Texas, feeling somehow closer to her baby girl. Eventually she gets a permanent position as a nanny, raising another couple’s two children.

The story really begins thirty years later when she returns to Washington State to care for her father after her mother’s death. Sparks fly when she runs into Greg on the one year anniversary of his own wife’s death from a bout with cancer. The old familiar heat between the two still exists, despite being camouflaged by hard feelings and broken hearts. It’s a prequel to the third book in my La Fleur de Love Series, introducing characters you’ll eventually meet in Brown Eyed Girl.

I have two books presently on sale…books one and two of my La Fleur de Love series.

The first is Carrie and Sam’s story, Some Day Somebody.




Amazon buy link for paperback: http://www.amazon.com/Some-Day-Somebody-Fleur-Love/dp/1466454210/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1320455566&sr=1-2

Amazon buy link for e-book: http://www.amazon.com/Some-Somebody-Fleur-Love-Love-ebook/dp/B005JNAJ3Q/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1320452554&sr=1-1


Here’s an excerpt that shows a bit of Carrie’s sassy nature:

With November came a steady supply of cold fronts. The Monday before the Thanksgiving holidays rolled around with the morning temperature hovering around forty degrees as the humidity dropped drastically.

Sam locked his truck and zipped up the all-weather work jacket while waiting patiently at the car pool’s pick-up spot. His heart pumped furiously as he watched the approach of Carrie’s gray sedan. He wiped his hands on his jeans, hands as clammy as a twelve year old boy playing touchy feely with the preacher’s daughter. “You big dumbass,” he mumbled to himself as she pulled up in front of him.

His heart dropped to his toes when he saw Cory, the youngest member of his survey crew, sleeping comfortably in the front bucket seat next to the driver. Sam’s only option was to crawl into the Escort’s cramped back seat.

“Pull up that seat, Cory,” Sam groaned, trying to stretch his long legs to a less cramped position. “My knees are touching my chin back here. You know,” he added, thinking he had nothing to lose. “If you really wanted to score points with your boss, you’d switch seats with me.”

Cory gave a sleepy groan and moved to open the car door, until Carrie placed a restraining hand on his forearm.

“Don’t you dare,” she commanded then shot a glare in Sam’s direction. “It won’t kill you to sit back there for a change.”

“But my legs are a lot longer than hi...”

“You need your diaper changed too, you big baby?” she growled, throwing gravel as she peeled out of the parking lot to get back onto the highway.

“You offering?” Expecting a comeback, he glanced in her direction. One look told him she wasn’t in a mood for jokes. Instead of a grin and dimples, he encountered furrowed brow and a frown. She steered with her right hand in a white knuckled grip while the left supported her forehead. Only a fool would ignore those crystal clear signs of a woman on the verge of a blowup. Make that a major “open-your-mouth-and-I’ll-tear-you-a-new-one” meltdown. He settled into the back seat without another word.



Last First Kiss is book two if the series. It’s Giselle and Jackson’s story, two co-workers who’ve lost their spouses in the same horrific traffic accident.




Amazon buy link for the paperback: http://www.amazon.com/Last-First-Kiss-Fleur-Love/dp/1466454334/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1320455689&sr=1-5
Amazon link for the e-book:  http://www.amazon.com/Last-First-Kiss-Fleur-ebook/dp/B005RBZS6I/ref=pd_sim_b_1?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2




Here’s an excerpt from the book, just a little taste of the heat these two produce:

Giselle stepped to the other side of the waterfall and into the dark grotto of the pool. She wanted Jackson to follow her, even though she wasn’t quite sure what she wanted to happen if he did. She walked all the way to the back of the remarkably cool grotto, and sat on the slate slab that served as a bench while her eyes adjusted to the darkness.

Examining the design, she passed her hand on the coolness of the smooth stones. Giselle looked up as Jackson walked around the waterfall to the opening. He stood there, all tan and ripped, looking like a Greek god with beads of water spotting his bronzed skin…

“Came in here to cool off?” he asked.

“It does feel good in here. I’m amazed at this design...Is it custom?” she asked, as country music began to play softly from built in speakers somewhere inside the cave.

Jackson searched until he found the speakers. “Way to go, Red. He said he’d find the time to wire it for sound one of these days.” He turned back toward Giselle. “He drew up a basic sketch, I designed it for him, and he built it. It’s something, isn’t it?” He leaned one arm against the wall of the grotto and crossed his foot at the ankle.

“You designed it?” She shook her head in disbelief.

“I just told Red what would and would not work from the engineering standpoint. We hammered away at a design until we were both satisfied.”

“You ever thought about going into business for yourself? I know people who’d pay big bucks for a service like this.”

Jackson shrugged. “I might get enough clients in a city like Lafayette, but Lake Coburn’s only half the size.”

“You don’t understand. You wouldn’t have to find clients-they’d find you. Architectural firms would kill to have someone like you to turn to. You and Red could make a huge profit off of this one design.”

He shrugged like it was no big deal. “It’s something to think about, I guess.”

Giselle closed the gap between them. “I’m amazed at you, Jackson. Is there anything you can’t do? You sing, you dance, you played baseball, and you design fantastic grottos. Your uncle says you’re a natural horseman, not to mention the excellent engineering work you do. Is there anything else I should know about?”

“I may have a few more tricks up my sleeve. I guess you’ll have to stick around if you want to find out.”

“I’m extremely impatient. How long are we talking about?”

He shrugged and gave her one of those sexy as hell lopsided grins.

“How long was that?” She inched closer as James Otto’s sultry voice piped out Last First Kiss, one of the sexiest freaking songs she’d ever heard.

He gazed down at her, looking as though he was damn close to losing control. “I didn’t say.”

But damn close wasn’t close enough for Giselle. She reached out a single nailed finger to trace from above his breastbone all the way down to the waistband of his suit. The look on his face was well worth her rare act of bravado. “What’s wrong Jackson? You look surprised.”

Jackson sucked in his breath and lifted both hands, in surrender. “Hey, you’re the one in control. You’re supposed to tell me when you’re ready.”

“Maybe I’m ready for just a little more.” She hooked her finger into the waistband of his swimming trunks and pulled it toward her. Before she could look down for a peek, he grabbed her hand and pulled it away.

Jackson backed her up against the smooth surface of the wall then grabbed her hands and laced his fingers through hers. He raised them above her head, one on each side, effectively pinning her against the wall. Leaning forward, he brushed his mouth against her neck just below her left ear.

Her pulse quickened at the feel of his warm breath on her dampened skin. Instead of kissing her neck as she expected him to, he raised his head to speak softly in her ear.

“I have to tell you, Hon, I don’t mind a little teasing every now and then, but I’m no masochist, and I’m sure as hell no saint. Here lately, being around you is agony.”

“What’s the matter big boy?” she gasped, trying to lighten the mood. “You afraid it’s going to stunt your growth?”

The look Jackson gave her revealed he hadn’t found much humor in this particular situation.

“What is it you want from me Giselle?” he whispered hoarsely. “I think you know how much I want you, but I need to know how far you’re willing to take this little game of yours.”

Giselle stared into the depths of his hooded eyes, dark with desire. “In time...all the way, but we’re not alone here, Jackson.”

“Red is a grown man and knows better than to bother us. It’s dark back here.” He brushed his mouth lightly against hers.

She closed her eyes, ready to abandon all will, ready to give him whatever he asked of her.



Thank you again, Lori, for being here today!  It has been quite a pleasure.


Thanks for having me J.D.!


Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Tempting Tuesday...There's No Sparkling Vampires Here

Here's another view of Kellan Lutz without being one of those damn sparkling vampires.  Although, he is bedazzling here without any extra shimmer.



How would you like to take a bite out of this vamp? 


Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Tempting Tuesday....Gobble, Gobble.





During Thanksgiving, we all tend to go a little overboard with eating when gathering for the holiday feast.  Well, here's one yummy extravaganza where you don't have to feel guilty for over indulging your senses.  So, gobble up and enjoy.  Happy Thanksgiving, my dear friends.



Let's open up with some appetizers.  Shall we?






Then move on to the main course.









There's always room for dessert.  Yummy!





Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Tempting Tuesday...Whips and Chains



Countless hours at the gym worked wonders on Michael's body.  It showed in every twist and turn of his physique.  The man was ripped from head to toe.  Not an ounce of unsavory fat on his delicious body could be found anywhere....at least by Marie's observations.  The woman was relentless when surveying a new client and Michael was one whom she didn't mind inspecting severely.  

"Do you mind?  As she brushed her fingertips against his ass cheeks. 

"Not at all, ma'am." 

She smirked then popped  his ass with a riding crop.  "How about now?" 

Michael's nostrils flared as his eyes penetrated her gaze. "No. Do you...mind?" 

She laughed at the insinuation.  "Sometimes, but on my terms."  Like a predator, she slowly circled him. Wanting to intimidate him, she loved throwing the male off balance.  But deep down, she knew it would take more of everything to throw this man off guard.   

"Really?  Well then, I may not want to 'mind' all the time...ma'am."  Michael knew he hit a nerve with that comment.  Just to prove his point, he gripped his already erect cock and stroked it.  His eyes  followed Marie's movements.

Damn him.  Marie's eyes smoldered with heat as well as her pussy; yet, she didn't want him to win this round...at least not right away. 

"You may want to be careful.  I wouldn't want you to hurt yourself."  The sound of her stilettos clipped on the concrete floor as she neared him.  "Besides, I haven't told you to touch...it."  The sound of the chain dragging behind her scrapped along the cold hard floor.  Marie flicked her wrist and the chain smacked against the concrete.  The cracking sound echoed throughout the candle lit room.

When did she pick that up?  Michael hadn't noticed the change in props.  It didn't really matter but the chain represented total submission.  He was willing to bet she figured it would be him down on all fours.  Not likely.  The bitch would soon find out who dominated this situation. 

Without giving her time to react, Michael pounced on her like a jungle cat.  His erection pressed against her lower body as he pinned her down.  The clanging of the chain only intensified his desire for her. 

Breathing heavily against her hair, Michael forced his words out.  "You. Are. Mine. Got it?" 

Liquid heat spilled out of Marie's pussy.  Oh,yeah.  This was what she wanted.  "Yes, sir."  She felt his cock press harder against her ass cheeks.  She knew what words would push his buttons.  She really shouldn't but she couldn't resist saying them.  "If only for a day."

Michael grabbed the chain as soon as Marie's words left her mouth.  Oh, she was his. He intended on proving it too.  "Roll over. Now."

The sensual play of Marie's body rolling over, played further havoc on Michael's arousal.  She smirked as she eyed him with the chain.  "So, planning on spreading me out and chaining me down...or would you like me chained up on the wall?  This room is equipped for any purpose you desire....sir."

Michael laughed at the boldness of this woman.  He kissed her as if she were a t-bone steak and he was the dog salivating for it.  Now, he knew most certainly he'd have his work cut out to prove his 'point' to her. 

Wrapping the chain around her wrists and his, this time his kiss softened as his lips brushed against hers.  "Yeah, I noticed but I think I have a more practical purpose for it."  Intertwining their fingers together, he continued to push on to prove himself to her.

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Tempting Tuesday....Gotta Love The Scruff


There's something to be said about a man with a little scruff on his face. Hmmmm....the possibilities.  Notice the scar on his arm, ladies.  Let's me know he doesn't mind a little roughness either. 

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Tempting Tuesday....The Look Alone



Is it a look, a nod of the head, or a subtle caress of his hands against your skin that does it for you?

Sometimes a simple look is all it takes, ladies.  Awww...now back to bed I go.   Enjoy.