Thursday, July 31, 2014

Excerpt and Giveaway with Lauren Layne







About ONLY WITH YOU
Getting mistaken for a prostitute is not part of Sophie Dalton's life plan. Not that Sophie even has a life plan. She's perfectly happy being everyone's favorite party girl. But then a Las Vegas bachelorette party goes awry, and an uptight businessman gives Sophie a new label: hooker.

Unfortunately, what happens in Vegas doesn't always stay there. When the same jerk who mistook her for a prostitute shows up as Sophie's new boss and her perfect sister's new boyfriend, Sophie's carefree existence is turned upside down. Grayson Wyatt may have infiltrated family dinners and her professional world, but Sophie's not about to let a judgmental prude anywhere near her personal life.

As Gray's icy stares give way to quiet smiles, Sophie realizes that the one man she's been so desperate to get away from just might be the one she wants to keep around forever.
 
 
 
About Lauren Layne
Lauren Layne writes contemporary romance for Grand Central Publishing (Forever) and Random House(Loveswept).

After dabbling in an e-commerce career in Seattle and Southern California, Lauren moved to New York City where she now writes full time.

Lauren graduated from Santa Clara University with B.S. in Political Science that she has yet to put to good use. She lives with her husband and plus-sized pomeranian in a tiny Manhattan studio. 
 

Enter Here:
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They grabbed their wineglasses and headed toward the

sound of Brynn’s smooth alto voice and the sharper squawk

that generally meant Marnie was in full-out “impress” mode.

Sophie hoped her sister’s new man-friend was adept at

flattery and pleasant niceties, because he was going to need

a hefty dose of social skills to maneuver his new girlfriend’s

overprotective father and eager-for-grandbabies mother.

She shuffled after Will into the “drawing room,” mentally

preparing herself for mind-numbing conversation with one

of Brynn’s adoring drones.

 

Sophie halted to a stop so suddenly that some of her wine

sloshed over the edge of her glass and onto Marnie’s pristine

white carpet.

 

Her mother made an exasperated sound, but a little

spilled Chardonnay was the least of Sophie’s worries.

 

Oh.

My.

God.

It was him.

 

The man from the Las Vegas elevator standing in front

of her like some sort of icy-eyed ghost. And he had an arm

around her sister’s waist.

 

Oh, holy crap.

 

The aged gouda she’d just swallowed began churning in

the wine tsunami of her stomach.

 

Will pinched her upper arm none too gently, and Sophie

belatedly realized that her sister had finished introductions.

Everybody was staring at her, including Mr. I’m Not

Looking for an Escort Service. She had so not missed that

deadly sexy gaze. Emphasis on the “deadly” part. Still, it

was reassuring that he too looked a bit shell-shocked. He

didn’t say a word, but based on what she knew of him, she

didn’t really expect him to.

 

The ball was clearly in her court.

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Excerpt and Giveaway with Lizzy Ford







Award Winning author, Lizzy Ford, gives us an emotional, sexy read with her first Sons of War novel, SEMPER MINE.

A Marine captain tortured by the death of his men in Iraq returns home and falls in love with the sister of one of the slain, who blames him for the massacre that killed her brother.  SEMPER MINE, is a standalone novel in the Sons of War contemporary military romance series.

 

Want to get to know Lizzy better? Check out this exclusive interview!




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About SEMPER MINE:


“A freak accident landed both of the Khavalov twins under my command, just before a routine mission turned into a nightmare. I brought home one twin in a coffin and the other in a coma missing his leg. I did everything right – and still people died. I can’t forget that night or how many lives it changed, including mine.

 

It’s natural for their sister, Katya, to blame me. I made one decision in the middle of a firefight, and it shattered her sheltered world. I’m the ice to her fire, and when we first meet, it’s not pretty. I don’t fear war or death, and I am definitely not going to let a beautiful woman with a quick temper and broken heart scare me off, either. I know she’s hurting, and I’m determined to make sure she’s okay. It’s the least I can do for the twins.

 

I may have failed them that night, but I won’t fail her. What I’m not counting on: the feelings she ignites within me.” – Captain Sawyer Mathis

 


 

Also in the Sons of War series: SOLDIER MINE, coming fall 2014!

 

About Lizzy Ford:


Lizzy Ford is the author of over thirty books written for young adult and  adult romance readers, to include the internationally bestselling “Rhyn Trilogy,” “Witchling Series” and the “War of Gods” series. Lizzy has focused on keeping her readers happy by producing brilliant, gritty romances that remind people why true love is a trial worth enduring. Lizzy’s books can be found on every major ereader library, to include: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, iBooks, Kobo, Sony and Smashwords. She lives in southern Arizona with her husband, three dogs and a cat.

 




 
Excerpt
Captain Mathis is across the room, hands on hips, watching. Impossible to read as usual, though one eyebrow is up in either accusation or inquisition. He nods his head to the side in a silent command for me to join him.
I have no idea where this guy gets off thinking he can boss me around. It might work
with his men, but not with me.
I go outside instead, feeling claustrophobic.
Maybe being here is a mistake. I want to think it’s for Petr and Mikael – and it is – but
there’s another reason I feel compelled to stay. I think there’s a piece of me that needs this,too, though I’m not sure why, when this is totally not my scene.
Tossing my head back, I gaze at the late afternoon sky, so blue and beautiful. The forest calms me, and I shake out my shoulders.
“Is there anyone here you don’t have a problem with?” Captain Mathis asks from behind
me.
“We’ll find out, won’t we?”
He’s quiet. I have a feeling he’s not entirely certain what to say in response.
After a minute, he circles and stops in front of me, reaching for my belt. Not expecting
the sudden proximity, I freeze where I’d normally move or push him out of my space. He
smells lightly of coconuts once more, and I find myself staring at the width of his chest and the shapely arms and shoulders. His brown eyes are the shade of dark chocolate, his skin rendered golden by the sun and his hair kept in a neat high-and-tight. His heated strength is different than that of my brother’s.
I notice his body, how close he is to me, the way his roped forearm muscles shift with the movement of the long fingers unsnapping my belt. I’ve never paid any attention to my brothers like this.
 “Grommets on the outside,” he instructs me. He steps closer to pull the belt out and
twist it before settling it again at my waist. Snapping it into place, he drops his hands but
remains a little too close for my comfort.
“Thanks,” I murmur.
In a manner of seconds, I’ve forgotten why I hate him and Brianna. It’s uncanny, as if my senses overtake conscious thought when he’s around.
“Your brother’s old enough to fight his own battles.”
Anger stirs, and I look up at him. “I know that!”
Captain Mathis is calm, always so calm. I wonder what it feels like not to experience
emotions the way I do.
“So you’re just picking fights today?” he asks.
“None of your damn business!”
“For this week, it is,” he says firmly. “We’re a team. If you’re going to be picking fights all
week, I’d like to know.”
“Why? So you can trade me?” I challenge, crossing my arms. Being so close to him is a
little too intense right now. I step back self-consciously.
“So I can make sure I have your back, if it elevates,” he responds. “It’s what teams do.
Take care of their own.”
“Except for Mikael.” I can’t help it. I’m feeling furious with the handsome man before
me once more.
Captain Mathis doesn’t even blink. If anything, he seems to grow colder. “Whatever you
think you know about me, I will have your back, because that’s the way this works.”
It’s not what I’m expecting to hear. He has a way of either infuriating me or deflating my
anger. The weird tension stretches between us, the one that manages to replace thought with a physical awareness of his body.
 


Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Excerpt and Gveaway with STACEY KENNEDY







Publisher: Loveswept

(Random House Publishing Group)

ISBN: 9780553391183

Release date: July 22, 2014

 

“Characters you care about in a fast-paced story . . . one heck of a sexy read!”—New York Times bestselling author Shayla Black

Readers of Fifty Shades of Grey are sure to love Desired, Stacey Kennedy’s latest seductive, electrifying novel of Club Sin, where fantasy becomes reality.
 
Kyler Morgan, Master at the legendary Club Sin in Las Vegas, knows how to give women what they want—too well. He hasn’t had a real challenge in a long time. Then Ella Snow enters his life. Beautiful, inhibited, and innocent in the ways of submission and domination, Ella is the new blood he’s been lusting after. Soon, the thrill of training her to embrace his world brings forth desires Kyler cannot control.
 
After ending an abusive relationship, Ella makes a promise to herself to start living life to the fullest. It’s one of the reasons she seeks out Club Sin. Here, Kyler’s every touch is a lesson in liberation, stirring passions that have no bounds. But as she falls under Kyler’s command, Ella discovers that some secrets are so dark they must come to light. Submission alone may not be enough to save her, leaving her Master with only one question: How can he help Ella heal while unlocking the deep pleasures she craves?
 
Desired is an erotic romance intended for mature audiences.
 


Buy links:





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About the Author:

 


 

STACEY KENNEDY is the USA Today bestselling author of the CLUB SIN series. Growing up, Stacey’s mind wandered the path less traveled and that path most often led to love. She has always broken rules and she continues to feed off emotion – staying true to her heart. Those traits are now the bones of her stories. She lives in southwestern Ontario with her husband, who puts any of the heroes in her books to shame, and their two young children. If she’s not on mom duty or plugging away at a new story, you’ll find Stacey camping in the summer, hibernating in the winter and obsessing over Penny Dreadful, Game of Thrones and Sons of Anarchy. 




Loveswept website - http://www.readloveswept.com

 

 

DESIRED EXCERPT:

Forgive me.

Ella’s shoulders slumped and she sighed at her phone. Laughter and joy surrounded her, music and happiness, but her stomach plummeted as she read her husband, Rory Snow’s text. When would he give up? Didn’t a domestic violence protection order say This relationship is over?

As the band played a slow song, she ran her fingers over the scar by her right eye. The mark was a constant reminder of Rory. Every day she looked in the mirror she saw it and thought of him.

All she wanted was to forget. Heck, she’d been doing exactly that. Rory was the jackass who couldn’t let it go. Ella knew she should probably call the Savannah police department to inform them that Rory was contacting her, but she was so damn tired of it all. She had moved on and put Rory into her past of big mistakes.

She’d hoped Rory would do the same.

That didn’t look like it was going to happen anytime soon.

With a grumble, she slipped her phone into her dress pocket and zipped it closed. She scanned through the crowd on the dance floor and her gaze landed on the bride. Aidan’s new wife was beautiful. Thin and elegant, Cora belonged on a magazine cover.

Ella’s heart twisted in the midst of memories of her wedding. Her day hadn’t been so lavish. Rory hadn’t rented out an entire resort at Lake Las Vegas for the event, ensuring their guests had a place to stay. Her wedding had cost all of two thousand dollars, but it had been enough for her.

She’d loved the high school sweetheart she’d met when she was fifteen and married five years later. Had loved him. Right up until Rory started drinking and drowning himself in booze.

Sober Rory was a good man.

Drunk Rory had a violent side.

That violence had shoved Ella face-first into a table. The night she’d got the stitches was the night she’d walked away from him. Six months later, she had left her life in Savannah. She moved to Vegas for the excitement, landing herself an amazing job at Knight Law Firm, working as the assistant for a highly respected defense attorney.

Ella enjoyed working for Aidan, and actually liked him as a person, too. He paid her almost triple what she had made in Savannah. Her professional life couldn’t get any better. It was the personal side of things that remained murky.

As she watched Aidan twirl his new wife around, dancing proudly for all to see, Ella tried to find her smile, but it remained hidden behind pain. Even if ten months had gone by since the night of the abuse, she couldn’t ignore the dark thoughts and her failed marriage.

It took six months to find the courage to file divorce papers, and another four months since leaving Savannah to pull herself together again, but she was over Rory in every sense of the word. She refused to let him ruin this special occasion. Grabbing her wineglass, she downed the remaining contents.

Tonight she hoped for a little liquid happiness.

When she lowered her glass to the table, a tingling sensation spread across her skin. Lifting her head, she gazed across the patio, and sitting at one of the patio sets was one of Aidan’s groomsmen. She’d never seen him before today, but that wasn’t a huge surprise, since she didn’t know most of the people at the wedding.

Except for a bunch of lawyers from the firm and Aidan’s parents, everyone else was a stranger. Aidan never mixed pleasure with business, and in the four months she had worked for him, she’d never met a single friend of his. Heck, she hadn’t known Aidan was dating. One day she’d thought he was single; the next he told her he was getting married.

Oddly enough, she was drawn to Aidan’s groomsman. Staring into his warm blue eyes, pins and needles and other sensitive feelings traveled up her body, settling between her thighs. She squirmed against her seat, avoiding the heat, and the side of his mouth curved. Her heart tripped and she glanced to her high-heeled shoe dangling off her toe.

Geebus, if he didn’t stop looking at her with those piercing eyes, she would combust. All night he’d been sneaking glances at her. They weren’t simple interested looks, either; they were outright assaults on her hormones. But a man’s attention was the last thing she was looking for.

No, thank you.

When she still sensed his gaze, she peeked to discover she wasn’t wrong. His intense stare was right on her. The power of it sucked the air from her lungs. Though she’d never believed in lust at first sight, perhaps it was because she had never experienced it.

Whoever he was, he was hot!

“More wine, miss?”

Ella gasped, looking up to the waitress standing next to her holding a bottle of white wine. She gave a shaky laugh. “To the top, please.”

The waitress smiled, filling the glass to the rim. “Why aren’t you dancing?”

“I look like a dying fish when I dance,” Ella said with a laugh. “I have two left feet.”

“We’ll need to work on that, won’t we?”

The waitress was looking over Ella’s shoulder with wide eyes. And something in that masculine voice made Ella stiffen in her seat. The tone was low and seductive, but mischievous all the same.

Then he was there.

The groomsman who’d been staring at her from across the patio now stood in front of her. Ella’s mind went blank. He smelled of sandalwood, and the rich scent puckered her nipples. From afar she thought he had blue eyes, but up close she realized they were a blue-green color. Pretty. In fact, the whole package was beautiful, especially covered in the tux.

He leaned down toward her and offered his hand. His messily styled light brown hair dangled over his forehead. He was tall, much taller than she, and he filled out his tux nicely.

Hell’s bells!

“Dance with me,” he said.

Ella quivered under his clever smile, and a slow heat slid through her. He happened to be one of the hottest guys she’d ever seen. Well, in person and not on some magazine she figured was Photoshopped. Though, hot or not, there was still a problem. “I’m sorry, but I can’t dance.”

“Everyone can dance.” His potent stare held hers and his hand never lowered. “It’s all about who is leading.”

Persistent sexy man.

Under his intense scrutiny her insides went mushy. The power this man exuded burned through her, reminding her she hadn’t felt this way in a long time. The attraction was intoxicating, and something needy inside her unfurled, yearning to explore it.

No, her mind argued.

At her pause, one sleek brow arched. “If you wait any longer to take my hand, you might give me a complex.”

The waitress hadn’t moved, watching the exchange. Even if Ella hated dancing and wasn’t looking for a relationship, she couldn’t refuse the urge to be squished up against him. Besides, what was a dance? This hunk was the perfect way to get her mind off Rory and onto something a lot better.

As she rose and slid her fingers into his warm grip, his gaze remained on hers. Heat stormed into her, spiraling low in her body with a wicked thud. She didn’t doubt that smile got him into many women’s beds.

It had power and charm.

He tightened his fingers around hers, and something passed in the air between them, so hot and so damn unforgettable, her body all but liquefied. He tugged her closer and she felt something odd inside awaken, something she couldn’t quite put her finger on.

Something she wanted to lose herself in.

A sensation that made her mind shut off.

He led her into the middle of the crowd on the dance floor, pulling her tight against him as if she belonged right there in his arms. He had no hesitation about placing his hand low on her back, quite close to her bottom, and sandwiching their bodies together.

Ella swallowed and avoided his gaze, staring at the band as they played a classic song. She wasn’t blind to the glaringly obvious fact that the groomsman had an erection. She thought she should be offended or something, but found herself fighting against the desire to rub against him.

“Ella, right?”

She cleared her throat, angling her head. His face was chiseled and smooth, but his eyes were what made this man sexy. They held mischief with a sense of confidence. “Yes, and you would be?”

“Kyler Morgan.”

Of course, the sexy man came with a sexy name. She swayed her hips, trying to follow his movements, only feeling more uncomfortable. Not a second later, she stepped on his foot. “Oh, shit!”

He chuckled. “It’s a foot. I’ve got two, so it’s okay.” He pressed his hand tighter against her back, erasing the distance. Then he shook their clasped hands. “Stop fighting me. Relax.”

Ella sighed. I suck at this!

He leaned down, placing his mouth near her ear, and whispered, “So you work for Aidan, yes?”

His voice raised goose bumps across her flesh, and she shivered. “Yes.” She glanced to the others on the dance floor. It pleased her that no one was watching her horrible dancing skills. Then she stared up into Kyler’s handsome face, since he didn’t allow her any room to do otherwise. “Since you’re Aidan’s groomsman, you must be a good friend.”

A low noise hummed in his throat, and the sound spoke to her on a level she couldn’t have anticipated. It warmed her from head to toe, and her muscles went lax. His fingers slid across her lower back, squeezing her against him, and the heat of his touch burned to her core. “Been good friends for a long time now.”

Good grief, the man seemed not to care they were strangers. He touched her as if they were well acquainted. In the midst of that confidence, Ella forgot the world around her. Her mind focused on him and the way he moved her across the dance floor.

He continued to guide her movements and never once took his eyes off her. “I didn’t see a date with you tonight. Are you unattached?”

Her insides somersaulted with his question, as he appeared interested in finding out if anyone stood in his way. She pondered whether to spill out the details that she was in the process of getting divorced and not looking for another relationship. Well, she would be if Rory’s lawyer stopped dragging his feet. But why tell that depressing shit to a smoking-hot man sandwiching her against the hard planes of his body? “Nope, not attached.”

His chin dipped, bringing his mouth within centimeters of hers. “A good thing for me, Ella, since I’m enjoying this.” The music soared through the air, and as her hips swayed with his, his erection pressed against her stomach.

Trapped in his intense gaze, her body flushed as desire simmered. Holy Jesus, she hadn’t felt this aroused in the presence of a man. No one had ever made her burn with a dance, a look, or the sound of his voice.

Ever.

Kyler’s mouth twitched as he ran his thumb over the top of her hand. “See, sweetheart, you can dance.”

She blinked, realizing she had completely relaxed in his hold, and he was moving her around the dance floor, effortlessly. She leaned in to him, consumed by the strength of his hold. “Apparently, you’re a good teacher.”

He winked. “You bet your pretty little ass I am.”

Monday, July 21, 2014

Cover reveal & Giveaway with Kat Latham


Book Blurb and Buy Links

Book three of the London Legends
Best friends make the best lovers.
Libby Hart and Matt Ogden are perfect for each other—as friends. They’ve known each other for ages. They act as each other’s plus-ones. They even share custody of a dog. And if there’s always been a little spark between them, so what? It’s never been worth jeopardizing their friendship.
Professional rugby player Matt is fighting for a starter position with the London Legends—and that’s not the only thing he’s fighting. A crippling fear of flying means he’s struggling to get his career off the ground. He has no time for a relationship, even if Libby does make him ache. As an airline pilot, Libby’s looking for a stay-at-home husband so she can have a family without sacrificing her high-flying career. Matt’s certainly not that man.
But just because they don’t have a future together doesn’t mean they can’t have a right now. When Matt asks Libby for help overcoming his fear, they agree to take a vacation from their platonic relationship—whenever they fly together, they can have sex. It’s the perfect way to resolve all that built-up tension. As long as they can avoid getting a little too comfortable…
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1mLF6k1
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1mx8Rpj
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1mLG9jX
Books a Million: http://bit.ly/W0j7ML
Kobo: http://bit.ly/1mYzZyP
Google Play: http://bit.ly/1jEMsHq

About Kat

Kat Latham - 350px
Kat Latham is a California girl who moved to Europe the day after graduating from UCLA, ditching her tank tops for raincoats. She taught English in Prague and worked as an editor in London before she and her British husband moved to the Netherlands. Kat’s other career involves writing and editing for charities, and she’s traveled to Kenya, Ethiopia and India to meet heroic people helping their communities survive disasters. Find out more on her website: katlatham.com.
Follow Kat:
Site: http://katlatham.com/
Blog: http://katlatham.com/blog/
Newsletter: http://katlatham.com/newsletter/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KatLathamRomance
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Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Guest Post & Giveaway with Celeste Prater


Celeste Prater is back with another novel featuring those sexy Fueled by Lust alien alpha males!

Tana Jameson meets the Insedi Emperor Lucien Tarquinius in LUCIEN, the fourth novel in Celeste Prater’s Fueled by Lust series, now available via Siren/BookStrand and coming soon to major e-retailers.

Want to get to know Celest better? Check out this exclusive interview!


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About LUCIEN:
 
 
Emperor Lucien Tarquinius agrees to retrieve the future king of a race that annihilated every Insedi female and doomed his planet’s future. Why would he do such a thing? Simple. He cannot have his enemy retake the throne and continue the war against Insedivertus. Yet, an unexpected encounter changes everything.
Just one day away from collecting the reluctant ruler, the royal transport inexplicably disappears from its flight path. As the empire scrambles to find their missing emperor, Lucien embarks on a journey that challenges his intellect, tests his endurance, and pushes his emotions to the breaking point.
Tana Jameson wonders who she pissed off to warrant an investigative assignment aboard a cargo ship in the middle of the Atlantic. A moment of curiosity jettisons her into an alien world beyond her imagination and directly into the arms of a man stepping right out of her wildest fantasy.
Available at: BookStrand (15% off until midnight CST, July 22nd)

Fueled by Lust series:

DRUSUS: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookstrand
SEVERUS: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookstrand

About Celeste Prater:
 
I was born and raised in a small town between Dallas/Fort Worth and Austin. Wanting to see more than my small Texas town, I joined the Marines, which satisfied my craving to see more of the U.S. and drive to see if I could be one of the few and the proud.
 
A firm believer in educating the mind, I have achieved several advanced degrees, the latest being a Masters of Science.
 
My true love is writing erotic romance, especially about alien hunks that know how to treat their females. 
 
Drusus, Severus, Cato, Lucien, Petrus, Maxim, Caelius, and many more have swirled in my dreams until I had to bring them to life and allow them to find love within the pages of the FUELED BY LUST book series.

Website | Facebook Twitter | Goodreads YouTube | Tumblr Instagram


Writing male characters.

What types of male characters are found in the FUELED BY LUST series?

First and foremost, the main male characters are all alien. They hail from a planet called Insedivertus. They’re half-human/half pure energy. They look just like a human, but have some interesting alien traits that have intrigued many a reader. Insedi were created by an interaction between an ancient Roman emperor that stumbled upon the planetary vortex that connects our worlds and the indigenous energy forms known as the Nubis.

They have human characteristics and feel all the emotions that a normal Earth male experiences, on top of trying to blend in with Earth’s culture and antiquated technology. So, add a little extra dash of angst to their day-to-day and they can get into all kinds of crazy situations.

You’ll also find interactions with male humans that are ex-boyfriends, protagonists, or supporting characters, but the male POV’s are saved for the alien heroes (or bad guys).

What the reader will find in this series are males that have very distinct personalities. Nothing drives me crazier than seeing a series that introduces a new male hero and the only thing different from the last book is his eye and hair color. These guys all have different proclivities (in and out of bed) as well as personalities that differ greatly on their perception of things. One main commonality is that they want to be loved, just like anyone else.

The males that I focus on are the warrior class of the Insedi race. They’re total alpha males, but when it comes to their females (or males depending on their proclivity), they’re completely besotted. They have respect for others and find it disturbing when they encounter humans (or any species) that mistreat each other. They’re entire reason for being on Earth is to find mates since all of the Insedi females were destroyed by a mad man. Don’t get me wrong, these guys aren’t push-overs. They will put a woman in her place if she acts the fool, and they have no compunction about knocking a dude’s lights out if he deserves it. Each male plays an important role in the Insedi culture and the particular parts they must play to blend in on Earth.  These guys are tight with each other and their stories interweave as their lives play out.

So, basically what you have are alpha males with distinct personalities, big bodies, big hearts, and big goals. They don’t mess around when it comes to trying to achieve the ultimate outcome of mate selection, no matter what gets in their way, even themselves.

As a woman, how are you able to get into the ‘head’ of a male character?

I was extremely fortunate to have had the coolest dad in the world. Okay, I’m biased, but he was pretty nifty. He spent some quality time with his kids explaining the difference between men and women besides their sexual organs. He knew that we all needed to have our heads on straight or we’d end up with some screwed up relationships simply because we didn’t know how to interpret the other person.

What I got from my dad was: With a man you get black and white. There’s seldom a gray area to swirl a stick in until it turns muddy brown. I define the gray area as the rolling tide of feminine emotion that can bowl over even the sturdiest person.

The words that come out of a male’s mouth are usually what he’s really thinking at that moment. Now keep in mind, my dad taught us the average perception as a ‘base’, and as we grew older we got the lessons on the baggage that one carries in life and how that can skew someone’s base thinking.

So, from a ‘base’ viewpoint, when a guy says, “Your shoes look nice today,” he means that he thinks your shoes look nice and it just happens to be today. He’s not comparing them on a scale to yesterday’s shoes, or that you suck at buying shoes and just happened to get it right today or that nice means you could have made a better choice and he would have said fantastic instead. See where I’m going? If not…

Bottom line: It just means the poor guy gave you a compliment, so shut your emotional rollercoaster of a mind down and just say, “Thank you.”

Men also look at love differently. If you’re fed, clothed, happy, safe, and getting the best dick you’ve ever had, then consider yourself loved. It’s that simple. They show you in their actions. If the female keeps her eyes off other males and lays some good loving on him when he’s in the mood, then he feels loved and secure. We’d have some boring books if it was all that simple, right?

Since the books I write provide stories of males in some extreme circumstances, then I have to reveal their ‘baggage’ to add that extra element of angst that gets his head spinning and confused on if he should pursue or escape the female that entered his life. None of that angst is because he’s feeling emotionally vulnerable that particular day (or someone dissed his shoes). No, it’s from witnessing something concrete and life altering that he couldn’t logically set aside and now it’s bleeding into the present. He’s now muddying the females prolific ‘gray area’.

You’ll never hear one of my males say something stupid to a love interest like, “I’m mad at you, and if you don’t know why then you don’t love me.” Sheesh…I’d run from him, too.