Saturday, December 21, 2013

Ivy B and Her Newest, Christmas Eve Surprise

Hello Sweet Bees and thank-you for joining me here at Mary Corrales' blog! I hope you're all well and feeling somewhat relaxed even though it is only four days until Christmas!


But, I digress. I'm not here to talk you through holiday stress, no I'm here to shamelessly promote by latest book from Breathless Press Christmas Eve Surprise.

One of the main themes in this warm and funny Christmas tale about a sweet couple going through a bit of a dry spell is communication; or in Tim and Stella's, a case lack of it. Every couple, every friendship, every kind of relationship when you get right down to it works so, so, so much better if there is an open line of communication. It's not always easy and if you're like me, avoiding confrontation is an active hobby. However, when things need to be said to get a better understanding of the situation or just to keep people in the know so that they don’t feel like I'm forgetting about them I try not to keep things to myself and chat about it.
When it comes to your partner, not talking to them about something that is bothering you is usually not the best way to handle the situation. Specifically, if it's an issue that you feel involves both of you, keeping it inside and locked away in the drawer where you hide all your naughty secrets can lead to all kinds of problems. And even more specifically, if you feel there is something amiss with the romantic side of your relationship and you don't say anything, this can lead to feelings of rejection, anger and outright depression.
In Christmas Eve Surprise, Stella and Tim are having that kind of communication problem. They used to be pretty wild in and out of the bedroom, but over the course of a year they've gone from "hot fire" to "chilly embers".  Stella feels rejected and unattractive. Tim feels guilty and inadequate. Instead of chatting about it and coming to terms with the fact that it's really ok to not have as hot a sex life as they used to, both Tim and Stella come up with unorthodox plans that they will reveal to each other on Christmas Eve.
Both of them have the best of intentions.
But both of them are in for a big surprise.
Ivy Bateman: Excerpt from Christmas Eve Surprise
 As the weeks crept closer and closer to Christmas Eve, Tim had had begun to worry that he wouldn't find a man that would have sex with him in front of Stella. He had fixated so much on this fantasy-fulfilling evening being his Christmas present to her that he'd not taken the time to find her another gift. Both he and Stella took finding each other the perfect gift very seriously. It wouldn't do if she was to present him with a gift she'd put a lot of thought into, like the beautiful chain she'd gotten him for his fob watch last year, only to be presented in return with a cardigan she didn't like or a hat she'd never wear.
He pulled out a key, unlocked his desk drawer, got out his black book, and pored over all of his carefully written notes. Tim looked at the dozens of entries he'd written about most of the single and attractive men in his office. None of them had seemed to be someone who would be willing to have a night of hot man sex in front of his wife. He felt doomed to give Stella a gift she would remember forever, but only because it was one he hadn't put any thought into. With a heavy heart he closed his black book and returned it to the drawer.
As he was locking it, his boss Terry walked in with an extremely good-looking man. The stranger filled his office with a god-like presence. He must be the new fellow.

Ivy Bateman's Links:
Ivy's books are available from the Breathless Press Website:
Or drop Ivy a line at: ivybmisbehavin@gmail.com


Friday, September 20, 2013

Newly released: Recovered (The Shapeshifters' Library: Book 3) by Amber Polo

Short blurb:
 
Recovered is a cross country canine cozy adventure from Ohio to New Mexico, filled with ancient mounds, dog-catchers, rescue groups, and wolfdog issues. Come along with Bliss, children’s librarian and white greyhound shifter, and reformed werewolf Harry as they search for the most valuable library on the planet, chased by Sybilla and Blaze, werewolves crazed to stop them.

Recovered (The Shapeshifters' Library: Book Three) by Amber Polo

“A fantastic novel" --Midwest Book Review
From the award-winning author of THE SHAPESHIFTERS' LIBRARY series, RELEASED and RETRIEVED, comes the long awaited third installment!


Bliss D. Light was just an ordinary children’s librarian until one day she discovered she could grow a tail. Now her life is filled with more magic than any of the fairy tales she tells the children who gather at her feet at the Shipsfeather library. Like many of the other residents of Shipsfeather, Ohio, Bliss is a dog-shifter, and her newly discovered ability to change from human form into that of a sleek white greyhound has left her yearning to know more about her true heritage. The answer to all her questions, she is certain, lies with the dog-shifters’ long lost Library of the Ancients and, undeterred by the fact that thousands before her have searched, she sets out to find it.

Accompanied by her best friend Harry, a disgraced werewolf/dog-shifter mix, and hotly pursued by the evil werewolf team of Sybilla and Blaze, Bliss’s quest takes her across the sacred sites and ancient mounds of the American Southwest. Though kidnapped by dogcatchers, sold into racetrack slavery and forced to fight wolf dogs to survive, Harry and Bliss never lose sight of their goal—or each other. Because the only thing more important than finding the ancient lost treasure might just be preserving what they already have found: an unlikely love that could be the first step toward bringing two ancient enemy races together.

Publisher: Blue Merle Publishing
Publication Date: Sept. 07, 2013
ISBN/EAN13:0985774827 / 9780985774820
Page Count: 264
Heat level: Sweet
Genre: Light urban fantasy with a sweet romance

 Free Read



Amber Polo




Book 3 "Recovered" has arrived!
The Shapeshifters' Library

Love dogs?  Love books?  Love libraries?
Hate Book-burning werewolves?

WordShaping Blog
Amber's Website

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Journey into a New World with Clare Dargin

  
            I love watching scifi movies that draw me in.  When I go to the movies and the lights are turned down and film flickers to life and that space ship blasts across the screen I am in a different world.  Lately I've been totally into JJ Abrams interpretation of the Star Trek Universe. 

            It's like when I watch it, I'm enthralled because he immerses us in that world.  From the clothes, the technology, the sounds and the people.  They are just as vested in what they do in their extraordinary lives as we are in our normal ones.  And that's the best part.  JJ draws us into the amazing and makes it appear mundane enough for us to believe that it is plausible. 

            The same thing goes for an amazing book, the first few pages are key for creating an atmosphere of reality to where we as the reader are right there from the beginning to the very end.  And that's what I try to do in every book that I write. 

            For instance, when I was writing Cold Warriors, I would often have long periods between writing (mostly because life got in the way).  But when I wanted to regain the feel of the book, I never had to dig deep in the middle to find it, I just clicked on the first page:
            Excerpt from Cold Warriors-

            Lieutenant Zale Melbyrne, of the U.S. Marines First Platoon Combat Search And Rescue Squadron (CSAR), climbed wearily out of his yellow Harsh Terrain Snow Tractor (HTST). It was his squadron’s fourth check in an eighty-kilometer zone, and there was no sign of the missing Expeditionary Team. He had a sinking feeling that their luck was running out. He stepped forward. His foot crunched against the steadily hardening snow. Greeted by an icy wind, he shuddered. He zipped up his black parka and pulled his hood tight over his cap-covered head to protect himself from the subzero temperatures. Tau Ceti III’s bitter cold was legendary, along with its ability to give cold injuries so deep, muscles and even bones were permanently ruined.

            He squinted and gazed at the snow-covered landscape. Over two miles thick, and in some locations, crusted with long stretches of ice, Tau Ceti III was Satan’s frozen equivalent of Antarctica back on Earth except not as pretty and with no animals or life to speak of whatsoever. Essentially a white desert, the piercingly dry air could rip the moisture right out of a person’s body in a matter of minutes.

            Freezing and thirsty, it was a miserable way to die.

            If I wanted easy then I should have picked a desk job.


            To me, that scene with Zale Melbyrne framed the type of life that the Hero and Heroine have to overcome in order to obtain happiness.  By the way, even though Zale is a minor character, he has developed a little following of his own!

            In the second book in The Cold Warriors Universe, 'Ice and Peace,' the hero and heroine are faced with new challenges to overcome. 
            A quick blurb-

A New Threat? After a long and vicious war, peace is on the horizon for Earth and its allies. However, a series of mysterious attacks on several secret military installations causes hostilities to rise once again.

Redemption. Having left under a cloud of disgrace, retired Marine Colonel Medoro Keegan is called back to duty.

Bound. His wife Caitlin, the only surviving member of her team, chooses to embrace life, albeit grudgingly, as a cryo soldier. Seen as sub-human, she is forced to serve a planet that denies her rights as a person.

Driven. Guided by their sense of duty and belief that some things are bigger than them, they are determined to risk it all.

Hope. The cost of war is high. Can their love and marriage survive? Or will it be killed off by the very same mission that brought them together?

~Excerpt~

Caitlin was a sight for sore eyes. She was beautiful. Her petite frame was perfectly accented by the curves of her figure. And her brown eyes and coffee-brown skin was smooth, creamy.

Standing at attention, she did not meet his gaze. Though it was customary not to do as a sign of military courtesy, he could tell she was not doing it for that reason. Her gaze was different. Circling her, he tried to see if he could catch her watching him out of the corner of her eye. In fact, she appeared to be staring blankly ahead.

Peering directly at her, he spoke in a soft tone. “At ease.”

She relaxed.

“Cate. Can you hear me?”

“Yes, sir,” she responded mechanically.

Pain pierced his insides. She was definitely not there. Keegan placed his hands on his hips and hung his head in defeat. The one thing that was supposed to go right did not. For whatever reason, they had placed her in a deeper state of mental control than she’d ever been in. He controlled the hostile emotions brewing with him. Touching her face gently, he felt her icy skin.

This is unacceptable! Not here. I will not let this happen here. Not under my command.

“Chief, listen up,” he said in an authoritative tone. He knew in this state, it was the only way he could speak to her and still have her respond.

“Yes, sir.” Her gaze became even more distant.

Her response fueled his anger. “You are going to hightail it down to the doc and receive a full examination. Tell him it is based on my orders. He will know what to do. Is that clear?”

“Yes, sir.”

Knowing that she was under the influence of cryo neurotransmitters, Keegan figured the only way to combat it was to get someone to reverse it. They usually wore off once she was away from the stimulus triggers for a long period of time. But considering her stimulus triggers were high-ranking officers in uniform and combat situations, being around here meant she was going to be in a drone zone for a very long time. The last thing he needed was a zombie on board, especially one in charge of the lives others.

Only the jerks in psyche warfare thought doing this to someone would be a good idea. As long as he was running the ship, none of that would be allowed. There weren’t going to be any super zombies soldiers on board his ship. And he’d rollover in his grave before he let them do it to his wife.

“After you come back from the doc, you will report to me, understood?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Are there any questions?”

“No, sir.”

“Dismissed.”

She did an about face before leaving the room. Keegan clasped his hands behind his back. In the blink of an eye, his joy had turned to sorrow. Now faced with the responsibility of looking after his wife, he wondered how could he handle the burden of command and still protect the woman he loved.




Cold Warriors and Ice Peace is not your typical military read.  Futuristic Romances with a science fiction twist, they will draw you in and keep you there, and no doubt you'll love the ride!



Both Cold Warriors and Ice and Peace are available at all ebook retailers including Amazon--




Clare's Blog 2:  The Haven-  http://www.claresblog2thehaven.blogspot.com



Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Inspiration for First Date Scene from Rue Allyn's Hazard Duty

 Thank you Mary for inviting me to share some lifestyle memories and a little about my newest release, Hazard Duty ~ Sexy Sailors # 2. I’ll begin by saying that parking—that fine old American courtship ritual—was a significant inspiration for the first date scene between the hero and heroine of Hazard Duty

When I was growing up, the only real chance teens had to explore sexuality in a relatively safe environment (free from peer pressure and adult censorship) was parking in whatever vehicle they could obtain. Making out in a car or truck cab or van was a rite of passage. A point of pride for a guy who managed to make it to home plate or the gal who managed to keep him attracted to her without letting him get that far. Less popular now than in my youth, parking is still a major activity in small towns where other forms of adolescent entertainment are few. Thus, Roslyn’s memory of seeing Joe parking with another girl during their teen years is a direct result of a piece of my own lifestyle that is fading from our culture.

The memory is pivotal in changing Roslyn’s attitude about dating Joe years later. In high school each had a crush on the other, but for a variety of reasons they never dated or shared their feelings. Years later Joe returns to town as the local USN Recruiter. He’s still attracted to Ros and determined not to lose this opportunity to fulfill his fantasies and—he hopes—hers.

Please leave a comment. I’d love to know what you think about parking. Did you park in high school? Do you park now? Or is parking only a story that you hear about from your parents or grandparents? Please leave a comment and share your thoughts.

Everyone who comments will have their e-mail address entered into a drawing for a free download of Hazard Duty. You may also enter by leaving a review of one of my other books at Amazon. Just check my author page for book details http://www.amazon.com/Rue-Allyn/e/B00AUBF3NI/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1. I’ll be collecting entries throughout the entire Hazard Duty blog tour (June 24 – July 1—find the schedule of appearances at http://rueallyn.com/4News.html). The winner will be announced July 4th on my blog http://rueallynauthorblog.com/.

Opening of the first date scene in Hazard Duty
  They weren't on the road for two minutes when Ros realized their destination. "You're taking me to The Point." 

  He cast her a grin before taking a hairpin turn. "This is a date." 

  She swallowed, her throat dry at the memories assaulting her, and tried to calm her racing nerves. "I prefer to think of it as having dinner together, which we could have done in a restaurant. Couples go to The Point to…to…" She couldn't say the words. Memories swamped her, clogging her throat into silence.

If you’d like to read the entire scene you may find it at http://rueallyn.com/2b21HDexcerpt.html, or just read the blurb given below.

Hazard Duty blurb

Joe Hazard filled all of Ros Duncan’s teenaged fantasies, but now she’s an adult with a mission, and no handsome sailor will get in her way.  The first in her family to earn a college education, she escaped Birds Gap, the deadly dull, stifling town of her childhood and the scene of her most embarrassing memories.  However as principal of Bird’s Gap High School she wants to see every child in town go to college not be forced to chose between working in the mines or risking life and limb in the military. 

Sadly Hazard Duty won’t be available until July 01, 2013. You may find out more about pricing and purchasing at http://eredsage.com/store/Hazard_Duty.html.


Hazard Duty is book 2 in my Sexy Sailor series. Book one, Off Limits, is currently available at Amazon. To whet your appetite for this series here’s the blurb for Off Limits.


For Senior Chief Hank O’Mara no woman could compare with the sea until he met Lieutenant Bethany Morton.  Only the sea could draw two passionate people of such opposite backgrounds together, and only US Navy regulations could keep them apart.  Because fraternization between Officer and enlisted is forbidden, both Beth and Hank do their utmost to resist the passion and love growing between them.  However, love proves stronger than either the sea or the USN. If they are to be together, Hank must sacrifice his career and Beth will risk the destruction of her professional dreams.

Click here for an excerpt from Off Limits, or here to purchase.

Monday, June 24, 2013

Tasha Blackstone talks: The Trust Factor in Love and Romance

Thank you Mary for having me over to play today!
As I make my way around the web and experience the joy of sharing my newest book, Echo in the Night, with everyone I have been forced to dig deep and face some interesting topics. Recently the topic of trust came up and I really had to stop and think about that one for a bit.
In my book, Echo experiences a barrage of trust issues. She comes to the realization that everything she believed was reality was in fact all a beautifully manufactured façade and while she struggles with accepting her own flaws in her inability to decipher fact from fiction, she also must decide whether or not she is willing and able to play the trust card again. Her defining moment comes when she lets go of the past and puts her life in the hands of Henry, the Vampire who fights his own inner battles of whether or not he’s going to kill her or if their growing emotional connection is enough to keep him grounded.
With all things love and romance, there needs to be the trust factor. How is it possible to give yourself to someone completely if you cannot trust in them to be true to you? Trust isn’t only set aside for our romantic relationships though. Trust is a force found between all walks of life. Parents and their children, friendships, co-workers, and even the human-pet relationship must have an unbreakable trust in order to be successful. So how do we allow ourselves to trust if it has previously been broken? As Echo learns, her trust in Henry becomes a necessity for life and though not all of us experience the same life or death situation that Echo faces, we are all faced with the decision of who to trust, how much trust do we give, and if we can ever forgive those who have broken it.
Without trust, we cannot love, and without love, we cannot live.
Blurb:
Can a Witch who was born to be a Vampire Hunter find true love with her mortal enemy?
It’s easy to live life on auto pilot and that’s just what Echo Abbott is doing. That is until everything shifts. As her house of cards begins to crumble, she meets Henry Knight. Obnoxious and gorgeous she can’t stop thinking about him and against her better judgment she wonders if he is the key to healing her broken heart.
In this dark, seductive tale set in the heart of Oregon, Echo is a Witch with remarkable powers whose gift is sought after by a power hungry Vampire, Corrine. Corrine’s brother, Henry, is a willing pawn in her fight for the ultimate power and has been tracking Echo for years. Seeking out Echo’s weakness he soon finds his desire for her is more than he can control. He wants Echo all to himself, but can he convince her that he isn’t the enemy before it’s too late or will her stubborn nature be her downfall?
WARNING, Erotic excerpt below: Mmmm
Adult Excerpt:
“Head down, love, and spread your legs for me—I want to see how wet you are.”
She obliged, pressing her head deep in the overstuffed comforter and spreading her legs wide. She could feel Henry hovering over her pussy as he took a deep breath and inhaled her arousal before she felt his tongue trail along the length of her pussy lips. She moaned into the bed and wiggled her ass at him, eager for him to take her fully into his mouth. His hands spread her cheeks apart and his tongue teasingly trailed along her slit again.
“Tell me what you want, love.”
“I want you,” she moaned.
He gripped her cheeks tighter and she heard an animallike growl rumble from his gut.
“Yes—and?”
“I want you, Henry! I want you to devour my pussy and make me come!”
“Good girl.” His mouth was suddenly pressed firmly to her, caressing his lips around her pussy lips, tongue pushing deep into her body.
She cried out into the blanket and bucked her hips, pushing against him, eager to feel him as deep as he could be. His tongue wiggled around, licking around in circles, flicking in and out. He dragged it up her slick fold, lapping at her leaking juices as he pushed her hips forward revealing her hidden clit. Her nub pulsed and tingled in wait, and when his tongue teased the tip, she cried out louder, her need controlling her vocals. He continued to flick across her clit, building up her orgasm to the point that she could barely control it. When he sucked the sensitive nub in between his lips, she was done. Her hips seized as the walls of her pussy clenched in response to the ache and pleasure that now flooded her body. As he sucked hard on her clit, draining her of every electrifying surge, her juices flowed down her slit, drenching her. Her body relaxed and Henry continued to dine on her, lapping at her nectar, licking and sucking at her lips, drinking in every last drop that her body released. When her pussy was spent, he flipped her onto her back. His lips glistened with her juices and he dragged his tongue, cleaning up the last bit that had been smeared over his mouth, as he unzipped his trousers and let them fall to the floor, revealing his dick pushing hard against the fabric of his boxer briefs.
Nervous excitement filled her as her eyes fell to his cock. Even hidden he was huge.
His fingers slid between the band and his waist and he slid the boxer briefs down over his hips, his dick springing to life, pre-cum glistening at the slit.
“Oh my gawd,” she whispered.
He looked to be a generous eight or nine inches with impressive girth, veins etched along the shaft, skin pulled tight like satin over steel, his mushroomed head purple with need.
“I’ll be gentle,” he promised.


Where you can find me on the web:

Friday, May 17, 2013

Experience A Layover with Author DD Symms

 Thanks, Mary, for having me as your guest.

My pleasure, DD. So, tell my readers what sort of sexy stories they can expect from you.

Sexy travel and chick lit erotica are themes in my stories and those simply flow out of me. I don't know why but perhaps when we travel regionally or far from home we are out of our normal world and comfort zone. Maybe that opens us to new experiences.

Travel also means adventure and in my writings that means erotic adventures whether in Chicago's O'Hare Airport during an extended layover, along the Eastern Sierras of California, or camping in the mountains above Los Angeles.

Here is an excerpt from my story Layover, about a young fashion designer, Jessie Carter, who has a moment of self-discovery when she encounters a sexy stranger during a layover in Chicago.

My upcoming novel, Boarding, is a prequel to this story. Hope you enjoy:



  Jesse lifted her carry-on, glad she only had to stagger several feet to the front door. She and Devon stood behind the other passengers waiting to check in for a place to flop. She set her bag on the floor and knelt to pull out her voucher. She grinned; she should have leaned over to tease him. “So what kind of films do you make?” Jessie stood and moved forward with the crowd.   
“Entertaining ones; at least people tell me they are.” Jessie looked at him and laughed at another non-answer. “That doesn’t tell me anything.”  
“My little darling is usually featured in them. I’ve got a decent camera and editing bay. We enjoy watching them.”           
Heat built inside Jessie as the last person in front of them left the counter with a room key. She tried to imagine what Devon was shooting with his camera. His matter-of-fact responses, combined with his touches, made her create her own sensual answers. Moisture seeped in to her panties; she took a deep breath and dug deeper.     
“Good evening,” the woman behind the counter wore glasses that fit nicely with her blonde hair. Jessie slid her voucher on to the desk. The clerk punched in Jessie’s information and looked at both of them. “Are you together?”         
“Why?” asked Devon.           
 “We only have one room left and I was wondering if I needed to make arrangements at another site.” Jessie smiled and winked at Devon who turned to her and nodded.         
“Yes, we’re together.” He casually patted Jessie on the shoulder and ran his fingers to the base of her neck. She moved her ass to touch his thigh, buoyed by his sign of intimacy. She skipped her fingers to lightly touch his zipper; his cock pressing against his trousers signaled his heat. She pictured leaning her butt against his hips, but forced herself to concentrate on the activity at the counter.
The clerk punched in the final information and stuffed a key card into a small white envelope. “Room 182: down the hallway to the right."
"What time is your flight?”    
“Nine A.M.,” Devon answered.        
“Okay, the shuttle leaves every half hour.”         
“Thank you.” He raised his voice and winked when Jessie lifted her bag. “Here, sweetheart, let me take that.” They sauntered across the carpeting and entered a courtyard that was covered with a glass dome. She spotted the pool but she could skip a swim if she and Devon were going to undress in the same room.   “You still going to phone your ‘little darling’?”        
“Definitely. She doesn’t know I’m staying over, so it’s only polite to tell her, correct?”         
 “But you’re going to tell her that we’re sharing a room?” The numbers on the doors increased: 176, 178. Room 180 read staff only. 182 was on the corner. “Look at that, no one next to us.” She smiled. No worry about disturbing others.    
“See, I got lucky.” Devon chuckled. “Yes, I am going to tell her I decided to take a flight in the morning and that I’m sharing a room with you.”    
“Oh, shit! You gotta be kidding!”     
“Why? She trusts me just like you trust me.” His casual voice showed her this was no big deal. He slid the key in the door slot and the light turned green. “She and I reached an agreement on handling our relationship after we first met. She also knows how deeply I care for her.” Then he looked Jessie in the eye as they stepped through the door and said in a low voice. “Trust is a huge turn-on for me.”

All Romance eBooks http://www.allromanceebooks.com/storeSearch.html?searchBy=author&qString=DD+Symms
My website: Ddsymms.wordpress.com
Facebook: facebook.com/ddsymms

Thank you, DD for being my guest. Readers, feel free to ask him some questions or just leave a comment. He's a very exciting author and I'm looking forward to his newest book, Boarding, which releases this Summer.

Monday, March 4, 2013

Poetry and Civic Duty. Why Me?

Hello everyone,
I am currently sitting in a room with a lot of miserable people. That's right; I am stuck for the day at Jury Duty. Don't get me wrong I understand it's a public service which is a necessary function of our society, but damn it could you make it more headache-inspiring.
I have my Kindle and I see many people reading books or the newspaper, but their faces project a dour disposition that creates a heavy oppression in the room. I could be writing, but the atmosphere isn't exactly conducive to creativity. Or perhaps it's just me who can't create under such circumstances. 
I've been dismissed from service many times, but it doesn't stop them from calling me back to sit for 8 hours in a room with people who'd rather be anywhere else but here. I could read and further exacerbate the headache forming between my eyes as I listen for my name to be called.
Yeah, it's a fabulous process.
The only thing this time is good for is poetry. Yes, a little known talent I don't display to anyone but love to create. I've written poetry for longer than I can remember. No, nothing structured to be categorized as a certain type of poetry like haiku. There are sentences and stanzas. That's about it.
Why don't I share my poetry? I write dark poetry; misery, pain, loss, anger, need, desire etc. I've written poetry for characters, though none ever makes it into books. I can often express a character's view of a subject better through poetry, writing from his or her point of view.
I've written what it's like for a vampire to experience bloodlust. How they view their own immortality in a world where they are essentially more powerful but always alone. These are lost poems written during the high school years before my writing really took off.
Perhaps I will do a little poetry.
Thank you all for reading. Anyone else out there write poetry? I'd love to hear from you. What and why you write.
Mary
Twitter

Monday, January 28, 2013

When Characters Take the Reins by Sage Marlowe

 Hi all! I’m delighted to be a guest here today—thank you so much for stepping by!

My name is Sage Marlowe and I’m a multi-published author of gay erotic romance novels. I write stories about real men that face real problems. Usually this works quite well for me but sometimes, as an author, I face some real problems with my characters.

After seeing several couples and a triad on their way to happy endings, I've grown used to all kinds of behaviour from my characters. Some are the quiet kind, some are very noisy, some can't wait to tell me their story, some require a bit of coaxing. Characters are people who sometimes become friends. And sometimes, they just won't go away. The boys from my Sub-Series are such characters. It all started with Francis Hollister. When he first entered the scene in Sub-Mission, he was supposed to play just a minor support role as Pierce's brother and the proud owner of the BDSM club where the story is set. That was the plan. But Francis—France—being the scheming deviant he is, kept sneaking up on me again and again until eventually, he became a very important element in the story.

But that was not enough for him—oh no, far from it. By the time Sub-Mission was submitted and ready for release, he'd already charmed his way into my heart to the point where I just knew that I'd have to tell his story, too. Re-Submission was born.

My first thoughts about the book were to give France the perfect sub to complement the Dom in him, but once again, I found myself with characters who snatched the reins to the story right out of my hand and ran away with it. I'd planned to tell the story from France's point of view, or maybe from his partner, Shae's, but no. Before I knew it, a third guy entered the scene. Tyler. I remember the moment very well. My exact thought was "Oh, crap. What am I gonna do with him?" I had never intended to write a threesome, least of all in a story that was so clearly meant for two, a Dom and his sub. Tyler was persistent, though. Not only did he wriggle his pert butt into Francis' club and ultimately, into bed with Francis and Shae, no, he also took on the role of narrator which, I think, makes for a very interesting constellation. Their story is so interesting in fact, that Re-Submission was nominated Best BDSM Book of 2012 by Love Romance Café.

But that still wasn’t the end of it. When I finished Re-Submission, I knew there would be a follow-up on Tyler's story. I started writing that but then I got sidetracked—again. Noah from Sub-Mission stepped in along with his husband Pierce, and those two grabbed the story along with my mind and ran with it. There was no hope for resistance. I just had to write those two a sequel. At least they were kind enough to deliver the plot willingly. Very willingly, and oh, what a plot. I squirmed and cried and asked them if they were serious so many times. They took me through all the ups and downs of a long-term relationship, through the wear of raising a baby and the tear of mistrust, misunderstanding and jealousy. I cried for them and with them. I loved them for their devotion and hated them for their blindness and stupidity. They told me a story I hadn't expected in many ways and put me through quite an ordeal but it was well worth it. Sub-Culture is, for several reasons, one of my favourite and most personal books.

Now that I’ve told you so much about this series, why don’t you see for yourself what I had to deal with writing those books? If you’re new to this, please note that while each book stands alone, there is an overall story arc that is best enjoyed when reading the books in order of release (Sub-Mission, Re-Submission, Sub-Culture), so here they are in the correct order:


Sub-Mission by Sage Marlowe
MM contemporary erotic romance, BDSM / Novel
Heat level: Total-E-Melting
Published by Total-E-Bound Publishing

How far would you go to save the one you love?

Pierce Hollister is a down-to-earth businessman. Most of the time. His romantic side has him secretly dreaming of Mr Right, a family and happy ever after.
Noah Conway is a single father who doesn't believe in happy families anymore. When his daughter's life is at stake, he would sell his soul to save her but as a sadistic Dom takes an interest in him, he sells his body instead.
A shared session at a BDSM club leaves Pierce intrigued and soon he finds himself willing to do anything in his power to heal the wounds that life has left on Noah's soul. When he realises that the very thing Noah dreads the most might just be what he needs, Pierce sets out on a mission – but maybe it's just not in his power to save Noah.
Will Noah be able to battle the demons that haunt him and find the happy ever after Pierce has dreamed up for them?


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Also available in print!



Re-Submission by Sage Marlowe
MM contemporary erotic romance, BDSM / Novel
Heat level: Total-E-Melting
Published by: Total-E-Bound Publishing

Rubbing a toppy sub, a submissive Top and a Dom with attitude together is guaranteed to send sparks flying — but what will they ignite?

Meet Tyler Kane. Ballsy and headstrong, he's far from being the submissive type. Francis Hollister, Dom and proud owner of a BDSM club, couldn't agree more — and yet, as Tyler carelessly suggests a bet, Francis sees an opportunity arise and decides to take him up on it.
Soon Tyler finds himself in Francis' club and about to be trained as a sub. When Shae, the gorgeous Top Francis has assigned to teach him, doesn't appear to be quite as dominant as his role would lead to believe and Francis turns out to be a rather versatile Dom, Tyler sees a perfect match just waiting to be made happen. Too bad though that he's the only one who sees it. Or maybe he isn’t?
Curious to find out what happens when you rub a submissive Top, a toppy sub and a Dom with attitude together and what exactly the sparks from that explosive combination ignite, Tyler enlists the help of Pierce, Francis' brother, and his partner Noah, and sets out on a mission.
While Tyler's plan seems to work out astonishingly well, it seems that there's more than one man in the club who is pursuing a hidden agenda…


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Sub-Culture by Sage Marlowe
MM erotic romance / BDSM / contemporary, novel (sequel to Sub-Mission)
Published by Total-E-Bound
Heat rating: Total-e-melting

When life gets on top, delving into a sub-culture may be just what it takes to keep a sinking relationship afloat

Five years after the bumpy start to their relationship, Noah and Pierce have settled well into their lives as a happy couple. The arrival of a new child should have made their matrimonial bliss complete, but the strain of raising a baby and a teenager, combined with a lot of pressure in their jobs, is beginning to take its toll.
In the midst of what already is a potentially explosive situation, Noah’s younger brother Jonah comes to stay with them, forcing Noah to face the issues he still has regarding his homophobic parents and adding to the emotional pressure he is under.
When Noah starts behaving oddly and Pierce just can’t seem to put his jealousy to rest, the cracks in their relationship become too severe to ignore any longer. They struggle to keep their sinking love afloat but as Noah craves the comfort a certain sub-culture can offer, Pierce finds himself wondering just how far he is willing to step out of his own comfort zone to save their love.


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Sub-Culture will also be available from most reputable distributors after January 28th, 2013






About the author

Sage is a multi-published author of gay erotic romance and loves taking romance to the edge. The edge of passion, the edge of pleasure, the edge of propriety.
Hopelessly in love with books from a very early age on, Sage has dreamt of writing one for years while working on the day job instead. It took a very persistent character in the company of a much-adored Muse to finally get the first novel going. The fact that this gorgeous guy was gay came as a bit of a surprise, but it explained a lot.
Ever since, Sage has been the willing slave to all the fascinating guys who just keep queuing up and want their stories told. This has resulted in several published books and countless manuscripts at various stages of completion, so there's always something to work on—preferably at night when the rest of the house is asleep.
Sage's characters often have a dramatic and sometimes traumatic past and need to battle some demons to be with the one they love. But don’t worry, they get quite a lot of naughty action along the way to keep them happy and there will always be a happy end!


Contact and buy links

Sage’s website & blog: www.sage-marlowe.com
Twitter: @SageMarlowe
For all books published with Total-E-Bound, go to: http://www.total-e-bound.com/authordetail.asp?A_ID=224
For all books published with Siren-BookStrand, go to: www.bookstrand.com/sage-marlowe