My guest today is debut romance author, Cora Blu. Please welcome Cora to the writing community by leaving a comment here on her post – and go in the draw to win a digital copy of her book, Dagger:

Thank you for having me today.  My name is Cora Blu and I write what I like to call Parafantasy Romance.  A little mental and a lot emotional.

How did I come to write about tiger sharks?

As a little girl, my sixth grade science teacher, Mr. Pato, introduced me to Jules Verne’s, Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea. In addition, with my parents I watched Jacques Cousteau and Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom.  Ever since then I’ve wondered why were there so many ugly creature in the ocean if water was good for you?

This story came about years later after I’d married and we took a family vacation to Pawleys Island, S.C.  If you ever have the opportunity, drive twenty miles past Myrtle Beach on highway 17, you’ll find the Atlantic ready to cuddle you with a wet embrace.  The dolphins swim alongside you and you never know it.

Sitting on the dock behind the rental house in the morning watching the tide come in I began to write.  These silver fish, I believe they’re called mullets, just flipped out of the water, like flying carp. Fortunately, the neighbor came by on her little canoe to tell me they’ll do that all day, but watch out for the dolphins because they will nudge your feet.

I politely pulled my feet out the water and Dagger came to life after that.

What would happen if minerals from the earth’s core became enraptured by the swaying ocean and gave birth to a Clear Coral with a continual dance of water, sand and fiery minerals within her walls?

What if this love child absorbed the earth’s excess heat and released gases into the ocean, allowing the larger marine life the ability to shift into human form?

Who would protect her? The very angler that tried to unearth her over five thousand years ago, she transformed into a tiger shark and now his offspring have the responsibility of protecting not only her but also the five major oceans around the world.

What would happen if she stopped growing and could not absorb the heat any longer? Where would the heat go?

Tsunamis, underwater earthquakes, hurricanes etc…

What do you feed a coral?

A true love mating created her…a true love mating would save her.

My true-life romance: When I was five my now husband’s family helped my family moved into our new home. Seeing me playing in the sand box in the back yard, he told my mother, “Save the one with the dirty knees for me.” Twenty-four years and three children later, I make sure and keep sand in the backyard.

Would I like to go backward or forward in time? I love-love-love Regency, but seeing as I would be a slave, I will say, forward and to the left— some sort of fantasy.

Writing is a way for my colorful, butterfly meets calypso dancer, imagination to take shape.  Again, Jennifer, thank you for the opportunity to share my dream.

Stop by my Amazon Author Page and watch the video Cambria Hebert, author of Masquerade, put together for me. For those ready for a ride on the wet side, “Dagger, Brothers of Element Series” is waiting to take you down.

EXCERPT:

She crawled to the stairs, hand outstretched over the wood rungs.

She needed to see if he recognized her voice. “I don’t speak shark, but you recognize me, don’t you?” she asked, stroking her tender elbow. “Are you my shark? I feel as if you know me. You’re curious, just like me.” Sweat ran down her spine. Wringing her hands, she watched as his soft, crystal-blue eye darkened. A pair of denims with the fire of a diamond trapped in the pocket. It twinkled. That’s impossible.

Now would be a colossally bad time to have a blackout, digging her nails into her palm, she refocused. “I only wanted him to see you. I won’t hurt you.” Not expecting him to answer, she held her breath as his body brushed the platform.

He bumped it again. Every time she peered back, he shook the pier. She needed to get closer. Holding on to the ladder, she held her breath as she lowered her foot. Why did they make the rungs so narrow? Her foot barely fit. His pointy nose nudged the platform. She knew her curiosity would get her killed one day and this may be the day. As if he were controlling her movements, she felt her gym shoes sliding over the edge.

The wet rung, tiny under her foot squeaked under the rubber sole. Trembling to the point of vibrating, she found her feet on the platform, uncertain of her descent.  Seawater came over the edge.

She could slip and fall off the platform. Anxiety licked like fire up her body. Why did she need to touch him? Her fingernails dug into the wood ladder, tiny fibers pierced the skin under her nails. It didn’t matter. Drawn to him like a drug, she needed to touch him.

She placed her foot on the bottom rung, leaned out, almost touching the dorsal fin. She felt that stitch in her spine from where she was hurt as a child. She couldn’t stop, pain or no pain. Less than a foot away, any further and she’d…

“Drew! What the hell are you doing?” Jim ran from the beach. Arms flailing, rifle in hand, screaming. At least fifty yards from her, he ran for her pier, arms pumping.

Drew whirled around. “Jim, wait! Don’t run.” She tipped forward, grappled with the ladder to steady herself. A fingernail ripped across the cuticle and she snatched her hand back in reflex as pain arced through her hand. Blood dripped down her finger. “Please… stop. You’ll spook him,” she screamed, then caught the flash of metal sticking out of the ladder, a nail.

As the metal platform bobbed, her scream turned to panic.

Tipping sideways, she lost balance. Her knees banged the metal floor. The corner dipped beneath the surface after she fell on her back. The murky water covered her hand as it slapped out over the water, taking her momentum. Grasping the nothingness of the water, she fought gravity and managed to stay on the platform.

Banging her knuckles, she closed her bloody hand around the low rung, her foot slipping on the wet surface. Terror ate at her joints, knotting the tendons in her elbow.

Her body begged for cooperation, but her spine wouldn’t listen. She froze.

T-Bone hit the surface of the water.

“Drew, get back on the pier. He’s gonna hit the platform.” Jim ran down the pier. He stopped, gun in hand.

“No!” she screamed again.

“Stay on the ladder, Drew. I can’t get a clear shot.”

“No, don’t kill ‘em please, Jim, don’t.” She trembled along the ladder, begging for T-Bone’s life. “Give me your hand, Jim,” she pleaded. He was going for T-Bone.

Jim aimed and fired into the water.

“No!” The scream ravaged her throat. She couldn’t let him die and began waving manically.

He fired again. “Drew, what the—”

“Jim, please!” she cried out. What was wrong with her?

He dropped the rifle, shaking his head. “Grab my hand, Drew.” When his hand wrapped around hers, pain shot down her arm. He grabbed her wrist with the other hand, wrenching her up the ladder. Blood smeared down her wrist under his grip.

Scrabbling with the wet stairs, she managed one rung before she was jolted again.

The shark jerked his muscled torso, bumping the platform. Jim smacked against the railing, losing his hold on Drew. She slipped from his grasp and lost her footing.

Her ankle was on fire as her other foot, twisted, was still in the rung. Falling back, she dislodged her foot and hit the platform.

With blinding pain, she banged her head. The metal tipped sideways. Drew slipped into the murky water.

Briny saltwater closed over her. Nostrils burning, throat tightening, choking and sputtering, she kicked her way to the surface. Seawater filled her gym shoes, threatening to drag her under.

Oh God, her hand was bleeding and her knee throbbed.

Where was the pier?

Get out of the water.

Facing the wrong direction, she spun around, feet kicking wildly.

Every muscle locked in terror.

There, suspended in front of her, maybe twenty feet, was the large, imposing T-Bone.

Swim, swim, swim…

She started swimming away from him. Not knowing how soon he would drag her under, she kept swimming. A large, muscled triangle bumped her behind, pushed her forward.

She clamped down on her fear and stroked harder, knowing she’d loose a leg soon. Arms dug deep for speed through the thick current pulsing around her, saltwater choking her with every wild stroke.

Get to the ladder. Just get to the ladder. How could I be so stupid?

His large body pushed her again. A wave of desperation rippled along her skin. Blinded by her desperate strokes, sending water in wild arcs, paranoia became her oxygen. She breathed deep.

Rubbery skin pressed her thighs wide. Not able to kick her legs, she slid over his slick head. Her behind collided with the dorsal fin. She pressed her arms around the seam of his mouth, praying he kept them closed.

Reality was an evil bitch.

Blood from her cut tainted the seawater around his mouth. A hint of metallic washed down her throat with the last gulp of water.

Come on, death, make it fast.

Her lungs were on fire.

Her joints cried within her skin waiting for his jaw to rip her arm off.

They never opened.

The power surging between her opened thighs felt off—more masculine than animal.

T-Bone tipped her until both of her legs lay along his side.

She had no time for introspection as she gripped the muscled carriage flexing beside her. Too frightened to hold on and too terrified to let go, she screamed, choking down saltwater.

His side fins served as handles easing her through the cold water. Once past the pier, he circled back around as if parading her in front of Jim.

She scrambled off his back, slipping on the rubbery skin. Catching her gym shoe on his fin, it popped off and sank. Not caring, she clutched the ladder. Gym shoe squeaking with every other trembling step and her heartbeat hammering her ears, she looked up in time to see Jim.

At the stairs, rifle pointed at the shark. Drew popped up with the prospect of her shark being hurt.

The world slowed down, became snap shots of horror.

Pop—pop—pop.

Dagger by Cora Blu is available at Amazon and All Romance.

Today’s six sentences are from Educating Ethan. This older woman/younger man sensual romance will be out next Friday (yay!) and is available for pre-order now from Breathless Press:

***

He probably had a girlfriend tucked away somewhere. A gorgeous, young twenty-something girlfriend with blonde hair, heavy eye make-up, and really big breasts, who would go out clubbing with him like most of the young people these days and would no doubt satisfy his every sexual need whenever he wanted it.

Whereas she was nothing but a nosy neighbor, almost old enough to be his mother, whose idea of a fun Saturday night was to experiment with new canapé recipes, then drink a nice glass of red while reading the latest Charlaine Harris.

It was time she stopped spying on the poor kid and got back to reality.

No Jacuzzi, then.

But maybe she could bring him a nice cold drink at some point.

***

Hope you enjoyed that little snippet from Educating Ethan! For more Six Sentence Sunday entries this week from participating authors, please click HERE.

Thanks to everyone who posted such wonderful comments on my Valentine’s Day post about eating your way to great sex! It was a fun few days and I got very hungry reading about everyone’s favorite aphrodisiac foods. My shopping trolley next time will be full of interesting new treats.

Time now to announce the contest winner – using random.org I’ve chosen “Star” as the winner of a $10 Amazon or Barnes & Noble gift card.

Congratulations, Star! I will be in contact shortly via email to confirm your prize details.

Thank you also to The Blog Hop Spot for hosting a great Valentine’s Day blog hop with over 260 participating authors!

Valentine’s Day may be over for another year but romance is still around if you know where to look for it! And keeping to the food theme, here’s a little “taste” from my upcoming release, Educating Ethan, available for pre-order now at Breathless Press:

Excerpt from Educating Ethan

It was hard to maintain eye contact as she spoke, with his magnificent chest bare to the world, the pinkish brown nipples puckered slightly in the air-conditioned room, and the faint sprinkling of dark hair that led downwards in an enticing line like a persistent arrow directing her wayward gaze.

And her wayward gaze complied, whether she wanted it to or not, noting the curve of those thighs and the implicit strength in the coiled muscles as he moved forward to reach for another roll. She glanced only briefly this time but still he knew. She could tell in the amused curl of his lips as they lifted and the knowing way he slanted his eyes at her. God, what was wrong with her today?

He’s too young, she reminded herself. And he sure as hell won’t be thinking of me that way.

He probably misses his mother’s cooking.

She took a deep, steadying breath. “Careful, Ethan. They’re really hot.”

There. A mother would say something like that. Wouldn’t she?

“But delicious.” His eyes crinkled at the corners as he chewed and swallowed. He looked adorably young. She moved around to the other side of the island and gripped its edges. Now she couldn’t see anything below his hips. Much safer.

“What’s it called?” He spoke around the food, and for a moment, she wasn’t quite sure to what he was referring.

It’s called lust, she thought. Or maybe cradle snatching? “Umm…”

“Your catering company. What’s it called?”

“Oh!” Tension released from her shoulders as they ventured into a familiar topic of conversation. Work she could deal with. “Simply Delicious.”

“How very…appropriate.” The look he was sending her had her breath catching in her throat and had nothing to do with food.

Welcome to the Valentine’s Day Blog Hop, where your comment here on this post between 11th and 14th Feb could win you a $10 Amazon or Barnes & Noble Gift Card.

Valentine’s Day to me instantly conjures up an image of flowers. Red roses, to be exact. But it doesn’t always have to be about the roses. There are many ways to celebrate love, and if you adore food as much as I do, those celebrations can be quite delicious. In fact, some of the best ways to spice up your sex life this Valentine’s Day might be found in the kitchen!

Some foods are classically associated with love or sex, such as chocolate (which contains theobromine and helps produce feel-good endorphins in the brain), strawberries (classed as an aphrodisiac since the times of ancient Rome) or oysters (did you know Casanova ate 50 raw oysters a day?). But when I looked into the topic of food-related aphrodisiacs I found almost endless sexy possibilities, including a few surprises.

Asparagus is apparently very useful for men to help them reach orgasm more easily. I wasn’t aware that it was a custom in 19th century France for bridegrooms to be served asparagus before their wedding. Avocadoes are another food that are great for male sexuality – it was prized for its aphrodisiac qualities by the Aztecs, whose name for an avocado actually translates to “testicle”.

What about for us women, you ask? I can offer you basil, which is known to cure headaches (very useful, and I guess it tastes better than an aspirin!), and almonds, which apparently are great for increasing libido in women. Figs – one of my favorite fruits – were prized more highly than gold in ancient Greece due to their so-called “erotic” properties.

Saffron and ginseng are both reported to improve sexual performance, as do bananas (not because of their tantalizing shape, but because bananas contain the nutrients needed to boost sexual hormones in our system).

Nutmeg is another spice that helps raise body temperature and has the added advantage of sweetening the breath of your loved one!

And of course, how could I forget caviar? From a nutritional point of view, it offers a source of protein that bodes well for energy levels, but from a romantic point of view, I think the symbolism of life and fertility, coupled with the delicious flavor and texture in the mouth, makes this one my aphrodisiac of choice.

What about you? Are there any special foods you love? Any aphrodisiacs I haven’t mentioned here that you recommend? Leave a comment on this post and you’ll go in the draw to win a $10 Amazon or Barnes & Noble gift card.

For more Valentine’s Day posts from over 250 participating authors – all offering fantastic giveaway opportunities – go to The Blog Hop Spot:

Strawberries/chocolate photo © Julián Rovagnati | Dreamstime.com

If this Valentine’s Day post has put you in the mood, why not try one of Jennifer Lynne’s erotic romances:

Romance author Elysa Hendricks is my blog guest today. She has a very interesting take on how Valentine’s Day inspires romance writers! Please leave a comment and let her know what you think. Elysa says:

At first I thought I’d blog about how Valentine’s Day inspires romance authors, but then I realized I’m not a big fan of the holiday. There’s the whole St. Valentine’s Day Massacre thing and my dog died on Valentine’s Day. Not very romantic. Plus, I was pretty sure the idea was invented by some greeting card company like Sweetest Day and Grandparent’s Day. So I did a little research on how Valentine’s Day got started.

Seems the holiday started out to honor several Christian martyrs by the name of Valentine. The two that are celebrated are Valentine of Rome martyred about AD 269 and Valentine of Terni about AD 197. The original biographies of these martyrs make no mention of any romantic elements in their martyrdom. It wasn’t until the 14th century and Chaucer that romance was linked to Saint Valentine and the distinctions between the two saints were forgotten.

The connection between the martyred saints and romance is based solely on legends. In one legend Roman Emperor Claudius II tried to convert Saint Valentine to Roman paganism. Valentine refused and tried to convert Claudius to Christianity instead and as a result was executed. Nothing vaguely romantic here.

In modern times the lore has been embroidered to show Valentine as a priest who performed marriage ceremonies in secret, defying Claudius II’s law that young men remain single so he could grow his army. When Claudius learned of Valentine’s actions he was jailed.

Another addition to The Golden Legend with no basis in fact is told by American Greetings (yep, I knew a greeting card company was to blame) to History.com. The night before Valentine was to be executed he supposedly wrote the first “valentine” card to a young girl he addressed as beloved. The card was signed “From your Valentine.” A bit more romantic in a sorry, sad sort of way. No Happily Ever After for St. Valentine.

Then there are Valentine’s Day cards – a whole other subject I’m not a fan of. Like Charlie Brown said, “I know people don’t like me, but why do we have to have a holiday to emphasize it?”

Remember how in grade school there was always a Valentine’s Day party? There’d be cupcakes decorated with red, pink and white frosting. Each child made fancy lace cards with glitter and painted macaroni glued on them, and decorated a shoebox to set on their desk. Then they’d all walk around the classroom and drop the cards into the boxes of their friends. Well, up until some sympathetic teacher made it mandatory for the kids to make cards for everyone, not just their favorite friends my box was usually pretty empty. I was not a popular kid.

Except on the playground. There I was the queen of storytelling.

When in third grade some mean boys teased that because I didn’t like kickball I was an alien, my always active imagination took flight. For the rest of the school year, every day at recess I spun tales of being from Venus. Being in the accelerated reading group and an avid reader of science fiction I drew on the stories I’d read and created a fictional world and persona that kept my tormentors interested in something other than teasing me. Unfortunately it didn’t earn me any more Valentine’s Day cards.

After that I discovered that I liked making up stories with happy endings about fictional places and people. So I guess in a way Valentine’s Day did inspire me and set me on the path to becoming a romance author.

About the author:

Elysa Hendricks is 5′6″ tall, has curly hair and brown eyes. She’s an author, a wife, a mother and a daughter. Everything else is subject to change without notice.
Website
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Buy Links:
THE BABY RACE
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Smashwords

COUNTERFEIT LOVE
Amazon
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Smashwords

THIS HEART FOR HIRE
Amazon
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Smashwords

I’m excited to announce that my latest romance novella, Educating Ethan, is now available for pre-order from Breathless Press. This older woman/younger man love story will be out officially on February 24th.

Blurb:

Ida Deloraine intends to build herself a new life and a new catering career after a painful divorce. When the much younger Ethan Holt moves in across the street, an innocent flirtation quickly becomes serious when the two realize their age difference is no barrier to all-consuming passion. But Ethan is the exact opposite of what Ida is looking for in a sexual partner. In her eyes he is young and vibrant, with his life and his dreams still ahead of him, whereas hers are all in the past. Can Ethan, who is fighting his own demons in the form of a car accident, failed marriage, and forced career change, convince Ida to overcome the past and live for the moment? And just who is educating who in this cougar encounter?

Excerpt:

Possibility, she thought. He represents the possibility of excitement. Of passion. The transient headiness of lust about to be fulfilled. All the things that most women wanted and rarely got. All the things that she wanted and had never truly had before.

“Ethan, do you mind if I ask how old you are?” She strove for dispassionate interest, took a careful sip of her wine, then sat where he indicated— on a bench seat in a little breakfast nook. But her glass clattered hard on the windowsill when she put it down.

“No, I don’t mind,” he answered. “I’m twenty-five. And you’re…what? Thirtyish?”

“Thirty-six.”

“Wow, you don’t look that old.”

“Oh—kay.”

Her tone was flat, and he flushed in response. “Shit! Sorry, that didn’t come out right. I meant—”

“It’s okay, Ethan. I think maybe I should—”

“Don’t go! Hell!” He reached out to stop her as she began to rise, and then exhaled noisily. “I’m an idiot, Ida. I didn’t mean it that way. I meant it…as a compliment, believe it or not. You look a lot younger than thirty-six. That’s what I meant.”

She saw genuine dismay in the depths of his eyes, and something in her relaxed.

“It’s okay,” she said again, but this time she meant it. “Thanks.”

He sat heavily beside her and leaned close. That warm male scent enveloped her, elusive and yet tangible enough to send her heart rate into overdrive. But he was still frowning. She reached out to trace his jawline, and a hint of stubble rasped against her fingertip. A firm jaw; stubborn-looking. Manly.

“Relax, Ethan,” she said. “I won’t bite. Unless you want me to, that is.” Oh my God, did I actually say that out loud?

His intake of breath was sharp, and the brown eyes darkened almost black. “That sounds like an intriguing proposition.”

His gaze dropped to her neck where, no doubt, he could see how fast her pulse was racing. She tried to slow her breathing, but when he reached up to trace along her collarbone with spread fingers, her breath caught. She could feel the faint tremble in his touch as he moved over the pulsing point in her neck to the rounded line of her camisole top.

“So.” He stared into her eyes as one finger hooked onto the edge of the material.”I just need to say the word, and you would bite me? Anywhere?” One brow lifted slightly at her breathless nod. “And if I were to bite you, Miss Ida, where would you want it? Just out of curiosity, you know.” His fingers danced along the line of her top in a caress that felt incredibly intimate, avoiding her now jutting nipples but all the more enticing because of its elusive restraint. “Educate me.”

Erotic menage romance, Platinum Passion (Gods of Love #1), is now only $0.99 at Amazon, Smashwords and All Romance ebooks:

Three people. One erotic fantasy. And a twentieth wedding anniversary like no other.

Jeannie yearns for the return of passion in her marriage. Jake wants new excitement in the form of another man, in a way that won’t upset the balance of his relationship with his wife. Pothos is one of the erotes and an aspect of Eros, the Olympian god of desire. This couple’s distinctive yearning has called to him, and by the power of the erotes he intends to rekindle the flame of Jeannie and Jake’s passion in a night of desire that could be the ultimate platinum anniversary gift.

And when the gods of love decide your marriage needs a boost, they never do it by halves.

Platinum Passion is the first in the Gods of Love series of stand-alone, novella-length stories with the erotes as a common theme. The erotes are Pothos, god of sexual yearning, Himeros, god of sexual desire and Anteros, god of requited/unrequited love. In this version of the myth, all are the children of Aphrodite and aspects of the primal god of desire, Eros.

EXCERPT (ADULT-RATED, 18+):

Different to the clean citrus smell of her husband, Pothos smelt exotic and sensual. Not quite musk, not quite spice, but altogether it was heady and enticing.

“Like someone bottled pheromones and sprayed you with it,” she muttered, wanting to bury herself deeper in his embrace.

“You like it, of course,” he said, and now it was Jeannie’s turn to laugh, at that supreme confidence.

“I love it,” she admitted, and at her words the aroma intensified around her, as if she were immersed in a sensual river, almost drowning in pleasure. Her knees buckled as erotic images began to assail her. Images of herself crammed between Jake and Pothos, the three of them somehow entwined on the sand, moaning and rutting and taking it in turns to love each other in the silvery light of the moon.

That’s what I want, she thought, and the ferocity of her longing had her hands reaching up to fist in his hair. “Can you bring Jake here, too? I want you both.”

“Good,” he said, voice rough with desire. “That is how it should be. The three of us, sharing a platinum night of passion. Together.”

His decadent words sent a delicious shiver across her skin, but before she could respond Pothos bent down to grasp the bottom of her nightgown and rip it up and over her head. Moments later and those cotton panties were gone too. She stood naked in front of him as he threw the underwear aside, but strangely, she felt no embarrassment. A light breeze tickled her flesh and puckered her already aching nipples. Pothos reached out one finger and lightly grazed one of the expanding nubs. “Beautiful,” he said, and now his voice had a deep huskiness. “Jake should see you like this. Bathed in moonlight and sensuality.”

His finger left her breast and traced the rest of her body in a delicate caress, skimming across ribs moving rapidly as she struggled to breathe evenly, down through the curve of her waist and over her abdomen to rest, feather-light, at the very top of her slit. Her mons was bare except for a tiny heart shape of hair right where Pothos’ index finger now rested. She’d had the Brazilian last week, leaving the heart in a display of whimsy and hoping Jake would enjoy the new look.

But he hadn’t even noticed.

Unlike Pothos, who now had a crooked little grin on his face as he traced around the heart.

“A genuine blonde,” he said.

She nodded in a distracted fashion. She was finding it more and more difficult to draw a breath. Her gaze fell to his jeans, the denim now clearly stretched to its limit across his groin. Not fair that he should still have clothing on, while she stood here dressed in nothing but her pussy heart.

“Would you…please…remove…?” She reached out a trembling hand to touch his straining bulge, and his intake of breath was audible. She enjoyed the momentary power, mimicking his fingertip exploration of her body to trace up the shape of his penis, over the ripped abdominal muscles and then down again, taking pleasure in the increasingly irregular pattern of his breathing.

So this…god of love, or whoever he was, could be moved by desire, too.

She fumbled again for the fastening on his jeans, but he shook his head, then stepped back to remove his clothing in a fluid movement that was far quicker than she’d have been able to achieve with her shaking hands.

His cock sprang free and she gasped at the enormous size and inherent power in his organ. Pothos was longer and wider than Jake, but not unduly so, as her husband was rather well-endowed. But it was not only his erect appendage that had her eyes wide and her whole body aching for sex. Though his shoulders were built for power his body tapered down in a long, lean arc to narrow hips, and as he turned toward the water for a moment she got a view of tight buttocks and impressively muscled thighs.

Had he done that twirl on purpose? So that she’d see and appreciate the perfection of his body from every angle?

Yes, she decided, as he glanced back at her over his shoulder and grinned boyishly. He most certainly had.

“Nice butt,” she managed, in the understatement of the century, but it was worth it to see the affronted look on his face.

“Nice?”

“Very nice, in fact.”

He moved so fast she only had time for a quick yelp before he was standing over her, gripping her shoulders. The head of his organ was almost, but not quite, touching her stomach, and she could feel the radiant heat leaching out from its proximity. “Nothing about me is nice, Jeannie.”

“This book was on fire…just the right amount of love, passion and eroticism to make this a smokin’ hot read and a MUST add to your TBR list…cannot wait to read more from this fabulous author.” Hesperia Loves Books

Today’s guest is erotic romance author, Doris O’Connor. She’s talking about a writer’s inspiration and where it comes from. Please leave a comment for Doris on this fascinating post which includes a HOT 18+ excerpt from Too Hot to Handle:

One thing I am always asked is where my inspiration comes from. The other one is, but how does it work, really? Trying to explain to a non-writer that I simply follow the voices in my head always has me looking over my shoulder nervously, in case they call the men in the white coats, and cart me off to the mental asylum.

I suppose it must sound strange to someone, who hasn’t experienced it. Even hubby had a hard time getting his head round the fact that my characters are real people in their own right, who I have regular arguments with. He is used to me muttering now, when I write, or telling him about a particularly stubborn hero, who will simply not do as he’s told. I don’t know why I even try to argue with them to be honest. They always win!

Arguing just means they’re going into a sulk and stop talking to me, and then what do I do? Well, I go and catch up on my ever growing TBR pile. Never fails to get the voices back.

So, inspiration—where does it come from? Anything and anywhere would be the answer to that one.  A lot of my ideas come to me in dreams. I have dreamt entire scenes before now. The bath is another place to shut my eyes and let my mind wander. Sometimes it’s a picture, an overheard conversation, a newspaper article, even my children.

Whole parts of Too Hot To Handle were inspired by my then three year old. I smile to myself now when I read them, his little sayings forever memorized.

The other big inspiration for Too Hot To Handle was found in True Blood. I’m a huge fan of the series and I’d already used Eric for the hero in my Erotic romance Scandinavian Scandal, so when I first thought about Alex Giovanni, Alcide popped into my head.

I’m sure you can see how he would be inspirational right? 

I knew he needed a strong, fiery heroine to stand up to him and his interfering Mamma, so Kitty popped into my head. I wasn’t entirely sure about Alex’s profession. Originally this story was first set in an office.  Then I thought about setting it in Italy and Kitty was an au-pair. And then I was early for school pick up time one day. I sat in my car, waiting for the fire engine to leave, after one of their educational visits, and I observed the interaction between some of the staff and the firefighters, and I giggled to myself. Something about firefighters that turns grown women into giggling school girls…

Now there was a story just begging to be written, so Alex became a firefighter and Kitty a school teacher and the rest is beautiful history. Being a panster the story took on a life of its own, and Alex’s Mamma, well you have to read the book. She undergoes something of a journey herself and is a constant through the series of the Giovanni Clan. I’m still toying with the idea of giving Stella Giovanni her own book.

So, there you have it, a little insight into how this story came about. I can’t always pinpoint my inspiration this precisely, because an idea can hit me out of nowhere and with no warning. My upcoming Naughty Fairytale with Breathless Press, for instance, just grabbed hold of me one day and I sat down to write and couldn’t stop until it was done.

And with Too Hot To Handle too, once I started writing it, there was no stopping me, until Kitty and Alex had their HEA. Because it has to be a HEA. I couldn’t write a story without one.

Blurb:

When firefighter Alex Giovanni returns to his old neighborhood to fulfill family obligations, he is reunited with the woman inhabiting his dreams. The sexy siren ran out on him after one explosive night many years ago. Hiding behind her sensible clothes she portrays the perfect image of Miss Prim and Proper and Alex vows to unlock the passionate woman he remembers. Mixing business with pleasure has never been so much fun.

Kitty Jenkins’ orderly life gets turned upside down when Alex walks into her school. Their passion filled night four years ago has left her with a secret that threatens to tear them apart. Giving into Alex is out of the question, regardless of how much her body craves his touch.

When secrets spill and disaster strikes, can their passion turn into love?

Excerpt (Adult-rated, 18+):

Kitty’s heart beat a strange staccato against her breastbone. What had possessed her to slip back into her school girl outfit, she would never know. Yet here she was, dressed like some third-rate hooker, about to embark on a one night stand. Taking a deep, fortifying breath, she knocked on the door of Alex’s hotel room. All was quiet on the other side, and she was just about to turn round when the door opened; and Kitty’s greeting stuck in her throat.

Dressed in nothing but low riding jeans, Alex smiled at her, and she hastily wrenched her eyes upwards from the incredible abs on display. Covered with a light dusting of chest hair that trailed down to his jeans, they would give any model a run for his money, and Kitty swallowed. Dressed he was bad enough, but like this he was breathtaking, and judging by that lazy smile he knew it, too.

“Room service around here just keeps on getting better.” Alex’s husky voice raised goose bumps on her exposed skin. “Coming in?”

He hooked one finger under her chin and tugged the end of her shirt tails with the other hand, forcing her to take a step toward him.

“I-I shouldn’t be here, really. I’m not sure why I’m even here.” Kitty mumbled the words, and heat spread into her cheeks.

Alex merely smiled and pulled her closer still. “Liar, we both know why you’re here. Question is, my naughty little girl, will you step through the door and expand your curriculum?” Alex’s heated whispers against her ear sent her heart into overdrive, and she leant into his warmth.  His clean, male scent wrapped itself round her senses, and her stomach flip-flopped in delicious anticipation. It had been so long since any man had held her. That had to be the reason for her immediate reaction to this man.

“Well, Sir, that all depends what you have in mind, because I have been very naughty.”

Alex went very still at her breathy statement, and Kitty bit her lip. Has she read this wrong? Was he not up for a little role-play? She hesitantly raised her eyes to his face to read his expression, and the heat in his gaze scorched her skin.

“So, I’ve heard. Come here, and take your punishment.” His deep voice had dropped several octaves, and he grabbed her by the wrist and spun her into the room. The door clicked shut, the sound loud in the quiet room, and before she could even blink, he had her pinned against the wall. One jeans clad thigh spread her legs wide, and he raised her hands high above her head, whilst his other hand blazed a trail of heat along her exposed tummy. His mouth claimed hers in a bruising kiss, and she opened to his quiet demand automatically. His tongue found hers in an erotic dance that left her jelly-legged, breathless, and grateful for his big body holding her up against the wall.

He groaned his approval when she kissed him back, and he deepened the kiss, his fingers slowly slipping south, until they dipped under the elastic of her thong.

“My, you are a naughty girl. What have we here?”

He chuckled into her neck, and Kitty gasped when he thrust one finger into her wet core.

“So wet already, and we’ve only just started.” He flicked her clitoris once, and the slight pain caused a renewed burst of moisture to coat his fingers as he inserted another finger into her and found her g-spot. Kitty moaned into his shoulder as sensations built deep inside her core, and he licked himself down the column of her throat towards her breast. She screamed when he bit one nipple through the shirt and bra and thrust her hips at him, desperate to reach the release his talented fingers were driving her toward.

“Not so fast. You’re being punished, remember.”

Alex smiled and withdrew his fingers.  He licked each digit in turn, murmuring his approval and then stepped back, his heated gaze roaming over her body. Kitty clenched her thighs together in a vain effort to relieve the hot ache in her pussy.

“Spread your legs, naughty girl.” Alex growled the demand, and Kitty’s eyes widened at the steely determination she saw in his face. “You will not come until I give you permission. Do you hear me?”

“Yes.”  Good God, does that porn star voice really belong to me?

Alex’s eyes narrowed, and Kitty automatically dropped her gaze. She licked her lips, seeing the huge erection straining the flies of his jeans. Oh my. He was clearly as turned on as she by their little game. But how far would he take this? And did she trust him enough to find out?

“Yes, what?” His deep voice held an edge of steel, and she bit back her moan. That voice alone would send her over the edge. Who’d have thought a little role-play could be so erotic?

“Yes, Sir.”

“Good girl. Now strip – slowly.”

Alex’s voice brooked no argument, and Kitty hastened to comply. She fumbled with the tails of her blouse until Alex stepped forward and ripped the thing clean off her.

“Not that slowly.”

His eyes wicked, he unhooked her bra and sent that, too, flying. He whistled his approval as her breasts fell free. He cupped each mound in turn, and spun her around and toward the double bed, which took up one side of the hotel room. The slap on her ass took her by surprise, and she yelped. He soothed the sting with his large hand massaging her ass cheeks, and he chuckled into her neck.

His fingers once again dipped into her wet folds, and she froze when he inserted one digit, slick with her juices, into her anus.  Heaven help her, that felt way too good. Heat spread across her skin, and Alex bit into her earlobe, as his fingers continued their erotic dance in and out of her forbidden passage, and her body betrayed her arousal by a renewed gush of moisture between her legs.

“That’s my naughty girl.” Alex’s erratic breathing into her neck pitched her own arousal sky high, and she put up no resistance when he urged her onto the bed, his naked, warm, torso heating her back.

“Get on all fours for me.”

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Many thanks, Jennifer, for letting me crash here today.

I’m especially excited about today’s Six Sentence Sunday, because I can finally share a little piece of my upcoming release, Educating Ethan. This older woman/younger man sensual romance will be available from Breathless Press Feb 24th:

***

How had she doubted that this chemistry was one-sided? She’d seen the evidence of his interest yesterday in her kitchen, and she could sense it again now, without looking down this time, as she took in the heat of his gaze and the taut strength of the body leaning in toward her. She could almost smell the musky scent of arousal, though she was unsure whether that was coming from him or her. Maybe it was a combination of both. Her body responded to his closeness with a trembling anticipation, and she felt over-sensitized, like a guitar string  pulled too tight. If he were to strum his thumb across her skin one more time, she might just come apart beneath his hands.

***

Hope you enjoyed that little snippet! For more Six Sentence Sunday entries this week from other authors, please click HERE.

Today’s interview is with author Cynthia Woolf. She reveals the exciting new cover for her latest book, Centauri Midnight, and offers a generous giveaway to two lucky commenters – a paperback or digital copy of Centauri Series book 1, Centauri Dawn, and a paperback or digital copy of Centauri Midnight.

Jen:  How did you get started writing?

CW:  I wrote my first story when I was about ten.  It was a romance about me and a little boy I liked.  I also wrote some very depressing poetry.  I decided that poetry was not for me and stuck to romance.

Jen:  What genre(s) do you write in, and why?

CW:  I have a historical western romance and a sci-fi romance out now.  The sci-fi is the first in a series.  I write in these genres because they are the ones whose stories reached out to me.  The western was the first book I wrote and was inspired by my parents’ love story.  It’s set on the same ranch that they met on in 1941.  My book is set in 1885, so it’s not their love story.  My dad was a cowboy and trapper but to the best of my knowledge was never a bounty hunter.

The sci-fi series was done because of dreams I had when I was a teenager.  I knew I was a princess from Alpha Centauri.  There was no way I could belong to the crazy family I had.  Of course, I adore that crazy family now.

Jen:  What movie best describes your life?  Why?

CW:  I think Romancing the Stone best describes my life.  It’s just one crazy misstep after another, but I got my happy ending.

Jen:  What inspired your latest book?

CW:  Centauri Twilight is the second book in the Centauri series.  I used to dream that I was a princess from Alpha Centauri, that was the basis for Centauri Dawn, book 1 in the series.

Book 2 is much darker.  Lara is the twin sister of Audra in book 1.  Lara has been a sex slave since she was a child.  Having escaped, she’s now an outlaw and working to free the rest of the slaves who are now her people.

Jen:  What is your favorite part of writing?

CW:  My favorite part is what I call the ‘puking’ phase.  Just getting it all down on paper for the first time.  You just let if flow out of you, not caring, for the moment, if it is good or bad.

(Jen: LOL, I love that description!).

Jen:  What is your least favorite part of writing?

CW:  Editing is my least favorite.  I’m constantly questioning myself and my work.  Changing it, correcting it, putting it back to what it was and starting it all again.  It’s never good enough for me.

Jen:  What is your next project and when will it be released?

CW:  My next book is called Centauri Midnight and is the third book in the Centauri series.  It will be released in January 2012.

Jen:  What is your typical day like?

CW:  I don’t know that I have a typical day.  I’m lucky enough to be able to write full time.  I was laid off in June and am taking advantage of it to write while I look for another job.

Jen:  How much time do you spend promoting your books? What works best for you?

CW:  I spend a lot of time promoting my books.  A minimum of two hours per day.  Usually more but it is in 15 or 20 minute increments throughout the day, not in one big chunk.  Between Facebook, Twitter, blogging, putting announcements on loops, etc., I spend a lot of time doing it.  So far, blogging seems to get me the biggest bump in  my sales.

Jen:  How has your experience with self-publishing been?

CW:  My experience has been wonderful.  I highly recommend it for everyone out there who doesn’t want to be constrained by the “big” traditional publisher.  For everyone who wants to write from their heart and not according to the industry rules and constraints, self publishing is the only way to go.

Jen:  Where do you get the ideas for your stories?

CW:  I have ideas from everywhere.  My sci-fi series is from my dreams as a teenager.  My western was inspired by my parents own meeting and love story.  I place Tame A Wild Heart about 60 years earlier than when my parents met but the setting on a ranch is the same.  My dad was a real cowboy and my mom was what we would call a nanny now.  They were called nursemaids then.

Jen:  What advice do you have for other authors wanting to self-publish?

CW:  Go for it.  It’s a wild ride but totally worth it.

Please join me in thanking Cynthia for visiting with us today by leaving a comment on her interview. You’ll go in the draw to WIN a paperback or digital copy of Centauri Dawn, book 1 in her Centauri series, or Centauri Midnight.

Cynthia Woolf writes fiction with both futuristic and historical settings. Whether set on the planet Centauri or outside Creede, Colorado, her books are fast paced, romantic and suspenseful. Find out more at Cynthia’s Website, or connect with her on Facebook or Twitter.

Tame a Wild Heart, Centauri Dawn and Centauri Twilight are available at Amazon, Smashwords, Barnes & Noble and All Romance ebooks.