I had the privilege of joining three other amazing authors in this short story collection

and it’s all about those sexy shifters!

My offering in this collection, Bear With Me, is about a bear shifter who’s somehow managed to run off the one woman who can ultimately complete him. But she’s come back to taunt him and she’s angry…very angry.

Tyee Clark screwed up bad and he’s been hiding to lick his wounds. The last thing he expects is to find the woman he craves more than anything else taunting him. She should know better than mess with a sullen grizzly. Unless she means it.

 Lily Baskins has been hurt bad and she’s been waiting for the right time to institute a whole lot of payback. She’s not about to let sleeping bears lie. Not when she knows what she wants and is willing to face down a beast to get it.

 Lily’s had the man. Now she wants the bear.

Available today from all major e-book retailers &

Allyson–take it away

Thanks so much for hosting me, Lea. This is a topic that I never thought would be controversial, but I’ve discovered it creates some strong divides.

 I like to say I write romance for geeks. Mostly because I am one, and I write the kind of stories I like to read. One of the issues I run into when I try and find other books that do the same thing, is a lot of people interpret ‘books for geeks’ as being stories that focus on the stereotypes that set them apart, rather than the person behind the three-D-six.

 For me, the story isn’t about the awkward laugh that makes you go “Oh yeah, I did that once. I mean, um, er, my friend did that once.” It’s in someone embracing that they enjoy those things, owning it, and not letting it define them.

 I try and keep that in mind while I write. For instance, I have a character who’s been gaming since he was a kid and has built an empire from ability to create compelling video games. He can talk the mathematics of proprietary rendering engines all day and never get bored.

But that doesn’t mean he has no idea how to talk to ‘normal’ people. He still understands concepts like sarcasm, body language, and human interaction. And he’s a solid, confident alpha all the way through.

 I’m not saying there’s any issue with embracing what sets us apart as geeks. I’m proud of the obscure knowledge. And I want to read about characters who embrace and own their less-than-mainstream-passions rather than reading about the ways it makes us giggle because that’s easier than admitting it makes us squirm.

But that’s just my preference. What do you think?

Whew, Allyson–I think if they look like the geek above, I’m ALL IN!! I can’t wait to read Conflict of Interest and get my geek on.

Here’s the cover and blurb for Allyson’s new release:

This title releases today! You can find it all major e-book sellers–Amazon, B&N and of course, Liquid Silver Books.

Now go get it!

Allyson Lindt has been telling stories since before she could put the words on paper. She was lucky enough to marry her muse and soulmate. Their cats are their children, and when they’re not spending way too much time gaming, they’re building new worlds together. Her short stories have appeared in several anthologies, and she made her authorial debut with a racy, erotic short story on a popular porn site for women. She loves a sexy happily-ever-after and helping deserving couples find their futures together.

The first book in the What a Woman Wants Series.

It’s about getting love back after you’ve lost it.

Sophie wants something she’s never had … his love. Ryan needs something he’s afraid to hold on to… her.

Sophie Hanson has done the unthinkable—she’s fallen in love with her boss. She wasn’t prepared for the punch of his gaze or the feel of his arms around her. The fact that he’s her boss notwithstanding, she wants him with a force that is becoming harder to ignore.

Ryan Locke wants the unthinkable—Sophie Hanson. That she’s his employee is quickly becoming irrelevant. Employer-employee relationships are a landmine but he’s willing to overlook the danger in the face of his overwhelming desire for her.

Sometimes love isn’t enough.

Overcoming that employer-employee barrier isn’t the only issue. A depth of feeling neither have experienced before isn’t the only issue either. Sometimes the hidden things that come to light can ruin a love before it’s had a chance to begin.

Oh, before I forget: I did a Google Giggle Hangout with The Book Tart. If you’ve got a few minutes, click on the The Book Tart’s logo below to check it out. I had a blast and Kat (The Book Tart) is awesome!

Available now at all major e-book retailers and

Big thanks to Team Awesome, The Book Tart, David Bridger, Alvania Scarborough, Marie Hall, Jennifer Hassani and Georgia Woods, Cover Reveals and of course, my family. Without you guys my stories would still be in my laptop…sitting there…hoping and wishing and hoping and praying.

Love you all. 

]]> http://www.leagriffith.com/2013/04/fistful-of-roses-release-day/feed/ 1 http://www.leagriffith.com/2013/04/beccas-babblings-on-books-binocular-and-bdsm-what-the/ http://www.leagriffith.com/2013/04/beccas-babblings-on-books-binocular-and-bdsm-what-the/#comments Fri, 19 Apr 2013 12:47:05 +0000 LeaGriffith http://www.leagriffith.com/?p=437 Yeah–you read that right. Books, binoculars and BDSM–I have the amazing Becca Jameson visiting me today.

Strap yourself in for a really wild ride because it’s all about the B’s.

Hi! Thanks, Lea, for having me on your site today. I’m excited. I’ll tell you a little about what I have going on in my office lately. It’s a nuthouse in here! Come on in; take a peak. But I’m warnin’ ya…

 Books: I have four releases this spring. That’s a lot. My head is spinning just trying to keep up with myself. First, Rescue in the Smokies, the first book in my new series, the Durham Wolves. It released March 12 with Samhain. There will be two more books in that series to release later this year. Second, Alyssa’s Wolves, the forth book in the Wolf Masters series. It released April 8 with Liquid Silver Books. Third, Beneath a Spring Moon, a collection of short stories, in which I have included Tessa’s Wolf, released April 15 with Liquid Silver Books. Tessa’s Wolf stands alone, but she is the older sister of the men from my Wolf Masters series. And finally, Three’s a Cruise releases May 27 with Total E-Bound. Three’s a Cruise is a short story and my first m/m/f. It’s contemporary. No wolves!

 Binoculars: Work with me here. I needed another word that started with B! lol I’ve included an excerpt from Alyssa’s Wolves below. Wait for it…you’ve got it! The binocular scene! I love this book and I’m so excited about how well received it has been. Enjoy the snippet and see what you think.

 BDSM: What? Yep, I’m entering a new genre. I was a bit bored with my wolfies and needed a change. I’ve written a gut-wrenching story with plenty of BD and D/s, though I’ve left the SM for someone else. If you’re looking for tremendous amounts of sexual angst and the raw discoveries of two men and a woman entering into a D/s relationship, you’ll love this book. If you like physical punishment, this isn’t the book for you. Warning, this is an m/m/f, but I’ve heard even those who are not fans of m/m found it titillating. J I’ll keep y’all posted on the developments as this gets contracted and assigned a release date.

 So that’s my life full of B’s. I’ve also got plenty of balls (for my puppy! Get your minds out of the gutter!), beer (good beverage), baseball (my son’s sport of choice), and back handsprings (my daughter’s a cheerleader). I’m Busy and can be Bossy and Boisterous when the need arises… Okay, I’ll shut up now…

 If you are groaning and moaning over the end of the Wolf Masters and super worried about what you might do with your days after the Durham Wolves end, never fear, I have started a new wolf series. The first book is awaiting contract right now! It will be published by Taliesin Publishing. It could use a title… Ugh. Details are a Bitch! (I had to get that last B in there…)

LMAO!! Thank you, Becca, for visiting me today and talking about your wolfies and the upcoming BD, D/s. I could tease you all and tell you that I’ve read a rough draft of the upcoming awesome newness–so, yeah, I think I’ll do that. I’ve read the upcoming awesome newness of Becca’s BD, D/s–you will not be able to put it down, trust me. 

Thanks again, Becca, and it’s absolutely all about the B’s!

Becca Jameson lives in Atlanta, Georgia. When she isn’t writing, she can be found reading, editing, scrapbooking, running, swimming, biking, or taxiing kids. After enjoying several years on the editing side of the business, she decided to give writing a try. Now she can’t stop! And the voices in her head are clamoring to get out faster than she can get them onto “paper”. Becca writes both contemporary romance and paranormal, but there is no telling what she may come up with next.

(Click on her image to hit her site and find out more about her wolfies and upcoming work)

Excerpt from Alyssa’s Wolves

“Bingo,” Tyler Evans muttered to himself. Finally, after two days of hiding between the trees staking out the Masters’ Oregon home, the subject of his private investigation emerged. “’Bout time.” He’d worried Alyssa Franklin would never come out of the house by this point.

Tyler’s arms ached from holding up a pair of binoculars for so many hours without bending his elbows, and his eyes could barely focus on anything each time he lowered the binoculars for a moment’s reprieve.

He’d know Alyssa anywhere. Granted, he’d only seen her a few times since they were much younger in Oklahoma and then only from a distance, but she hadn’t changed at all. Maybe her silky pale blonde hair was longer, but the only other difference he could see, even from this distance, was her smile.

Tyler remembered Alyssa as a quiet, mousy teenager who rarely allowed her lips to curve up at the corners, probably because she knew with each passing year she was getting closer and closer to a fate she couldn’t accept—marriage to Dwight Wells. Just the thought made Tyler cringe.

Alyssa nearly skipped out of the house, trailed by three other women, and her radiant face spoke volumes. She was happier here with the Masters in Oregon than she’d ever been with her own pack in Oklahoma. And who could blame her? Even having to separate herself from everyone she’d ever known, including her own parents, was a better fate than the one she’d been arranged to endure. Running away from home two years ago and reestablishing herself with a new pack in the northwest had clearly done her a world of good.

Tyler slumped against the tree next to him. God, he couldn’t do this. Fuck Fredrick Wells. The leader of his pack would just have to go screw himself.

The women climbed into a shiny new black F150 and headed down the gravel driveway toward the main road.

Tyler nearly forgot his mission—to track Alyssa and verify she was indeed mated to Michael Masters. Why his pack leader had a sudden renewed interest in Alyssa was a mystery, but now that Tyler stood here, staring at the back of the truck loaded with the women, a chill went down his spine. Did Wells still intend to force her to mate with Dwight?

Scrambling toward the rental car he’d hidden off the road, Tyler tripped over several roots, berating himself for growing lax. Hell, he was hungry and thirsty and tired. The bottles of water he’d brought and the various snacks had long since disappeared. Adrenaline led him to the car and caused him to start the engine moments after the black truck passed his location.

His mind was made up. Why the hell are you still following her? He just wanted to see for himself, get a closer look. Perhaps he could live vicariously through her for just a few minutes if he could just get near enough.

It hadn’t occurred to him he might lie. In actuality, he’d assumed it would be easy to prove she was claimed, and he could return home mission accomplished. At this point he could see he wasn’t going to prove anything. He hadn’t seen anyone who appeared to be her mate. He suspected these women were the mates of Michael’s brothers. A lot of men had come and gone from the house in the last two days, but there was no way for Tyler to know if any of them were actually mated to Alyssa.

He’d done his research, more than Fredrick had given him and more even than was required for this task. So many shifters and their spouses lived at this dairy farm he could barely keep up with all of them. Tyler would never be able to recognize a soul from the Masters family. There were too many. Michael had three older brothers and an older sister. And to make matters even more confusing, all three brothers shared their mates with another man.

Granted, they didn’t all seem to live in this precise ranch house, but that was a hell of a lot of men for one family.

Alyssa, however, had been easy to spot. She stood out even among the other mates with her long, light-colored hair and even lighter skin tone. Where was her mate?

Tyler kept a short distance between him and the F150. Thank goodness he’d rented a non-descript, small, white, two-door sedan. Hopefully no one would notice him or care to pay attention.

The women drove about ten miles before turning onto another highway and then almost immediately exiting to the right.

Easy. And their destination made him grin from ear to ear. A small county rodeo. Perfect. He could follow them at a short distance in the crowd, spy on Alyssa, maybe even eavesdrop on a conversation between the women. And then he could get out of town as fast as possible, return to Oklahoma, lie to Wells about what he’d seen, and go on with his life.

No way in hell was he going to jeopardize Alyssa’s happiness by reporting back to his pack that she wasn’t mated. Now that he’d seen her, he didn’t give a fuck whether she was mated or not. She looked fantastic, and these people had done that to her.

The women parked and headed toward a ticket booth. Tyler angled his car into a spot not far from theirs and followed at a distance. He didn’t want to give himself away. He found himself drawn to the blonde beauty. How had he never noticed how gorgeous she was before? He’d grown up seeing her frequently at pack meetings.

Because she’d been barely more than a child when she left. And noticing her would have done him not one iota of good. She’d been promised to Dwight Wells since birth.

She wasn’t a child now, however. She was most definitely a grown woman. When she tipped her head back to laugh at something one of the other women said, Tyler gasped. She was not just a woman. She was sexy as hell. Her hair flipped behind her, and he found himself wishing he could run his fingers through the silky mass.

Tyler handed two fives to the ticket agent, his hand shaking at the thought of Alyssa mating a man three times her age who already had three wives. How in the hell had Tyler ever thought that way of life was okay?

He entered through the turnstile, staying far enough behind Alyssa to not arouse suspicion. It was crowded enough inside the park that remaining anonymous was not a hardship.

Tyler was one of the lucky ones. Being a man afforded him more privileges within the pack. He’d gone not only to college but also graduate school. No woman was promised to him yet. Little wonder since there weren’t enough to go around with several men having more than one female mate. Since he’d not felt connected to any girl or woman within the pack in his life, he didn’t give a hoot he’d not been arranged to mate with one. Relieved was a better word.

At twenty-four, he was just now out of school and job hunting. Somehow that made Wells feel that his time wasn’t valuable at the moment, and he’d been sent to track Alyssa and report back. Tyler shivered, a chill running down his back when he considered the ramifications of telling Wells Alyssa was not mated. Lord knew what that jackass would do.

Didn’t matter now. He’d never tell Wells a thing. His sudden moment of clarity between the trees was expanding by the second.

The women were easy to follow. There were four of them, all dolled up for an evening of entertainment. One was hugely pregnant. They were so carefree. Giggling. Joking. Without a care in the world.

With no haste, the women ambled toward the arena and headed to their seats—not without stopping at numerous booths outside to ogle over various knickknacks, cowboy hats, western wear, and jewelry.

Instead of feeling aggravated, Tyler grinned. He wished his mother and the other women he knew in Oklahoma could live this easy life.

Since he’d spent the last several years mingling with humans and other shifters at the university, he’d noticed that shifters in other packs behaved like humans. Enjoyed life. Laughed. The women in his pack did not.

The Masters women most certainly loved life.

As Alyssa rounded a corner to head up into the stands, Tyler followed. He glanced around the ramp wall, watched the women take seats about a dozen rows up, and then took the first step in their direction. And froze.

Holy mother of God.

Tyler stiffened and then quickly yanked himself back into the ramp. He plastered his back to the wall, his chest pounding, gasping for air. Alyssa’s scent permeated his awareness.

“Are you okay, sir?”

Tyler jerked his head up and found an elderly employee standing right in front of him, brow wrinkled in concern.

“Oh, yes. Yes. Thank you. I’m fine.”

Not even a little bit fine.

Tyler had to get the hell out of there and fast. Like now. Run.

Walking at least as fast as a gold medal winner for speed walking, Tyler scurried toward the exit, pushed through the turnstile to the outdoor arena, and fled for his car as though his pants were on fire. He had to get out of Dodge, and then Oregon, as fast as possible. Before the women saw him, before Alyssa spotted him. And Lord help him, he prayed, for her sake, she hadn’t noticed him. Maybe she’d been distracted enough laughing with her friends to not have scented his presence.

He knew two things for certain. One—he never ever wanted Alyssa to know he’d been there. He would do nothing to upset her world or change the path she was on. The Masters were good people and perfect for her.

And two—she was most certainly not mated to Michael Masters because Alyssa Franklin was his mate.

I wanted to take a second to give a big THANK YOU to everyone who has taken the time to buy and read my debut release, Retrieval. When I started on this writing journey I never anticipated that one day I would have a book out, much less have people reading it. I know that sounds odd, but the truth is even though that was my goal it was virtually impossible to visualize it. 

Encapsulating the joy I feel when I hear from my readers or read their reviews is impossible. There just aren’t words. 

So I wanted to take just a brief moment to thank all of you. For your support, your encouragement and most of all taking the time to let me know what you think. That you took the time to let me know how you felt means the world. And that you picked Retrieval to purchase and read when there are so many other options out there–well, like I said, there just aren’t words. 

The best I can do is say THANK YOU and you all freaking rock!

Oh and I guess I could get another GenTech book out to you–I’m working on that diligently *pinky promise* 

(Maybe I’ll post a little teaser soon or ohhh, maybe some deleted scenes. You’ll have to let me know which you’d prefer.)

Come by and visit:  Allie Ritch One Liners Part Deux

Have an amazing day peeps. If you’re reading, get to it and if you’re writing, GET THE WORDS!

 I sat down with Daniel first. After seeing him I really wanted to sit on his lap. Yeah, he’s just that hot. But I think by the end of the interview I ended up with a great feel for his world and it just made him hotter ;D

Daniel’s Interview

Me:  So, Daniel, tell me a little bit about you…tell me about life in the Pal el Kingdom of the Leuk Ahnal. How did you become an enforcer?

Daniel:  Our kingdom is just like any form of government. We have a central figure, King Phillip, making decisions with the aid of his advisors.  As far as being an enforcer, I trained for this position over the course of two and a half years.  A lot of that training focused on controlling the water of a person’s body without killing them.

Me:  Have the Pal el always been at war with the Ver-Rist Tokos? What started this infighting in the Leuk Ahnal kingdoms?

Daniel:  King Davidus is the real problem. When he came into power, he focused on total domination. He’s greedy, and in my opinion, sort of a megalomaniac.  Our kingdoms existed in peace before he took over.

Me:  Obviously, you’re searching for someone…who and why?

Daniel:  Davidus sends out his own enforcers to attack us.  Enforcers of the Pa lel are always on the lookout for these enemies. They’ve tried to bomb our towns, poison us, you name it.  I’ll do whatever I have to do to keep those bastards from hurting our people.

Me:  And just as obviously as you’re searching for someone, it looks like someone else gets in your way—in the very best of ways. Tell me about Dr. Alicia Lewis.

Daniel:  Alicia? *stares off into space for a moment before recovering* Alicia’s my Dau Hael.  In our language, that means water keeper.  You’d probably call it something like a soul mate.  She’s a very unique woman.  Probably the smartest person I’ve ever met.

Me:  Are you afraid for Alicia’s safety? Who’s after her?

Daniel:  My partner, Chris, and I believe the Ver-Rist Tokos are after her.  We have no idea why, but we will find out.

Me:  What do you enjoy most about Alicia?

Daniel:  Everything. She’s funny, a little shy, passionate, and her mind is always working.

Me:  And if you had to guess what her response would be to that same question in reference to you, what would you say?

Daniel:  Hmm.  She likes my cooking! *laughs* I think she’d say she likes my determination and loyalty.  She knows I’d do anything to keep her safe, and if there’s any way I can help her, I will.

Me:  What makes Alicia special?

Daniel:  That’s hard to pinpoint. There isn’t just one thing.  Alicia’s a collection of awesome. *pauses*  I guess the thing that makes her most special is that she’s the only woman on this planet meant for me.

Me:  Can you keep her safe?

Daniel:  I’ll damn sure try.

Me:  As an enforcer do you have some special power over water? If yes, what is that power?

Daniel:  All Leuk Ahnal have control over water.  We can manipulate it in just about any way you can imagine.  There are a few of us who can control others using their water.  I’m one of those few.

Me:  What does the future hold for the Leuk Ahnal? What does the future hold for you and Alicia?

Daniel:  We’ve kept our existence a secret for millennia.  I don’t see that changing anytime soon.  As far as things with Alicia and I; I’m willing to take things as far as she’ll let me.

 Nulli’s Interview

 If you haven’t read Nulli before, you’re missing out. She gives great world, i.e. she writes amazing stories. You should have her in your TBR pile for real.

Me:  Now that Daniel’s gone, I gotta tell you, he’s the hotness. How that much hotness has managed to stay hidden for so long is beyond me. Daniel and Alicia’s story sounds amazing. What was your motivation for this story?

Nulli:  I wanted to try a different take on mermaid/mermen myths.  This story was born in the blink of an eye.  I had to write it.  It was really like an addiction!  I started writing and didn’t stop for eighteen hours, from concept to the end.

Me:  I can’t wait to dig into it! Is this part of a series?

Nulli:  Yes, Waves of Change is book one in the World Above Water series.

Me:  Tell me about the five kingdoms of the Leuk Ahnal and who’s story to expect next.

Nulli:  The five kingdoms of the Leuk Ahnal are:

• Pa lel – ruled by King Phillip
• Haep-Te las – ruled by King Everett
• Te Hala – ruled by King Christos
• Ohn Auk-San Ahmu – ruled by Queen Purnima
• Ver-Rist Toko – ruled by King Davidus

Book two focuses on the rulers coming together to deal with a situation facing all Leuk Ahnal.

 So all in all this is a brand new world with characters you want to dive into and a beautifully intriguing concept. Thanks, Nulli, for stopping by today!

 Nulli’s Website

 Excerpt

The date with Daniel was going better than Alicia had expected, and when she took his arm as they prepared to leave the restaurant, she thought over their exchanges. He actually showed genuine interest in what I do, and he didn’t make me feel like some kind of freak when I told him about my education. The lightness she felt was soon tempered when she recalled the conversation about her childhood, and she glanced at the side of his face as they moved through the tables to see if he noticed her change in mood. I can’t believe I told him that story. Why am I so comfortable around him? When he held my hand, it was almost as if… Why did I feel better? It was like he took the panic away, but… What am I even thinking about?

The coolness of the night air shocked her out of her inner thoughts, and she took a deep breath as they moved onto the paved path near the water. The three-quarter moon’s light reflected off the lake’s still, black surface. The sound of leaves as they swished and swayed in the wind filtered down, creating a background din that made her feel as if the trees cheered for them as they walked by.

The light wind blowing in her face was like a cool caress, and she closed her eyes for a brief moment and tried to turn off her thoughts. “It’s beautiful out here tonight.”

“Mm-hmm.” Daniel nodded in agreement before he pulled her hand from the crook of his elbow. They both stood still while he took off his blazer, and when he held it up, she smiled and allowed him to drape it over her shoulders.

“Thanks.”

“No problem. The breeze is a little chilly tonight.”

The scent of his cologne danced around her nostrils, and she found herself fighting the urge to pull the collar to her nose and sniff. It was a clean fragrance with a soapy undertone she liked a lot. When she returned her hand to the bend of his elbow, he pulled his arm closer to his body, and the backs of her fingers rubbed against his side. She could feel the muscles beneath the skin, firm and toned, but not massive. He works out.

There was an unexpected comfort she felt in his presence, and as she realized it, panic began to surface. You don’t know him. You never do things like this. Just go home and go back to your reality. You don’t have time for anything else in your life right now, and you know it. No one is going to put up with your schedule, and it’s not fair to you or him to even pretend this could work out. No matter what you are feeling, let it go and focus on what’s important. Despite the logical rationalizations and demands of her inner voice, she still felt something she couldn’t deny, a feeling she couldn’t explain, a pull well beyond mere attraction. Can I really make room for something like this in my life? Disappointment filled her as she gave in to her analytical nature; she took in a long breath through her nose and blew it out with a bit of force before she squeezed his arm. The light pressure stopped him in his tracks, and he turned to face her. “Daniel, I think…”

“You’re probably tired; let me walk you to your car.” The smile on his face rivaled the moon in its brightness, and as she watched him, she found it harder and harder to say what she was thinking. I’m thinking, not feeling. I always think through things. Why does he make it so hard to think?

A stronger gust of wind blew, and she shielded the side of her face with her hand to keep stray strands of hair out of her eyes. The warmth of his hand over hers as he smoothed her hair back behind her ear was unexpected. When he pulled his hand back, his fingers brushed over her cheek, and she felt her muscles stiffen. She felt a sensation similar to millions of tiny bubbles bursting inside her, and even all over her skin. It was like nothing she’d felt before, but before she could attempt to process it, the feeling morphed into a firing of nerves that stimulated her entire being, and she felt her body heat up. This isn’t how things go in my life. This isn’t normal.

Instinct moved her closer to him, and as she stared into his green eyes, she watched his pupils dilate wider than what was normal for the lighting conditions. She didn’t speak as she took his hand, but she was aware the warmth inside her continued to grow, and as it increased, she began to feel a pulsing sensation deep within. It was then she placed a mental muzzle on her voice of doubt and shoved it down an imaginary flight of stairs. To hell with what you think is normal. I’m done thinking.

She’s one of my fellow authors over at Liquid Silver Books and she’s talking Goodreads addictions. 

Help! I’m addicted to Goodreads!

Well, first of all, thank you to the lovely Lea for indulging my today. I’m so glad to be here.

Secondly, I have a confession. I am addicted to Goodreads.

Now seeing as I am an erotic romance author, this probably doesn’t sound like a bad thing. After all, We authors love to network with our readers and Goodreads provides the perfect venue. I love the relationships I’ve established there and appreciate all the good press from readers.

How did I become aware of my addiction? I think it happened after I received my first good review from a reader. The rush was intense. I was so happy to know my book had touched someone, or made someone laugh or sigh. It is the best feeling in the world.

Of course I’d go looking for it again. We all love to be loved.

I’ve been fortunate. My readers have been extremely kind to me. But, as every author finds, not each reader will appreciate your work. I remember the day I discovered my first less-than-positive review. I can still quote you the words, although I won’t do it here for fear of becoming a lumpy, teary mess. Yes, it does sting.

Still, I didn’t get into this business for the applause and like to think I have a thick skin. So I kept reading those reviews. More good ones came in and I rejoiced. Then a couple more bad ones.

I realized I was checking Goodreads every day, sometimes a few times/day. Author friends told me to leave it alone, that I shouldn’t stress over reviews.

But I also use feedback as a method for improving myself, or at least food for thought. How can I ignore the reviews? I joined a few Goodreads groups and check in now quite often. There are days when I should be writing and I find myself trolling Goodreads instead. Not acceptable to someone who earns her bread and butter by writing.

So, I’ve put myself on a Goodreads hiatus. I see some new reviews have come in but I haven’t looked at them. I think it might be time for a Goodreads vacation. It’s time to remember that as much as I write for the enjoyment of others, more than anything, I write for MY enjoyment. It’s time to get back to basics.

I haven’t fed a Goodreads addiction quite yet. I’m still learning the ropes and now you’ve got me wondering, Rosanna, if I should stay far, far away! Thanks so much for visiting me today. I’ve enjoyed it immensely!

 Rosanna Leo is a multi-published, erotic romance author with Liquid Silver Books. Her books include For the Love of a God, Up In Flames, Sweet Hell, The Selkie and her newest, Sunburn. When not writing, she can be found haunting dusty library stacks or planning her next star-crossed love affair.

And here’s her newest release:

Available at Liquid Silver Books

Rosanna’s Blog Site

Blurb

Patience O’Conner is a travel blogger who lives for her work. Her dedication to her readers brings her to the famed Helios Resort in Mexico, a locale that stuns her with its beauty but at which she suffers from some very strange accidents.

Luckily, hunky resort bartender Apollo Delos is always there in the nick of time, a malcontent guardian angel. Apollo stuns Patience again and again with his life-saving abilities, to say nothing of his smoldering looks and apparent desire to keep her alive.
Before long, Patience wonders if there is more to the sexy bartender than mixed cocktails and insane first-aid skills. Something strange is happening at Helios and Apollo doesn’t want to talk about it.
Can Patience open herself up to this enigmatic man, even though she is terrified to be vulnerable again? And can Apollo recover from an eternity of hurt and learn to trust once more? They must both decide before Death comes calling.

 Excerpt

She approached the booth, only to find the blond bartender manning it. Her eyes almost popped and she blurted, “You!”

He grinned, but there was still a tightness around his eyes, as if he were sizing her up. “Hello, Patience.” His strained expression said volumes about what he considered to be the unsuitability of her name.

She tried to ignore the sucker punch in her gut, the one that hit her as soon as his deep, velvety voice caressed her eardrums. “Aren’t you supposed to be at the bar?”

His smile grew wider, showing off his perfect white teeth. “I’m everywhere.”

“Clearly.” She forced herself to look away from his gorgeous face, feeling light-headed because of the suns dancing in her eyes, the suns that seemed to come from him. To distract herself, she touched a few of the painted bowls on display. Not that it snuffed out those blasted suns.

He stepped closer. “Do you see anything you like?”

She choked on her saliva and coughed like a victim of the Black Death. He rushed to calm her, putting his hand on her back, massaging. She recovered upon feeling his touch and was hit by the bizarre, fleeting notion his touch made her recover. As if he’d healed her.

Utter nonsense. Yet as much as it was nonsense, her head swam with the bizarre possibility.

“Better?” he asked quietly, his face serious now.

She stared into the man’s eyes. They were blue, so very blue. “Uh, yeah, thanks.” Curiosity got the better of her and the question poured out. “What’s your name anyway?”

He breathed in. “Apollo Delos.”

“Oh, wow,” she said, breaking into a grin. “Just like Apolo Anton Ohno! I loved him on Dancing with the Stars!”

He got a curious look and let out a strange laugh. “Yeah. Just like him.”

Rosanna Leo’s Room

I am lucky to have the amazing Sidney Bristol with me today, bringing the heat and the hero from her new release, Collar Me in Paris. Welcome, Sid and thanks for joining me today. I think I need a glass of ice water to keep me cool, excuse me for a minute, yeah? 

 Hello everyone! Thanks so much to Lea for hosting me today. When I asked her if she had any preference for what I brought with me, she just wanted it to be hot. So I figured what’s hotter than bringing the hero of my latest Taboo line romance from Ellora’s Cave with me? Clay, say hi.

Clay: Hello.

Sid: Okay, Clay, the questions I’m going to ask you are a mix of standard and personalized. Please remember you agreed to answer all of them. *evil grin*

Clay: *sigh* I was afraid of that. Should I regret this now, or wait a bit?

Sid: It’s not that bad. Hush. Let’s begin with some easy questions? All right then. Which member of your immediate family do you relate to best? Why?

Clay: And by immediate family you mean…?

Sid: I’m sorry. That wasn’t very specific.

Clay: It’s fine. For the benefit of the viewers, I’ll volunteer that I was raised in foster care, so I don’t know my biological family. I’m guessing you mean my in-laws?

Sid: Yes, I apologize. That was insensitive of me.

Clay: No worries. I get along best with my brother in law Jason and his wife Amy.

Sid: Which of your family do you get along with the least? Why?

Clay: My brother in law Michael, and well, I think you can see why if you read the book.

Sid: What’s the real story about your breakup with your last girlfriend?

Clay: You mean the girlfriend Bianca stole me away from?

Sid: That’s the one. Care to share the story?

Clay: Not at all. This isn’t for the weak of heart though. You see, I’ve always engaged in relationships with a power exchange. When I was younger I thought that I wanted to have control over a woman, then I learned that I’m much more turned on by being submissive to a woman. My last girlfriend before Bianca liked to think of herself as a Dominatrix. I admittedly wasn’t in a great place and wanted her to treat me like her property, and she did. She was abusive and I thought I deserved it. Bianca saw us together a few times, and we even had a long, really cool talk at a party one night a mutual friend threw. She tried to talk me into leaving my girlfriend then, but I still couldn’t see what Bianca did, so I told her no. A month later we were at a, well, let’s call it a kinky party and my girlfriend was hitting me with a real nasty whip. It crossed a line and Bianca jerked the whip out of her hand, yelled at her some and took me home with her. That night I broke up with my girlfriend and though Bianca and I didn’t start dating for months, we were pretty much together since that moment.

Sid: That’s intense. Do you still see this ex around?

Clay: We did for a while, and it was pretty ugly. Both Bianca and I lost friends over this, but in hindsight it was worth it because it wasn’t a healthy situation and these people were happy to sit on the sidelines and watch someone abuse me. I don’t need people like that in my life.

Sid: How do your work associates perceive you?

Clay: *chuckles* Probably as a hard ass. I’m a VP at a bank, so it’s my responsibility to make sure all the I’s are dotted and T’s crossed.

Sid: How has life been with a new family?

Clay: Interesting. I’ll admit, when I asked Bianca to marry me, I didn’t really think beyond how we were all ready living. I never had any interaction with her family before the engagement, so it wasn’t something I thought about. The reality was much different. It took me a while to really understand that I wasn’t just marrying Bianca. I was marrying into her family and getting a whole support system that I didn’t have before. It’s been a great experience.

Sid: How important is sex in your life?

Clay: Uh, well, pretty important.

Sid: In an average month, how often do you “get lucky”?

Clay: *laughs* You’re really asking me this? Shit. I’d say three to four times a week on average.

Sid: Care to fess up to how many partners you’ve had?

Clay: More than I’m proud of. I can’t count them, and I wish that wasn’t my story.

Sid: What’s the longest any woman has ever lasted with you?

Clay: Well Bianca and I have been together for several years. Before her the longest relationship was maybe a year.

Sid: What kind of woman turns you off? Why do you figure that is?

Clay: I’m really turned off by women who don’t have their shit together. I don’t have patience for women, or just people in general, who can’t manage themselves or their lives.

Sid: What kind of woman appeals to you most? Physically? Personality? Can you describe your dream man?

Clay: A strong, confident woman. I don’t care what she looks like, but if she can snap her fingers and tell me what to do, well, that just gets me hard.

Sid: You’ve already referenced your preferance for kink in the bedroom. Care to share your top five kinks with the readers?

Clay: I guess not… First, I prefer to be in a relationship where the woman is the sexual Dominant. That’s not to say I don’t play the role of an aggressor, but I prefer to be totally focused on her and her pleasure.

Sid: Sounds hot, and you’re not a doormatt kind of guy at all.

Clay: No, I’m not. Doormatt and submissive are not synonymous, which is an often made misconception. My second kink would be protocol. This is rules, rituals and special things that Bianca and I do to show each other daily that we love and respect each other.

Sid: That sounds interesting. Can you give us an example?

Clay: Sure. One of the ones that we do without fail is our collaring. When I get home from work, I kneal by the door and Bianca changes out my necklace for a collar. It’s a symbol that I belong to her and she’s mine. I can’t wear a leather collar to work. It would get some odd looks, so the necklace works.

Sid: That’s really neat! So what’s your remaining three?

Clay: Bondage, by far. Bianca really does some interesting things. Flogging. I love a good, thuddy flogging. Doesn’t hurt, but it feels great. And then pain play. I’m something of a pain puppy.

Sid: A pain puppy?

Clay: I’m something of a masochist. The technical definition is receiving pleasure from pain, but in practice it goes beyond that. The initial pain brings on endorphins that create a heady feeling. It’s better than any alcohol or drug out there for me.

Sid: I find it interesting you admit that so freely. It seems like something a person might not admit in mixed company.

Clay: I’ve come to terms with my kinks and that they’re part of who I am.

Sid: That’s fantastic. Is there one act more than any other that you deeply regret? Why did you do it? Do you think you would behave differently today?

Clay: I regret how I treated my last foster parents. They weren’t the best of people. In fact they were pretty awful, but they took care of me and made sure I got to school every day. I might not have had the best clothes and we might not have eaten the best, but they did take care of me and let me work summers, which was where I figured out what I wanted to be when I grew up.

Sid: Last question, where do you expect to be ten years from now? In your job. Location? Social life?

Clay: In ten years I would hope to be the president of a bank, still in Atlanta if I have my choice. By then maybe B and I will have a kid or two. She’s talking me into the idea, and I can’t say that I’m oposed. She can be quite convincing when she puts her effort into it.

Whew!! I asked for hot and you gave it to me, Sid! I’ve read Collar Me so I know just how good of a book it is. Thank you so much for being here with me, sharing Clay. And Clay? If I wouldn’t have to fight Bianca for you, I’d be all on that . Thanks for joining me today and giving my readers a peek at what you and Bianca share. 

It can never be said that Sidney Bristol has had a ‘normal’ life.  She is a recovering roller derby queen, former missionary, and tattoo addict. She grew up in a motor-home on the US highways (with an occasional jaunt into Canada and Mexico), traveling the rodeo circuit with her parents. Sidney has lived abroad in both Russia and Thailand, working with children and teenagers. She now lives in Texas where she splits her time between a job she loves, writing, reading and belly dancing.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Collar Me in Paris coming February 13th from Ellora’s Cave

What begins as Clay’s first family vacation with his new wife quickly dives into disaster. He may be the submissive in their relationship, but he’s no shy violet. Bianca has taught him the quickest way to turn her on is a challenge, so he’s throwing down the gauntlet.

Bianca butts heads with not just her brothers but her husband when the family torturing begins. But the joke is on him. She’s ready to put him through the most erotic misery of all. In public, at a night club and all over the city, she’ll show him who is Dominant in their relationship until he’s screaming for more.

Their relaxing Paris vacation turns into a mad dash through the ancient streets, a competition of wills and a new exploration of what it takes to make their relationship work. From bondage, discipline and very public orgasms to navigating the Métro, family feuds and overcoming the language barrier, they’re going to redefine the word fun.

—

Excerpt

Clay’s feet squicked inside his tennis shoes. For all of a second he felt guilty for tracking mud and God only knew what else into the apartment, but someone had thoughtfully laid out newspaper and cardboard. Other, equally filthy shoes were lined up, as well as a few articles of clothing too soiled to wear any farther. He toed his shoes off and left them in the foyer. Bianca slammed the door shut and didn’t bother with removing her sneakers. She stomped down the hall to the tune of her family’s laughter and ignored their calls.

Today had not gone well.

That was an understatement.

It had been a wreck.

“There you are!”

“Hey, thought you guys would never make it in.”

“About time you showed up.”

The teasing jibes kept coming as Bianca passed the living room and stormed to their suite.

She was beyond angry.

Angry was a fire ant army out to take a pound of flesh.

Bianca was beyond that. Furious, enraged, those words fit her better, and he didn’t think he had it in him to care anymore. He’d changed from the sub he’d been three years ago who had no limits. He had them now, and being used as an emotional punching bag all day was a yard too far.

Clay paced slowly into the fray. The scent of stale water and excrement clung to his clothing. The sense of accomplishment from having completed the day’s challenges was dampened by the knowledge the rest of her family had finished in half the time and probably with a lot more cooperation from their spouses.

Kevin glanced up from the TV where the brothers were currently engaged in what appeared to be the latest multiplayer shooter game. “You look like shit.”

“Thanks.” Unlike his wife, their razing didn’t bother him. Who were they to him? Her family. Not his.

“Seriously, what took you guys so long?” Michael didn’t divert his attention from the action. He even managed to snag a handful of popcorn and shove it in his mouth without breaking stride.

A random assortment of snack foods littered the coffee table—cheese, crackers, chips, some cookies and even a bottle of wine. The empty plates attested to there being even more to offer at one time.

There was enough there to feed several people. Despite being exhausted, he itched to pack some of the food away.

Jason’s voice broke his concentration. “We missed you guys at dinner. Everything okay?” Unlike his brothers, Jason had paused the game and turned toward him. Michael and Kevin grumbled, but took the opportunity to shovel yet more food in their mouths.

“Yeah, took us longer than you guys. Where are the girls?” He glanced at the kitchen, but still no one.

“They went out shopping or to a show or something,” Michael replied and restarted the game.

The game ramped up and the three brothers began a flurry of attacking something. He’d never understood the appeal of video games, but he hadn’t been exposed to them until he was in high school, and by then other things had taken on more importance. Like finding an after-school job so he could have shoes without holes and jeans that fit.

He shuddered as a chill crept down his spine from the clinging, cold clothing and shook off the nervous tic as well. He’d left those days behind. “How did you guys get into the catacombs so fast? We waited almost two hours.”

Kevin snorted. “Oh fuck waiting.”

“We don’t wait, man. We offer the first people in line fifty bucks and skip the wait.” Michael glanced at him. “You didn’t seriously wait, did you?”

He grimaced. “Yeah, yeah we did.”

“Sucks to be you.” Michael laughed and focused on the game.

“Hey, do you want join in? We probably have a spare controller around here somewhere,” Jason offered.

“No thanks. I’m going to clean up. Tromping through those sewers was gross.”

He left the living room to a chorus of laughter, maybe directed at him or the game, he didn’t care.

Bianca had known her brothers would bribe and do whatever it took to win. That was their way and she hadn’t told him. He’d waited in line for two fucking hours while she gave him the silent treatment. They could have been strategizing, discussing how they wanted to play, learning the rules. But no. He had no way of playing with a full deck if she didn’t confide in him.

They were supposed to be a team.

A fucking team.

He pushed the door to the suite open and slammed it behind him. If she could slam doors, so could he.

Bianca jumped but did not turn around from where she stood at the foot of the bed. This was not the way things were supposed to be between them. Sure, B called the shots and he was comfortable in his role as her husband and submissive. He did not play the role of a carpet to be walked upon.

He ignored the instinct to kneel at the door, to wait for Bianca to present the collar and slip his necklace off. His knees tried to buckle, but he locked them in place. Instead he began removing his jacket and peeling off his shirt.

“I didn’t give you permission to undress,” Bianca snapped. Waspish behavior was unlike her. Even when she gave him pain she laughed and smiled.

“I don’t want your permission.” His voice was cold, foreign to his own ears. He wadded up his shirt and tossed it through the bathroom door where it plopped onto the tile.

Bianca turned to face him. She’d stripped down to her navy boyshort panties and matching camisole. The set was old, relatively speaking, but one of his favorites. The material had a silky sheen to it, and the lace was soft to the touch, not rough. Her firm breasts filled out the top and her nipples were visible through the fabric. Goose bumps rose on her flesh, and her damp, shoulder-length hair stuck to her face and hung in clumps.

She was beautiful, but not when her face was drawn and tight. Anger didn’t become her. Her makeup was smudged, streaked across her cheeks or completely gone, giving her something of a sad clown look. It ruined the ferocity of her flashing gaze and tight lips.

“What’s wrong with you? Is this some twisted plea for punishment? Because I’m not amused.”

He fisted his hands. He would never lay a finger on her in anger, but he wanted to do something to work the frustration out. “No, this is about you and your family, and keeping me in the dark.”

“What are you talking about?”

“You knew they would pay to cut in line and cheat.”

She rolled her eyes. “Yeah. They do. And where do you think that money comes from? My brothers spend months preparing and saving bribe money. We had one night. What are you willing to forgo to pay for this? Club membership? Wine club? Hockey tickets? Because to me, those are a lot more important than cutting in line.”

He pitched his voice to match her volume. “Why do you get to make that decision?”

“I thought I was the Dominant here.”

He stared at her, not seeing her but everything that was wrong with this situation. The lack of communication, their attitudes and most of all, the missing fun. They laughed and enjoyed themselves.

The years had built a level of intimacy between them, and now it was as if all that work had disappeared. “This, this isn’t like us. I don’t want this.”

Bianca’s gaze widened, glistening with sudden tears. Her lower lip trembled though she fought to hide it. Sorrow speared him. He didn’t want his wife to cry.

She threw up her hand when he took a step toward her. “What are you saying?”

“Christ, B, I don’t want to do this damn race if it’s going to fuck with our heads.”

She sank down on the edge of the bed, her shoulders slumped, and stared at the ground, or maybe her toes. He could hear her trembling breath, see the tension in the cords of her neck. Clay slid between her and the wardrobe to kneel in front of her and took her hands in his. She stared at the carpet, her face twisted into a painful mask.

“B?”

Her fingers were cold to the touch. The stench still clung to their hair and skin, disgusting reminders of the failure of a day they’d had.

He pushed to his feet, Bianca’s gaze tracking him under the cover of her lashes. She might bust his balls, literally, for this whole fiasco, but he was her husband. He could bend the rules a little.

He scooped her up and settled her slight weight against his chest. The silky material was ice cold, her skin clammy.

She began to wiggle in his grasp. “What are—?”

“Let me take care of you. Please?” Though he spoke in an almost whisper, she stilled.

She didn’t respond, but she relaxed in his hold, leaning against his shoulder and curling her hand over his heart, not one protest on her lips.

He breathed a sigh of relief and edged around the bed, careful not to bang her knee on the wardrobe or clock her head against the bedpost. He set her down on the miniscule counter space in the bathroom and turned the shower on.

Bianca watched him, worry lining her brow and pinching her lips. Her green eyes appeared so much larger than normal. She was always so put together, the quintessential modern woman, and he admired her for all of her feminism and femininity.

“Let’s get you out of these clothes. They smell.” He ran his fingers along the lacy edge of her camisole covering her hips. “May I?”

She lifted her arms in silent permission. The stretchy fabric clung to her skin and had to be peeled off. She shivered and gripped the edge of the counter. She didn’t often allow him to undress her. He wished the circumstances were different, that he could enjoy the privilege.

When they’d first played within the confines of the club, he hadn’t understood how intimate the process of taking off this woman’s garments could be. In those first months she’d never allowed him to so much as remove her shoes.

“Do you remember the first time you gave me permission to undress you?” He studied her face as he lowered to his knees.

Her brows lifted and a crackle of lust zipped between them. Their relationship had still been new, going on barely five months officially when they took that first weekend trip. Before that, he’d been under her protection for close to a year and was elated they were finally at a more intimate place in their relationship. Though they’d checked in at a bed and breakfast, they’d snuck into a nearby hotel pool.

Under the cover of starlight, she’d instructed him to remove every stitch of her clothing.

She sucked in a breath. “Of course.”

He slid his hands into her silky panties. When they’d been at the pool, she’d leaned against a low wall.

He’d removed her underwear much like this, caressing her with his palms as he pushed them off. Like that long-ago night, she kept her legs closed and her pussy unavailable. Instead he kissed her knee and rested his chin against her while he knelt on the ground.

“That’s when I fell in love with you.”

She snorted. “I thought you fell in love with me the first time I locked up your balls?”

He laughed against her skin. “Okay, I fell in love with the Mistress then, but the woman later.”