RING IN THE NEW YEAR WITH ROMANCE!

The Sexy Scribbles are celebrating the NEW YEAR with lots of special book deals and prizes while we look ahead to exciting new projects for 2015. We’re having lots of GIVEAWAYS as a thank you to our readers too!

****Our special giveaway is a Kindle Paperwhite!!!****

(I just got one for Christmas and I looove it!!)

WHERE??

FACEBOOK PARTY

https://www.facebook.com/events/1581193355436717/?ref_dashboard_filter=hosting

WHEN?

December 29^th, 2014 Monday 7-10 p.m. EST

WHO?

THESE AMAZING AUTHORS: Check out their websites and sign up on their mailing lists to hear about their latest releases and giveaways.

Lisa Hughey – 2 $25 Gift Cards

Website: http://www.lisahughey.com/

Newsletter: http://www.lisahughey.com/stalk-me/

AC James – a free audio book of Eternal Ever After and a free ebook of Eternal Ever After

Website: http://www.acjames.com/

Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/ApQ7z

Geri Foster

Website: http://www.gerifoster.com/

Newsletter: link on her website

Stephanie Julian

Website: http://www.stephaniejulian.com/

Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/tsnWn

Jan Springer -Free ebook Key Club Box Set, Vol 1

Website: http://janspringerauthor.wordpress.com/

Newsletter: http://ymlp.com/xguembmugmgb

Krystal Shannon

Website: http://www.krystalshannan.com/

Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/qvKYL

Denise A. Agnew

Website: http://www.deniseagnew.com/

Newsletter: http://deniseagnew.com/phplist/?p=subscribe

Kathy Kulig – 2 free ebooks of either Burned Deep, Nightlord Lover or Red Tape.

Website: http://www.kathykulig.com  

Newsletter: http://bit.ly/1vdHYLF

8 Ways to Manage Your Writing Career & Holiday Stress

The holidays bring about a mixed feeling of joy, excitement and sadly stress. Family celebrations, holiday parties, decorations, baking, gift-buying and mailing and wrapping, fighting long lines at the malls, add to our normal busy schedules and writers have to be more creative to stay on schedule or adapt.

CHECK OUT THE CONTEST AT THE END OF THIS POST!

Career writers are hard-working and put in long hours and the holidays can make it more difficult the keep up their busy pace. Many writers have a day job and have to juggle a second career and family life which adds to the stress this time of year. The Holidays should be a time of joy, peace on earth, kindness and giving, sharing special times with loved ones, not added stress or an obstacle to getting their next project completed on time.

My uncle recently gave me a wise piece of advice: Take time to enjoy the season. The older you get, the faster they go by.

 These tips may be helpful to writers now and throughout the year.

Turn this:

into this:

 

1.           Take time to enjoy the season (and life), even if you have to schedule it. Children grow up fast and move on to their own lives, parents, relatives and friends grow old and leave us much too soon. If you’re constantly worried about that current WIP, your ratings, your royalties, marketing plans, ads, the next project, a crappy review, no reviews, etc., how can you fully enjoy the people and celebrations going on around you?

2.           Schedule deadlines months in advance. Deadlines are important for a successful career. If you work a 9-5, your boss expects you to complete projects on time. Writers are their own boss, they may have a deadline with a publisher, or an established indie deadline. Plan ahead for a lower productivity level during holiday seasons and vacations and you won’t be so stressed out. If you haven’t scheduled your workload in advance, then start now for the upcoming months.

3.           Make a list and check it twice. Organized writers can accomplish more with less stress. The night before or every morning, make a To-do List. I write lists on a notepad because when I’m at work, I don’t have Internet conductivity to use phone aps like Evernote. I also use a calendar. I recently bought an erasable 15 month wall calendar that I can record on and see my schedule for the year at a glance. I post deadlines for all my projects, planned ads, FB parties, conferences, online events, release dates.

4.           Exercise. Yes, exercise! I hear the groans out there. With so many things going on, where do you have time to exercise? You have time to take a brisk walk or 30 minutes at the gym or a short exercise video at home. Yoga is great too. Exercise is the perfect de-stresser. It helps to release endorphins in the brain which are feel-good transmitters. Many people suffer from depression around the holidays for many reasons. Exercise may help. Exercise also bumps up the metabolism to help burn off all those Christmas cookies and holiday dinners.

5.           Keep your desk organized. Ha, this can be a tough one. I find myself working on several projects at once. Right now, I’m editing a completed paranormal novel, writing a romantic suspense novella/short novel, and planning for the release of a three-book shapeshifter funnel early next year (need to revise one, and write one novella). I’m also promoting a new release, Write to Success that was coauthored with eight NY Times & USA Today bestselling authors. Since I keep notes for each project, I have a colored file for each, so I have easy access. I like to edit the final draft on hardcopy. I plan to start using Scrivener to keep the notes and outlines in one place. But I will always do final edits on hard copy. I also like to do some preliminary brainstorming/outlining on paper away from the computer. Just my process. Find what works best for you.

6.           Make a Stop-Doing List. There are only so many things you can get accomplished in one 24-hour day. See what you can STOP DOING. I started cutting back on things that weren’t progressing my writing career. I cut way back on checking email (I skim the important ones, respond and delete.) And I always respond to readers. I was posting a lot of author friends’ new releases on my blog and sadly had to cut back on that too. I was getting requests 3-4x a week (I have very prolific author friends.:)) I was also getting requests from people I didn’t know with requests to post blogs and for reviews. I still want to help promote my friends on my blog, but I have to come up with a more time efficient way to do it.

7.           Mindful Eating Choices. Aka Eat Healthy. Eating healthy during the holidays may seem an impossible task. I know, my husband’s family is Polish and I have to look forward to a Christmas Eve dinner of Kielbasa, ham and pierogies. AKA! For someone whose diet consists of a decent amount of salads and protein shakes, all that fat and calories make me cringe. Christmas cookies, holiday baked goods, parties, dinners, eggnog with Baileys, alcohol, etc. High calorie foods will pack on the pounds and make you tired. Decreasing your productivity when you can fit in the time to write.

Short on time? Try a quick protein or veggie smoothie for breakfast and/or lunch and drink lots and lots of water to keep you hydrated.

Try these in a blender or Bullet: Veggie shake: kale, spinach, piece of apple, pineapple, avocado or banana, lemon, ginger, cinnamon and coconut water and ice. 

Protein shake: A scoop of your favorite protein powder (Shakeology, PGX, or something with Whey or hemp protein, no sugar), a handful of frozen or fresh mixed berries, unsweetened almond milk, unsweetened coconut milk, cold water and ice.

8.           Watch a holiday movie. Aka relax and get enough rest. Holiday movies are a great time to relax and spend time with loved ones. It’s a good way to de-stress and enjoy the season. It’s over so quickly and you’ll be back to your ‘normal’ routine. Some of my favorites: Love Actually, White Christmas and any of the Christmas Carole movies. What are your favorites?

 

Christmas lights at our house

HOLIDAY CONTEST

Holiday traditions: Please share a holiday tradition here or one of your favorite movies. I’ll pick a random name from the list and they can select a choice of (Red Tape, Burned Deep or Nightlord Lover) Want to keep up to day news and contests? Sign up for my newsletter.

My Christmas tradition: Eve of Christmas Eve dinner with my husband. Since I started dating my husband fifteen years ago we began this tradition. With the demands of the holidays, family, work, shopping, etc., I wanted some time for us to enjoy the holidays, just us two. I started a similar tradition when I lived in Florida. I was single for many years and decided I would treat myself to a nice dinner out on Christmas Eve since I didn’t have any family living close by. I invited anyone who was in the same situation, if they wanted to join me. Sometimes people don’t have a place to visit on the holidays and they don’t want to intrude on their friends’ families. Occasionally I would have friends join me, but many times I would get dressed up and go out alone. Since my husband has his family dinner on Christmas Eve, we have our special night out on the Eve of Christmas Eve. We pick a nice restaurant and get dressed up. A nice way to slow down and enjoy the season. Do you have a special tradition to share? Post a comment for a chance to win a book!

#Write2Success 8 NYT & USA Today Bestselling Authors talk #selfpubtips

WRITE TO  SUCCESS by Eight NY Times & USA Today bestselling authors Riley J. Ford, Geri Foster, Cathryn Fox, Lisa Hughey, A.C. James, Sarah Makela, and Caridad Pineiro share how to build a successsful writing career.

You'll
also hear directly from today's cover artists on what makes a book
cover eye-catching. Plus, an author's assistant shares her perspective
on hiring a virtual assistant.

Write to Success covers
all those frequently asked questions every new indie author wonders
about self-publishing and has strategies for the advanced
self-publisher.

Writing, editing, cover art, formatting, marketing, street teams, 

multi-author collaborations (boxed sets), and contracts can
make your head spin. But this book gives you all the tools to
professionally publish and market your book.

It also contains a directory that lists recommended books, blogs, editors, cover artists, formatting resources, and web sites.

• SPECIAL BONUS:Included
  in this e-book is the Indie Word email loop which lends support,
  accountability and encouragement as you take the plunge into
  self-publishing.

FACEBOOK PARTY LAUNCH TUESDAY DEC. 2ND WITH PRIZES AND MORE!! CHECK IT OUT!!! JOIN US!!

https://www.facebook.com/events/1022165337798335/

***Order your copy of Write to Success while the price is at $.99, it's introductory rate:

Kindle: http://amzn.to/1vY7iHs 

Kindle UK: http://amzn.to/1v3CSBm

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1tpIj9h

BN: http://bit.ly/12fcrwF

How to Prevent Writing Career Disasters – 10 Steps

1.   Realize as an author you will make mistakes in your writing career. Ask any author and they may share their horror stories. If I knew then what I knew now... Many of us would have done things differently or made different choices. I think it was Napoleon Hill who said, “Why make mistakes if you aren’t going to learn anything by them.”

2.   Have a backup plan and remember Murphy’s Law. (Everything that can go wrong will probably turn to sh*t). Or something like that. You may have specific goals set for the next 5 years and maybe you’re right on schedule, but what happens if your editor leaves your publishing house, your contract isn’t renewed, your computer crashes and you thought you had backed up your WIP, you have a family emergency, etc., etc. Anything can easily derail your schedule and goals. Be ready to re-evaluate and make new plans.

3.   Write a business plan and make adjustments as needed. In the book, The Naked Truth About Self-Publishing by the Indie Voice authors, there is a really good example of a business plan for writers. I used this as a guideline. If you Google ‘Business Plan for Writers’, you’ll come up with a number of places for ideas too.

4.   Don’t put sales and marketing before product. In other words, don’t spend all your time and money marketing one or two books. Get the next book or series out. Create a good product base.

5.   Always strive to improve your craft and be a better writer. Every book should be better than the last.

6.   Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. That can mean different things. Writing only for one publisher these days can be risky. What happens if that publishers fails or doesn’t renew your contract? As an indie author, some prefer to put all their eBook eggs into Kindle Select and Kindle Unlimited, or a few of their books into this option. It might work well for a time, and it doesn’t hurt to try it. You’re only locked in for 90 days. But again, if the market changes during those 90 days, you’re locked in. That can be a long three months. It’s a business choice.

7.   Work in a collaborative group. The support from other writers with varying skills can be very advantageous to your career. Many authors (like me) are finding great success by being a part of these groups. I’ve learned many new things about the business, writing, technical, promotion and marketing and how to relate to fans. I’ve also participated in brainstorming sessions for developing story ideas, series and serials, box sets, and more. Colaborative groups are great for joint launch parties and promoting. Share techniques and editing knowledge, advice and more. www.sexyscribbles.com is our group.

8.   Stay positive, online and offline. It’s hard when challenges and bad times occur during those ‘down times’ in your career. Like when you just put up a brand new book and a day or twelve hours later you get a one star review. It’s tempting to get on a blog and spout off after reading an offensive post. Emotions run high when your hard work is threatened. Don’t do it. How do you want to be known as an author? Sometimes I've considered standing up and saying my piece in response to an emotional topic on a blog, or something that hit me personally, or I felt was wrong, but I usually don't. My choice. Authors have to decide for themselves whether or not to respond. It’s a good idea to give it time before responding, instead of a knee-jerk response which you may regret later.

9.   Leave time for fun with friends and family and relaxing time to read or get out to do your favorite activity.

10.        Don’t compare your career path to anyone else. If you look around you, you will always find another author who is climbing the bestseller lists and just started writing six months ago when you’ve been writing for 10, 15, 20 years. If you look again, you’ll find other writers who have never completed a manuscript and have been writing longer than you. Many of those ‘overnight successes’ have taken 3, 5, or 15 or more years of long, hard and heartbreaking work. Set your own goals, run your own race, follow your own path. Sure look to see what the successful authors are doing and LEARN from them. Every author's path is unique.

If you need a few inspirational quotes to remind you to keep positive:

New writing book just released with helpful tips for self-published authors or those wishing to enter the self-publishing world.
WRITE TO  SUCCESS by Eight NY Times & USA Today bestselling authors: Riley J. Ford, Geri Foster, Cathryn Fox, Lisa Hughey, A.C. James, Sarah Makela, and Caridad Pineiro.

Kindle: http://amzn.to/1vY7iHs

Kindle UK: http://amzn.to/1v3CSBm

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1tpIj9h

BN: http://bit.ly/12fcrwF

10 Sexy, Scandalous, or Strange Things I Learned While Writing Red Tape

Are you a fan of the TV shows Scandal or House of Cards? You might like my new book RED TAPE, an erotic romantic suspense/political thriller with some BDSM.

Even fiction requires a certain amount of research. RED TAPE required a variety of research. One Goodreads reader said this book was, “suspense with National Treasure (the movie) bits and BDSM elements.”  For this book I dug information on the Freemasons, Washington DC, CIA, White House, merchant marine, Coast Guard, and many other things.

1.     I learned there were 14 American presidents who had been Freemasons, including George Washington, Franklin Roosevelt and Gerald Ford.
2.     I  learned there’s a website that you can use to locate the position of any ship at any place in the world and what port it’s heading. (Except military ships for obvious reasons) http://www.aislive.com/ and https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ 
3.     I learned how Navy ships and aircraft carriers fill up with fuel in the middle of the ocean. I talked to a merchant marine who said he worked aboard a ship that could be called a floating gas station. 
4.       Even though I was once a dive master and once rescued a struggling diver, I had to research how to rescue someone at sea.
5.            The number of women spies throughout history might surprise you. I’ve posted early articles are on this topic. Part 1 and Part 2 
6.     I was surprised how many sex scandals—real ones—there have been in Washington DC and how the press will blow someone’s sex life out of proportion in the news to gain headlines, while thousands are dying in a war or a natural disaster.
7.       Conspiracy theorists are everywhere—pretty scary to think what people think and believe. They’re all over the internet. 
8.            I looked up floor plans of the White House and the West Wing to write this story. Now I wonder if by searching the internet for this info. if I’m on someone’s watch list for Homeland Security. I’ve been told that’s all Hollywood.
9.       Although I have these floor plans, I added in my own rooms and secret passages—artistic license.
10.            I watched the TV shows West Wing, Scandal and House of Cards, so compared to those shows, RED TAPE isn’t that far out. I'm almost finished with Book 2 and those who've read Book 1 might be in for a surprise. I'm learning about remote viewing for book 3. That takes peeping toms to a whole new level. When no doors or locks can hide national secrets, what are the consequences?

 

Kathy Kulig

www.kathykulig.com

RED TAPE, Book 1 FLC series

iBooks | Amazon | BN | Kobo |Smashwords | GooglePlay

50 Shades of Grey Double Box Set Party Today!

What to Read After FSOG, Vol. 7 and the new Vol. 8 set authors are having a Facebook party on Monday 23rd all day!! And sharing fun stuff including prizes!!!

Find us here:

https://www.facebook.com/events/1540856369465665/?ref=23&source=1&sid_create=3628496329

I'll be there in the evening around 9 pm and probably earlier. And giving away a couple eBooks.

If you haven't checked out the first book in my erotic BDSM suspense romance- RED TAPE, you can check it out here for $.99 and try out 10 other books!!!

I'm almost finished with Book 2 in my FLC series (First Lady's Club) a secret organization in the White House that uses sex scandal, coercion and blackmail to manipulate the bad guys, real bad guy whose power and evil nature is a threat to national security and/or the world. 

The title of book 2 is RED TAPE SCANDAL. I'll keep you posted with release dates and a special release offer I'll be announcing to my mailing list?

***Not a member of my mailing list? Want to subscribe?

http://eepurl.com/FC_nP I give away a $10 GC to one member each month and random giveaways too.

It's easy to unsubscribe at any time too. 

WHAT'S NEW???

BURNED DEEP 

Erotic dystopian, futuristic steampunk romance

When a devastating solar storm is predicted, Celia escapes her privileged life as a baron’s daughter in the underground city of Threshold to find her brother. Outside on a harsh, savage surface, she meets Ethan, a daring inventor, who offers to help her. Seized by their fierce attraction, Ethan and Celia are swept into a passionate liaison, but soon plunge into unexpected trouble. As the solar storm approaches, Celia discovers Threshold is targeted for takeover. And Ethan, the man who is stealing her heart, is at the center of the planned invasion. How can Ethan promise the woman he loves a future if he doesn’t know if there will be one at all?

Kindle US  http://amzn.to/1uMLJmq  

Kindle UK   http://amzn.to/1pLH2rH

Ellora’s Cave http://bit.ly/1wqB1WY  

Kobo http://bit.ly/1sVrXqR

BN http://bit.ly/1oyTW0N

ARe  http://bit.ly/1wHDxso

Looking for a Sexy Cowboy or Two? Historical Western Romance

Looking for a sexy cowboy? Welcome guest and author friend Jane Leopold Quinn, who has two hot historical western romances to share. Rugged men and courageous women find themselves in small California towns struggling for survival, fighting their erotic desires and craving true love. Check out these two hot ones. 

Jake and Ivy

(The Brothers Agee - Jake)

by Jane Leopold Quinn

BLURB

Ivy Westlake, thought to be a demure young lady, comes alive at her friend’s hacienda in Mexico when she discovers the Flamenco. Her wild side is unleashed in the sensuality of music and dancing. She will not allow her father to force her into a marriage of convenience back East, so she runs away with the dance troupe.

Jake Agee, cowboy, horse trader, loner, has carefully built a life with no commitments. That life explodes in his face when Ivy dances. He doesn’t know she’s run away until he spots her performing in a small California town. He battles his desire to have this woman against his well-honed sense of independence.

Jake and Ivy perform their own style of pas de deux throughout southern California until their passions ignite in a desert cave in the middle of a thunder storm. Jake fights his growing love as Ivy fights her craving for their erotic pursuits. Jake’s long lost brother suddenly and mysteriously surfaces. Will this appearance tear Jake and Ivy apart? Will it destroy their love?

Jake and Ivy available now at Amazon - http://amzn.com/B00OEFC9LK

and also available - a loosely based companion short:

Wooing the Librarian

a Historical Western Romance

by Jane Leopold Quinn

BLURB

After a spectacularly failed romance left her devastated, all Isis Garrett wants is to start her library in this California town. The last thing she wants is another man, not even the handsome preacher who offers his church for her books.

Pres MacKay is starting a new life as a preacher. He can’t hide his attraction to the sweetly rounded new librarian even as she pushes him away. Can he discover the way into her closed heart and prove to her he’s one of the good guys?

Pres isn’t about to give up on Isis, though. The question is can she forget the pain of the past and see a future with him?

Wooing the Librarian was previously published as Hot Under the Collar

Wooing the Librarian available now here - http://amzn.com/B00ONZSRPS

R-RATED EXCERPT FOR JAKE AND IVY -- Jake and Ivy have danced their own pas de deux throughout southern California, fighting their attraction, trying to keep their independence. Emotions are running high and a coming storm brings them together for the first time…

God, she's beautiful. A dark cloud of wavy hair surrounded her head, his fingers tingling to sift though the strands. A sharp crack of thunder interrupted his thoughts. He swiveled his head at the sound of a frightened whinny and assured himself his horse was all right. Turning back, he saw her blink and lick her lips. On edge himself, he never dropped his gaze but kept his hands at his sides. It was the last time he was aware of anything outside of the cave, outside the two of them.

She began unbuttoning her shirt. He watched avidly, controlling his greedy desire. Flicking a glance to her eyes, he found her staring at him, both uncertainty and a growing arousal in hers.

"Ivy sweetheart, don't be afraid," he murmured.

"I'm not," she responded, the hitch in her breathing belying her claim.

He didn't move, just watched her strip for him. When her blouse dropped to the ground, he wanted to demand more but held his tongue. Just let things play out. The ruffled chemise clung even more closely to her breasts, his balls tightening at the sight of her dark nipples through the thin white cloth.

She lowered one strap, then the other in unwitting sensuality and pushed the delicate material to her waist.

He panted, his mouth open and dry. Jesus. Breasts high and firm with puckered nipples fueled his unholiest desire to take them in his mouth.

AND A PG EXCERPT FOR WOOING THE LIBRARIAN -- Isis roams to a bench in the park to find some privacy from Pres and read a book - something librarians love to do almost more than anything else. She's joined by another young woman, someone who needs a friend and, of course, a book…

Each in her own thoughts, they sat without speaking for a minute. Finally, Isis asked, "You'd like to borrow a book?"

"Yes, if you'll lend to me."

"Of course, I will. The books are for anyone to read. What kind of stories do you like?"

Opal laughed outright then. "Believe it or not, I like to read romance stories. You wouldn't think I would, but they're pleasant enough to pass the daytime with."

Isis smiled and held up the book in her lap. "Have you ever read anything by Fanny Burney?"

"No, I've never heard of her."

"She was a British author from the last century and wrote about English society at that time."

"I like reading about the past. It kind of takes me away from my present life." She gave a little self-deprecating chuckle and blushed under the face paint.

"Here then, take this." Isis offered the book to Opal.

"But you're reading it. I don't want to take it from you."

"Please. I've read it before. Tell me later if you liked it. I have more by the same author."

"How will I return it to you?"

"Just come into the library any time you'd like. I'll be there."

"Someone might see me."

"And what's wrong with that?"

Opal scowled. "Some people might think me unfit."

Isis pressed her lips together. "Well, I don't, and it's my library. So there!"

Opal chuckled and said, "You're sweet. I hope you don't get any nasty remarks."

"I can handle anyone, don't you worry. Books are for everyone to enjoy. You'll come back and talk to me, won't you? We'll talk about the story." Isis smiled encouragingly.

Opal clutched the book as if it were precious and beamed back. "I will, and I'll take very good care of this."

Bio

Sensual fantasies were locked in my mind for years until a friend said, "Why don't you write them down?" Why not, indeed? One spiral notebook, a pen and the unleashing of my imagination later, and here I am with more than a dozen books published. The craft of writing erotic romance has become my passion and my niche in life. I love every part of the creative process — developing characters, designing the plot, even drawing the layout of physical spaces from my stories. My careers have been varied — third grade school teacher, bookkeeper, secretary — none of which gave me a bit of inspiration. But now I'm lucky enough to write romance full time — the best job in the universe!

Jane's Books

Ellora's Cave

Lost and Found

Indie

Valentine's Day

His Hers & His

The Keeper

Soldier, Come Home

Winning Violetta

A Promise at Dawn

Jake and Ivy

Wooing the Librarian

Home to Stay (coming soon)

The Long Road to You (coming soon)

Siren

Undercover Lover

Mercenary Desires

I'll Be Your Last

Jane Leopold Quinn

My Romance:  Love With a Scorching Sensuality

http://janeleopoldquinn.BlogSpot.com  +  https://twitter.com/jelquinnauthor

Amazon Author Page

Witch Hunter, A New Erotic Paranormal Romance by Shari Nichols

WITCH HUNTER by Shari Nichols

I met Shari at the NJRW conference and we had a great chat. She's a sweetheart. She's also a fellow lover of paranormal books! I'm sure you'll love her new book Witch Hunter. 

BLURB: Determined MBI (Magickal Bureau of investigations)agent Alex Denopoulos will stop at nothing to catch a killer, including recruit notorious felon, Willow McCray to work for the agency. The lines between duty and passion become blurred the more time he spends with the sultry witch. In the midst of the investigation, they succumb to the dark edges of desire, placing both their lives in danger. Alex will risk more than his badge to keep her alive.

Kick-ass witch Willow must use her powers for good if she wants to stay out of Hellios, a mage prison for those who have broken the Wiccan Rede of ‘Harm ye None.’ Willow never expects to fall so hard for Alex, a mortal with a penchant for justice and a deep seated hatred of witches. Though a future together seems impossible, she doesn’t want to let him go. Can she vanquish the evil surrounding them and give Alex her mind and body before she loses her heart and maybe her soul? 

EXCERPT: Willow took a sip of her margarita and glanced down at Alex’s big hands, tanned and sprinkled with a smattering of dark hair. Funny, she never found a man’s hands sexy. Suddenly her mind filled with images of Alex trailing those big, masculine hands over her body. She wondered if he fit the stereotype. Big hands, big…

“You never did answer my question. Are you considering taking me up on my offer?” The sound of his voice pulled her from a host of fantasies. Willow dug her nails into her palm to get her head back in the game. She shouldn’t be thinking about this man in such a raw, sexual way.

“Why not? My car’s parked in the back.”She probed through the nearby crowd to check if Alex came here with bodyguards. A virtual cacophony of conversations invaded her thoughts, but nothing about protection for Alex. Once she got him alone, she’d take her chances and pray she wouldn’t be outnumbered. “Then let’s get out of here. Unless of course I’ve got some competition.” He   motioned over her shoulder to the incubus whose head now lolled forward over the bar.

“I think you’re flying solo here.” She’d set her trap and let the consequences be damned. She rubbed her finger along the rim of the glass and licked off the salt.

She lifted the glass to her lips, savoring the tangy flavor of margarita mix along with the zing of tequila as it slid down her throat. Headrush. No surprise there, she couldn’t remember the last time she’d slept or eaten in the past forty-eight hours, existing on a combination of raw nerves and pure adrenaline.

“You missed a spot.” He ran his thumb along the seam of her lip. He put it to his mouth and licked. “Mmm, sweet.” Her plan didn’t involve foreplay…but damn he was hot. In another time and another place she would be seriously into this guy. Too bad I might have to kill him.

Alex eased Willow’s hair from her ponytail and let it fall in a heavy wave around her shoulders. He ran his fingers through the layers until she sighed. “God, you’re beautiful. I’ve thought so from the first moment I saw you strut across the room.”

There’d been a moment back in the library when she caught him gazing at her with the same raw heat and hunger in his eyes that was present now. Alex had way too much power over her. She refused to give him any more. “You have an unfair advantage here.”

He caressed her cheek, and then pressed an open mouthed kiss to her neck, making her shiver. “So let’s level the playing field. Take advantage of me all you want.”

“I’m not stupid, Alex. You’re every woman’s fantasy come to life.” She put up her hand and pressed it against the hard wall of his chest, secretly loving the way his muscles jumped beneath her fingertips. Female pride surged inside her at the effect she was having on him. She gasped as his tongue slid over the shell of her ear. “Ellen was practically drooling all over herself staring at you.” Not that she could blame her. You’d have to be dead not to notice a male as hot as Alex. “Watch your back. She’s a man-eater.”

“Don’t worry. She’s not my type,” he murmured and sucked on her neck.

“Yeah, well that never stopped her before.” She bit down on her lip to keep from moaning.

He pulled away from her to gaze into her eyes and his expression was full of mischief. “Maybe you haven’t noticed, but there’s someone else I have my eye on.” He ran his thumb over the pulse beating wildly at her throat. “You seem aroused and angry and I find it sexy as hell. I know a great way to ease the tension.”

“Is sex all you think about?” She smacked him lightly on the shoulder.

Alex caught her hand and brought her fingers to his lips, then flashed a wicked smile. “Do you really want me answer truthfully?”

BUY: Ellora's Cave 

Bio:
Shari Nichols grew up in a small town in Connecticut where haunted houses, ghosts and Ouija boards were common place, spurring her fascination with all things paranormal. Ever since she read her first Barbara Cartland novel, her life-long dream has been to write sexy, romantic stories. Shari has been married to her own alpha hero for twenty-two years. When she’s not writing, she’s reading, going to the gym, or hanging out with family and friends.
She lives in New Jersey with her husband, two teenagers, and her adoring golden retriever. Shari graduated from Rider University with a degree in Business Administration. After spending several years in the grind of Corporate America, she quit to stay at home with her kids. Now she’s thrilled to spend her days in sweats, eating chocolate while pounding on her keyboard to create her next novel. 

Her first book, Witch Hunter has been contracted with Ellora’s Cave Publishing. Her next book, another steamy, romance, will venture into the world of ghosts and haunted inns. Shari is a member of Romance Writers of America, New Jersey Romance Writers, Liberty States Fiction Writers and Fantasy, Futuristic, and Paranormal Romance Writers.

Find more about Shari: 

http://sharinichols.com/

http://sharinichols.blogspot.com/