Archive | June 2016

Thursday’s Thoughts featuring author Seven Steps #scifiromance #interracialromance #girlsruntheworld #theslaveplanet #sevensteps #sfrb #ynfa

Jun30

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Welcome to a new monthly feature call Thursday’s Thoughts. On the last Thursday in the month, I will share the thoughts of a featured author in the form of answers to questions I posed to them.

June’s featured author is Seven Steps.

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How long have you been writing?

I’ve been writing practically my entire life. I was raised in a reading house. My parents encouraged me to read at a very young age. My father used to take me to Waldenbooks (now closed) and we’d sit for hours and read. Once I was old enough, around first grade or so, I started writing too.

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

I don’t think it was a single moment. It was a natural progression. I had a family friend start to give me book ideas. Not typical ones. Weird ones, like, write about fish. It seemed odd at the time, but it really spurred my imagination and encouraged me to grow. I guess they were my first writing prompts.

Who inspires you to write?

Life in general. My life can be stressful, with a full time job, a family, other responsibilities. I write as an outlet for the stress. Also, I can be shy and a bit socially awkward. I am definitely a better writer then a speaker. So, writing takes me out of my own comfort zone,and allows me to create strong women who always know what to say and who have a No Nonsense attitude. I hope to be more like them one day.

What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

I read. I adult. I love music and travel. I spend a lot of time with my family.

Who is Seven Steps? She is a working wife and mother and have been writing for as long as she can remember. She enjoys hanging out with her family, thrifting, and Disney vacations. There are a thousand stories in her head at any given time. Hopefully, some of them will make it out for you to enjoy.

Feel free to checkout her website and sign up for her mailing list at https://www.sevenstepsauthor.com

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Book Blurb: Love is the ultimate crime. On a planet where women are born to rule, Empress Nadira’s secret affair with her slave threatens to rip her family apart. When she joins the highest council in the land, her secret is revealed. Will Nadira go against everything she believes in to protect her family, or will she choose her heart and doom everyone she loves to death?

Empress Eva thinks she has it all: wealth, power and a mother who adores her. That is, until she meets Lex, a handsome alien imprisoned in a slave market. His red hair and crimson eyes intrigue her. His touch sets her on fire. When the beautiful alien captures her heart, Eva is forced to make a life changing decision: pursue the career of her dreams, or give it all up for the love of a slave?

Book Link: https://www.amazon.com/Slave-Planet-Sci-Fi-Interracial-Romance-ebook/dp/B01DWC4HZ6

 

Pre-Sale Caerwin & Marcellus #lizzieashworth #historicalromance

Jun29

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To celebrate the upcoming release of Caerwin & Marcellus, Lizzie Ashworth has put both books on sale during the pre-order period. The first book will be .99 until July 20th. The new one will be 2.99. (Both normally $3.99)

 

An ambitious Roman commander captures a fiery maid of Britannia and forces her to his will. A story of conquest and love set in the glory days of empire, their struggle to meet each other’s needs and expectations exposes the underbelly of Rome’s legal system, its dependence on slavery, and sexual secrets from Marcellus’ past. Can young Caerwin survive unexpected challenges to her womanhood?

 

Book 1

 

Caerwin and the Roman Dog
An Erotic Historical Romance Set in 47 AD Britannia
By Lizzie Ashworth

 

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Caerwin, a young Cornovii princess, watches from the rocky battlements of her tribe’s hillfort as Rome’s legions approach. Surely the valiant warriors of her tribe will fend off this swarm of foreign invaders. Disbelief slowly changes to horror as Romans overrun her home.

 

Captured and held in Roman camp, Caerwin faces Legate Marcellus Antistius who makes it clear she will submit to his demands. In spite of her resistance, he forces her pleasure. She begs to die.

 

Caught between his increasing infatuation with this Briton princess and the demands of his military command, Marcellus must come to terms with his past.
A fiery novel of domination and submission, this historical romance follows Caerwin as she refuses to accept her new reality. Life as she knew it is over. Forever. In its place stands a man she can never love.
Set in the year 47 AD as four legions of the Roman army invade Britannia and blaze a path of death and destruction, this novel portrays the plight of native Celts who must yield their lands and possessions to become vassals of Rome—or fight to the death.

 

 

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Book 2

 

Caerwin & Marculles

 

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Caerwin has lost her family, her home, and her freedom. Her one last hope? Escape. Across the River Severn and into the western hills, she finds familiar language, the sounds of a village stirring in the morning, dogs barking, the smell of lamb stew. While it lasts.
After two short months, he finds her again. Marcellus, the man who wants her heart. He and the Roman army march forward with swords flashing, butchering her countrymen and her only surviving friend Seisyll. Once again, she finds herself at his mercy.
Refusing to eat or even to wash the blood from her hands, Caerwin only wants to die. He won’t let her. Lash in hand, he forces her compliance.

 

But her life is destined for even greater change. At the end of his term as legion commander, Marcellus returns to Rome. He’s taking her with him even if she refuses to leave her beloved Britannia. A journey fraught with high seas, banditry, and the blighted company of a woman she despises brings Caerwin to the heart of the Roman Empire.

 

To the arms of a man she refuses to love.

 

A story of breathtaking scope, Caerwin & Marcellus takes the reader from the heart of Britannia and across Gaul to the thriving metropolis of Rome. Set in 50 AD, their struggle to come to terms with each other’s needs and expectations exposes the underbelly of Rome’s legal system, its dependence on slavery, and sexual secrets from Marcellus’ past. Can young Caerwin rise to the challenge of womanhood?

 

 

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Lizzie Ashworth has been through career, marriage, kids, and even ran her own cafe, but writing has always been her secret love. Hidden away on a remote woodland hilltop in the Arkansas Ozarks, she accepts advice from her hound dog Weezie and her black cat Esmeralda. She has authored seven novels and several short stories which explore the intimate nuances of human relationships.

 

Liz writes erotic romance because her mind just naturally runs to the gutter. Also, it’s way past time to celebrate women’s sexual freedom and the evolution of our culture to finally bring sex out of the closet. What she find most exciting about this minute in the history of literature is that through indie publishing, the author can directly connect with her readers.
She enjoys cooking, gardening, and vacations at the Pacific coast. Sunrise and sunset provide her favorite moments, the magical twilight between two worlds when anything seems possible. Most of all, she loves snuggling up with a good book.
Website and blog:  http://lizzieashworth.com/

 

 

Pinterest page (includes boards for all her books)  Check out my “Romans” board for more on Caerwin and the Roman Dog. https://www.pinterest.com/ashworthlizzie/romans/

 

 

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Marooned by Veronica Scott #scifiromance

Jun20

Star Cruise: Marooned: (A Sectors SF Romance) – Veronica Scott

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Synopsis

Simon (Red) and Meg work on a spaceship that takes wealthy people on intergalactic excursions. The plant Dantaralor is the next stop and should be a fairly standard excursion for the ship full of wealthy passengers.
The trip turns into a nightmare. The crew and passengers are left on the planet in an extremely hostile situation.

Opinion

I really loved this book. In the beginning, I thought I was going to be ambivalent towards the characters. Meg seemed to be too straitlaced for me, but then I realized she had to wear that attitude like armor. Red seemed like a cutie from the moment he was introduced.

Red already got points from being ex-military. All he did to get to know Meg just cemented to me that he was book boyfriend worthy.

I liked the way Meg and Red worked together to get out of danger. Meg was not a weak woman but was an equal. This was not your damsel-in-distress-waiting-for-her-knight type of book. They were a team.

The romance was quick but considering that they did not know if they would be alive the next day, I granted them leeway.

Should you buy? Yes! This book has nail biting action and suspense that will make you release the breath you did not know were holding when it’s all said and done. This was the first book that I read by Veronica Scott. It will not be the last. I enjoyed it thoroughly!

Book Details

File Size: 1977 KB
Print Length: 140 pages
Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
Publisher: Jean D Walker
Publication Date: June 18, 2015

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Blog Tour- Sleepless Fate by Janae Keyes @JanaeKeyesWrite

Jun15
Title: Sleepless Fate
Author: Janae Keyes
Genre: Adult Romance
Release Date: May 29, 2016

Should a person have to put their life on hold for another. Another, they planned to spend the rest of their life with? Another who has been in a coma for the past two years?

Brielle Elliot has spent the past two years at the side of her comatose fiancé Keaton. Life is moving on around Brielle, but she has been dedicated to Keaton until Patrick comes into her life. It seems as if Fate has brought these two together, but others have their own idea of how their story should end.


LEAVING THE RESTAURANT, I was surely inebriated after all of the very expensive wine we had over dinner. No matter how drunk I was, I could say that this was the best I’d felt in a long time. I strolled along with Patrick by my side. The two of us walked on a bridge that crossed the river. Patrick at once stopped walking and I turned to him.
“What’s up?” I asked as he walked to the railing and looked down at the water.
“It is all so amazing you know,” He continued to look at the water as he spoke. “It is so amazing how you can be so dedicated to a man who may never wake up,”
“He would do the same for me,” I insisted just hoping it would be true. Inside I felt like it could be. I felt as if the tables were turned that Keaton would wait for me.
“Are you absolutely certain of that fact?” Patrick questioned, finally no longer looking at the water, but looking at me directly in the eyes.
“Yes… no… I just know that he and I love each other. I have hope that he would wait for me,” I admitted my uncertainty out loud.
Patrick chuckled. “Has anyone ever told you that you are bat-shit crazy?”
“Plenty of times,” I answered with a straight face. I knew April told me at least once a week and she insisted that I try and move on with my life.
“Brielle…” he breathed my name out. “You are one of a kind and I’m trying here. I am trying to just be your friend, but damn it… I’m hooked on you. Tell me I’m crazy,”
“You are crazy,”
“I’m crazy about you. That is for sure,”
“Patrick, I..,”
“I need to know if this could be real. If the feelings, I am having are justified. Kiss me and tell me you don’t feel a thing. If you don’t I’ll leave you alone,” He was now giving me some sort of ultimatum.
“I’m not doing that,” I shook my head fiercely. “I’m not–,” I didn’t get a chance to finish as Patrick’s lips were pressed roughly against mine. I could honestly say I’d never felt anything like this kiss before. My heart was pounding and every nerve-ending in my body felt so alive and filled with raw electricity. I craved more of what he could give me. I threw my arms around his neck and his hands gripped tightly at my waist. His tongue slipped between my lips and I allowed it in. I needed all he could give me and I was going to take it all in.
Drip Drop, Drip, Drop… it started to rain. We ignored the drops of wetness that were falling faster and harder with each passing moment. We were too caught up in one another. He nibbled at my bottom lip, eliciting a moan from deep inside of my throat. No kiss had ever made me react this way. There was no doubt that my panties were wet and not from the rain. Patrick at once broke the kiss and took me by the hand. I loved the way his hand seemed to cradle mine.
“Come on,” He said giving me a smile.
We ran together through the rain, right back to the hotel. Though we were both soaking wet, we were on fire for one another. I watched Patrick fight to get the room key from his pocket. He unlocked the door and allowed me inside. He nearly kicked the door closed before he grabbed me by the hips and pulled me back to him.
We kissed fiercely as he worked to shimmy me from my soaking wet dress. I worked my fingers along the buttons of his shirt and undid them all before I grabbed at his belt fighting to get it unbuckled.
I stepped back from him for a moment and there I could finally see him. His abs were sculpted and toned up to his chest. My breath caught as I took in the sight before me. He grinned as he dropped his pants and stepped out of them. It took no time before he was pulling me towards him. His hands slipped along my curves, taking them all in.
I wondered if this night would be like any of my dreams. The dreams that had been haunting me, but also enticing me for weeks now. With every dream I had I wanted him more and now I finally had him.
The only things left covering my body were my bra and panties. Patrick lay me down on the couch and came over me. I wrapped a leg around him and felt his arousal pressing against me. He was craving me as much as I was craving him. His lips were on mine once again and a growl erupted from his throat. I smiled against his lips running my hands up his toned chest. I opened my eyes determined to look into his eyes, but a distinctive sparkle caught my attention and I froze.
The sparkle was from my ring, my engagement ring. The token of love and devotion given to me by Keaton, but here I was about to give myself to another man. Dread, disgust, and hate spread through my body as I pushed away from Patrick. I scurried off to my dress and picked it up off the floor.
“Brielle, babe. What’s happened?” Patrick asked with confusion written all over his face.
“I’m f***ing engaged. That is what happened,” I asserted. I couldn’t believe that any of this had happened. I’d allowed it to happen and for that I was wrong.
Janae was born and raised in the California Bay Area. She grew up a very creative only child and has been writing for as long as she can remember. When Janae isn’t chasing around her active toddler she is working on ideas and working to improve her craft. Janae is currently living in a suburb of Brussels, Belgium with her husband and daughter.
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Try It Tuesday – #Travel Tuesday #destinationMexico

Jun14

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This Try It Tuesday, I am focusing on a destination!

Try It Tuesday is also Travel Tuesday!

This month’s focus is on an island off the coast of Cancun called Islas Mujeres (translation: Island of Women). It is very easy to get here and not as expensive as you might think.


We stayed in the Zona Hotelera district in Cancun at the Riu Palace Las Americas. We took the bus for 10.50 pesos (about 60 cents US). Then we paid 146 pesos at the Ultramar station for our roundtrip ferry tickets (about $8US). We also pre-paid for our golf cart 650 pesos (seated 5 people- about $35US).

TIP: In this case, it is good to have already converted Mexican money (pesos) to get the best exchange rate.

The ferry ride is about 20 minutes. We went to the top deck to get some sun during the ride. There was a guy that was singing for tips. I think we would have paid him not to sing. But I digress.

Once we arrived and got off the ferry, we walked to the golf cart rental place. It was about 2 blocks from the port. The rental process was easy. If we had rented a 4 person cart, the price would have been considerably lower.

TIP: If you want to see more than just the downtown area, rent a golf cart. Take some form of ID (I prefer showing driver’s license instead of passport just in case it gets lost) because they keep it until you return the cart.

 

We went to:

  • Turtle farm in Sac Bajo – looking at turtles is always fun for me. There is not much to this place. They charge a minimal amount for admission.
  • Punta Sur below the Mayan ruin – This is a great look out point. Also, it is a nice place to take pictures. Other than that, there are vendors selling their goods to tourists. Nothing new in the way of souvenirs.
  • Beach – we decided to get massages from a beach vendor. There is only a sheer curtain between you and the public masses on the beach. However, all your private bits are covered and not on display for the world to see. If you are with a group and more than one want a massage, haggle the price to get a good deal.

 

We did not go to any restaurants or bars while on the island. I did have some friends that did that when they went and the recommend going to one of the local bars (off the beaten path for best prices). Take pesos and make sure you do your mental math so you know how much you are spending. Many places don’t prefer to take credit cards, so cash is better.

 

Should you go? YES!!! If you want to do something different than staying on the mainland, it is worth a trip. It is a nice, entertaining day trip. I do recommend renting a golf cart for ease of getting around on the island. Plus they offer a little more safety than mopeds.