Showing posts with label breathless press. Show all posts
Showing posts with label breathless press. Show all posts

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Guest Bloggers - Breathless Press Romance Tour

Today I welcome the authors of Breathless Press' Romance Tour, who are going to tell you about their new releases. Full Moon Dreaming is but one stop on the tour. Breathless Press will be awarding a $20 Breathless Press GC to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour, so comment often! Go here to learn about other tour dates. While they're here, I'll be visiting a couple of other blogs and having giveaways, so stop by and say hello:  Desire and Craving, and Shira Anthony's blog.



Breathless Press Releases – Romance/Erotic Romance #1

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

About Breathless Press:



Breathless Press is an e-book publisher specializing in Romance and Erotic(a) stories.

Our mission statement is simple: To provide the opportunity for readers to connect with romance authors through the purchasing of quality e-books at a low price.

Starting in the summer of 2009, Breathless Press came into existence. Since then, we have been producing top end romance and erotic stories for valued readers to enjoy.

Our Goal?

Breathless Press is an electronic publisher of paranormal, erotic, and mainstream romance, releasing one to three e-books a week in a variety of downloadable formats. It is Breathless Press' mission to provide readers with quality romance books in electronic formats and to raise the standard in e-publishing.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Oh Christmas Tree by SJ Thomas
Buy Link

Blurb
A Christmas curse trapped him and a Christmas wish released him, but will the passion that is ignited be strong enough to keep them together? Cursed by the Spirit of Christmas, Scottish tree spirit Ghille Dhu has been bound in his spirit form to the Christmas tree for over a hundred and fifty years. He can only be freed by a woman with a true belief in Christmas.

Escaping the hurt of a recent breakup, Amanda Pearce has come to Scotland for the holidays and she is stunned when her idle wish for someone to share Christmas with conjures a fierce, wild looking male from her Christmas tree.

Having been trapped for so long Ghille Dhu is gripped by an overwhelming lust and desire for the woman who has freed him; a lust and desire that Amanda returns. She wants this otherworldly male and, when his dominant side is revealed, Amanda is surprised by her ready submission.

As Christmas approaches, Amanda submits to Ghille Dhu's wild desires and firm control in ways she never has before, but will she give enough of herself to break the curse forever?


Excerpt
What would it be like to decorate the tree with a lover? To have someone's warm arms wrapped around her as they placed each decoration on the tree. To playfully argue about where to put the little white doves or the wooden rocking horse. To be distracted by hot, sweet kisses.

As the fantasy played out in her mind, Amanda's fingers stroked one of the branches, the needles surprisingly soft as long as you went away from the trunk. What she wouldn't give to have a man who really believed in Christmas, who knew what made it important and why it should be celebrated. Oh if only there was such a thing as the Spirit of Christmas and it granted wishes.

Suddenly the tree came to life beneath her hands, its limbs shaking violently, knocking loose the lights she'd placed on it. With a scream Amanda leaped back, and spinning round she grabbed for her phone, her fingers scrolling for Tony's number. When she glanced back at the tree the phone fell forgotten to the floor.

In the middle of the room, in front of the tree, stood a man. A wild, fierce looking man dressed in a strange hooded cloak and loincloth, both of which looked like they were made from moss and leaves. Beneath the hood she saw sharp elfin features, coal black hair plaited into beaded braids, and piercing, otherworldly green eyes. He was almost as tall as the Christmas tree, and because of how little he was wearing, she got an eyeful of his sinful body. Every inch of him was ripped, with ropes of sinewy lick-able muscles lacing his chest and stomach. At the back of her mind alarm bells were ringing, but Amanda couldn't take her eyes off him, couldn't make her body do anything other than ready itself for him.

His head jerked left then right, his wild gaze flitting frantically around the room, before settling on her, and the heat and hunger Amanda saw there sparked a hunger of her own. In that instant who and what he was didn't matter. She only knew she wanted him.

With a graceful movement he stalked toward her, his cloak disappearing as he moved. She knew she should run but rather than backing away she actually stepped closer. His eyes widened and nostrils flared, that animalistic response making her breath catch. Her body throbbed with sensation and she could feel the wetness between her thighs already; he hadn't even touched her and she was so ready.

Stopping only inches from her, his gaze roamed over her face before dipping down to her cleavage, a deep growl emanating from his chest. The sound made the hairs on her arms stand on end, set her heart thundering, but Amanda could not draw herself away from the mesmerizing male who now stood right in front of her. This close he was stunning, his elfin features utterly flawless, yet still so very masculine. Unconsciously her body shifted forward, her hands clenched into fists as she willed for him to touch her.

The next instance she got what she wanted as he jerked her to him, one hand tangling in her hair, the other circling her to press against her back. Amanda melded herself against him, clinging to his broad shoulders to pull him closer, and their lips and tongues met in a fierce and wild battle. He tasted like rich wine with a hint of spice, utterly delicious, and he smelled amazing; like fresh air and mountain streams and pine trees. Sharp and fresh and exhilarating.

Her body seemed to come to life in his arms and she began to explore him, running her seeking fingers over the hard planes of his chest and back, each touch sending sparks of electricity through her. She was so aroused and she could feel his response in the firm grip of his hands, his hungry kiss, and the hardness of his cock as it pressed against her belly. Amanda knew where this was going and had no doubts it was what she wanted, when unexpectedly he pulled back, holding her at arms' length, leaving her gasping from the intensity of their encounter.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Forbidden Angel by Megan D. Martin

Buy Link

Blurb
When captured by the Nazis, Sarah finds herself in a concentration camp that not only brings her closer to death...but closer to love.

Sarah Brenner, a young Jewish woman, is terrified when she finds herself in the heat of a railcar bound for a work camp in Nazi Germany. For years she, along with her mother and sister, had hidden from the SS, but no one could hide forever. Her hatred for those who have enslaved them is ever-growing, especially when they arrive and she encounters the shockingly handsome Nazi doctor who can't seem to keep his eyes—or hands—off her.

Aurel Rothstein is not your everyday concentration camp physician. The endless prisoners and lack of care he's allowed to give have made him numb to the work he so coveted. It isn't until he comes face to face with a beautiful prisoner that his heart becomes involved with his job—a forbidden and fatal move to any Nazi.

When a vile soldier takes direct interest in Sarah, she will be forced to make a choice that will change her life forever: ignore the pull toward the handsome doctor or give in to the forbidden passion he awakens with only a look. Either way they both risk everything...
Excerpt

The doctor was kissing her. She was kissing him back. Sarah had been afraid when he'd carried her to his office. The word "experimentation" terrified her, but he did nothing of the sort. He'd actually fed her and given her some water. He even made her something to take back to her family. He was being so kind, and when his gaze smoldered and he said something about inspecting her body, she'd easily melted for him.

There was something wrong with her. She shouldn't be feeling this way, but the moment his rough hands caressed her achy back, she was lost to her nerve endings. Never before had she felt such desire from the mere brush of fingertips against her skin. The pain in her back immediately ceased, and all she could feel was pleasure.

His kiss was soft and tentative at first, as if he was afraid he'd scare her away, but she kissed him back and reveled in the groan of defeat he gave. He ran his hands deliciously over her hardened nipples, teasing them, tracing where his mouth had kissed just moments before.

He's a bad person, her mind kept trying to tell her, but she ignored the warning. Something about this man just felt so right.

"What's your name, angel?" he asked as he broke away from her lips. Did he just call her angel? She pondered this pet name for a moment before he leaned in and nipped her neck.

"Mmm, I'm no angel." She truly wasn't. She was selfish just like any other person.

"Yes, you are, angel. Your name?"

"Sarah," she murmured as he traced his tongue along her sensitive collarbone. Never in her life had anything felt this good. She'd been with one man before they stopped going into public. She didn't dislike the sexual acts she explored with him, but they felt like nothing compared to this.

"If I am an angel, then so are you." Sarah temporarily forgot his actions outside of this room, the other things he did. Only an angel could bring forth sensations this exquisite.

"No, that I am not." His voice rumbled like a hurricane.

"Okay, a dark angel then, but still an angel."


~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For the Love of Mutt by Doris O'Connor
Buy Link

Blurb
A homeless shelter at Christmas may seem an odd place to find one's soul mate, but love knows no boundaries—or does it?

Anja has grown fond of the wolf-like dog hanging around the shelter. With her soon to be ex -boyfriend putting pressure on her, her canine friend proves to be more reliable than any human could ever be. If only he were more than just a dog.

Helping others is not always easy to do, unless Ethan can do so undercover. However, hiding your true self brings problems of its own. Finding a mate had not been in Ethan's plan of action, but Anja's easy acceptance of Mutt breaks through all of his defenses.

The problem is he is not what he seems, and will his deception by proxy prove the end of them before they even have a chance at love?

Excerpt
"Shower, you say?"

Anja released the breath she'd been holding and nodded.

"I guess that would be a good idea."

"You think? What did you do? Roll in dung?" She slammed her hand on her mouth in horror at her insensitivity, but he just laughed, and murmured something she couldn't quite catch.

"Is everything all right, my dear?" Mary asked.

"Yes, fine. I was about to show him where the showers are. So if you follow me..."

She weaved her way through the throng of people, out into the corridor, and up the steep stairs leading up to the second floor. She didn't need to look over her shoulder to know that he was following her, so aware was she of his presence. The wooden stairs creaked under her feet, yet he didn't make a sound despite his much heavier frame, his footfalls as light and graceful as a predator's. She stopped at the top of the stairs and watched his silent approach. Again she was struck by the contradiction between his appearance and his commanding presence. A presence that had her leaning towards him, even as her nose protested at the noxious fumes coming off his clothing.

She stepped to the side as he came close and gestured toward the door to the shower units. "Showers are in there. I'll see whether I can find you something fresh to wear. Mary just had a new batch of donated clothes in."

She risked a peek at his face and promptly wished she hadn't. The quiet intensity with which he was studying her did strange things to her equilibrium. She leaned against the wall for some support and breathed a sigh of relief when he smiled, turned, and walked through the open door towards the showers all lined up against the wall. He shrugged out of his jacket as he went and even though she knew he would see her staring if he turned around, she couldn't quite get her feet to move. He discarded the jacket on the floor and toed out of the sorry excuse for shoes he was wearing. The muscles in his back bunched and moved as he made short work of his trousers and Anja barely suppressed a gasp. He wasn't wearing any underwear and he had the most perfect male ass she'd ever had the good fortune to ogle. And Anja was no stranger to ogling. The internet was a wonderful thing, after all.

He was surprisingly clean under the clothes. She heard him whistle as he turned the water on and stepped under the stream. Rivulets of dirt created an intricate pattern on his broad back as the filth washed out of his hair and ran down his torso, over the slim hips, trim ass, and powerful thighs, then down toward the tiled flooring of the wet room. He reached for one of the shower gels stacked along the wall and proceeded to lather up his hair. When he turned around Anja prepared herself to flee, but his eyes were closed, and she stood frozen to the spot, unable to tear her gaze away as he soaped up his body. She followed the movement of his hands with her eyes, and bit her lip when he reached his cock. Thick and long, it hung semi-erect between his legs and hardened under his ministrations.

Groaning, he cupped his shaft. He spread his legs and started pumping in earnest, putting one hand against the wall for support. Faster and faster that hand moved and Anja rubbed her thighs together at the answering ache in her pussy. Who'd have thought that watching a man jack himself off would be such a turn-on? His face contorted as though in pain, his balls drew up, and his thighs shook, until finally with a roar of completion he shot his load into the streaming water and sagged back against the wall.

And still, she couldn't bring herself to move. Now that he was washed free of the grime, she could admire the powerful angles of his face. His shoulder-length hair stuck to his skin and his full lips, partially hidden by his goatee, opened in a fanged smile. A smile she had seen countless times in his other form.

The room spun and this time Anja couldn't hide her gasp when he opened his eyes and he stared straight at her. Mutt's golden eyes glowed and the man's growl traveled across the distance separating them, as he grabbed a towel and stalked toward her.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~

An Angel for the Tree by Shelli Rosewarne

Buy Link

Blurb
Daniel is a modern day Scrooge, but when a beautiful angel shows up on his doorstep can he believe in a Christmas miracle?

Daniel Everett is having a bad day. Firstly, it's almost Christmas and he's convinced Scrooge had the right idea in the first place. Secondly, his latest nanny has left him to cope alone with his five year old daughter—and quite frankly he would rather deal with several cut-throat mergers before breakfast than one small child.

When the beautiful Laurel shows up on his doorstep she's a gift from heaven—literally! Unbeknown to him, Laurel is a real life angel and his carefully ordered life is about to be turned upside down. She's determined to help Daniel feel again and to reconnect with his daughter.

What neither of them bank on is the sparks that fly between them. As Laurel starts to thaw Daniel's icy exterior. Can he learn to trust again and start to believe in the impossible, and can they ever overcome the obstacles of coming from two separate worlds?

Excerpt

He was aimlessly roaming round the kitchen when the doorbell rang. Daniel froze. He wasn't expecting anyone, he never had business meetings at the house and he sure as hell didn't have personal visitors here. A frown crossed his face as he strode through the house, flung open the front door, and felt his breath hitch.

The woman standing there was stunning. Her hair was burnished gold, tumbling in thick curls. Her face had that rare kind of classical beauty, and her eyes were an unusual deep violet that almost looked like it couldn't be real. She was tiny and slender, but the belted coat she wore against the now heavy snow hinted at lush curves. She smiled at him, and a dimple peaked from her left cheek. Christ, she must be lost. Maybe a model. He'd dated some models in his time and while she didn't have the stick-thin figure that seemed to be in fashion at the moment, she put them all to shame.

"Daniel Everett?" Her voice was low, husky and Daniel was shocked to feel a surge of desire shoot through him.

'That's me," he replied, brisker then he'd intended, and the light in her eyes faded a little.

"I'm Laurel." She held out her hand and Daniel took it before thinking better of it.

The minute their palms touched he felt a jolt of electricity and jerked back as though she'd burnt him. He saw the brilliant eyes widen in shock and for a moment she looked uncertain, biting down on her lower lip, which only made his gaze attach to it more. He shook himself. Christ it must have been a while since he'd got laid if he was reacting like this to some random, albeit gorgeous, woman who showed up on his doorstep.

"So, what can I do for you?" He tried to make himself sound casual, but was well aware it didn't seem to be working.

She started slightly, as though she'd needed to collect herself, and those luminous eyes met his again. "I believe you need some help with your daughter."

Complete relief flooded through him, and he almost sagged from it. "You're from the agency? I thought they couldn't find anyone for at least three days? You know what, never mind, come in, please."

Daniel was almost giddy. Now he didn't need to try and negotiate the minefield that was his daughter—he could get back to work without distractions. As that thought crossed his mind he paused and eyed the new nanny. Was the cure going to be more of a distraction? He dismissed the thought. While he might know nothing about kids, he knew lots about women. The over-the-top reaction was just due to the stressful day and the fact he hadn't had a woman for a while. It would surely be simple enough to avoid her anyway. God knows he'd never had much to do with any of Rachel's nannies before.

"Come in," he repeated. "I'll introduce you to Rachel."



~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tree Change by Tea Cooper

Buy Link

Blurb
Forced to choose between the world she wants and the man she loves, Cassia opts for fame and fortune. But it's not enough—one taste and she's hooked again...

Despite her success in the Sydney art world, Cassia yearns for the idyllic life she once lead with Jake in their shack overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Seeking closure she falls, like an addict, straight back into his arms, and out again equally quickly. Not only has he taken up with his brother's wife, but it seems they have a child.

Truth is, Jake's living a lie, sworn to secrecy, and hamstrung by the debt he owes his estranged family. But one glimpse of Cassia and he knows he cannot live without her. Her fey, artistic character and magical body possess his imagination and his heart. Can he convince her to trust him long enough to save the crumbling remains of their relationship?

Excerpt

She dismissed his words with a wave of her hand, but her eyes betrayed her. He knew her too well. The burn of hurt behind their velvety depths had nothing to do with the here and now, but everything to do with what had gone before. His fault. Lyle's fault. No one's fault. Just circumstance.

"No, no, I'm not. I need answers, and I need them now. I can't go on like this. Either we are together or we are not. You have to make a choice: Madeleine or me. I can't be a convenience you can pick up and put down as the mood takes you."

"My feelings for you, Cass, are a million things, but convenient isn't one of them." He shook his head in sorrowful disbelief. How could she not recognize the bond they had?

"Madeleine?" Her raised eyebrows challenged him.

"Right now I can't explain what happened with Madeleine, but her safety is paramount."

Her body shuddered as if she were trying to lift a great weight. What was he doing to her? Madeleine, Madeleine, always Madeleine. "I can't do this again, Jake. I need to go home."

Jake slipped her cardigan over her frail shoulders and then stepped back to allow her to lead the way past the bar and up the narrow stairs to street level.

He unlocked the car door and held it open. Her skirt caught on the ribbons of her espadrille. As he leaned down to untangle them, she flinched. He closed the car door with exaggerated care and walked around to the driver's door and let himself in. He clicked his seat belt into its clasp before he twisted the key in the ignition. The engine sprang to life, and he pulled out into the darkened street.

"You have to trust me, Cass. I know it is difficult, but you just have to trust me and wait. Everything will be sorted out soon."

Her sigh filled the car. "Jake, I can't. How can I? I've tried and look where we've ended up. Me in Sydney, and you living with your brother's girlfriend."

"Wife," he corrected, regretting the word the moment it left his lips.



Monday, January 14, 2013

Guest Blogger - Breathless Press GLBT Tour

Today I welcome the authors of Breathless Press' GLBT Tour, who are going to tell you about their new releases. Full Moon Dreaming is but one stop on the tour. Breathless Press will be awarding a $20 Breathless Press GC to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour, so comment often! Go here to learn about other tour dates.



Breathless Press Releases – GLBT Romance

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

About Breathless Press:


Breathless Press is an e-book publisher specializing in Romance and Erotic(a) stories.

Our mission statement is simple: To provide the opportunity for readers to connect with romance authors through the purchasing of quality e-books at a low price.

Starting in the summer of 2009, Breathless Press came into existence. Since then, we have been producing top end romance and erotic stories for valued readers to enjoy.

Our Goal?

Breathless Press is an electronic publisher of paranormal, erotic, and mainstream romance, releasing one to three e-books a week in a variety of downloadable formats. It is Breathless Press' mission to provide readers with quality romance books in electronic formats and to raise the standard in e-publishing.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Donovan's Deal by Lee Brazil 



Blurb:

Making a family is harder than keeping house. Donovan's patience is wearing thin, but Mischa needs time to make things right. Will Christmas bring heartache or compromise?

Mischa Blake needs the relaxation of the Blake brothers' weekly poker games now more than ever as he feels the pressure of his responsibilities as a parent, partner, and student multiplying. When one of his siblings proposes reviving their game of Truth or Dare, Mischa revolts. Instead, they all agree to share a truth, and Mischa has to decide how much of his domestic situation to share with his family.

The frantic pace of life is overwhelming, and Mischa has begun to let things slide. With the holidays just around the corner, he figures his current situation is a temporary thing. When he misses one of his son's soccer game that Donovan left work early to attend, time runs out.
Upset by the hurt in their son's eyes, Donovan decides that something must be done. He's worried that he's pushed Mischa into doing things at the wrong time, pushed his dreams on his young lover, just pushed too hard for too much in general.

In a desperate attempt to get Mischa to think about what he wants instead of what Donovan wants, Donovan issues an ultimatum. He sends Mischa away with orders to think about his priorities.


Excerpt

"Where have you been, Mischa?"

It took a moment for the impact of the question to soak into his lust-dazed mind. But he got it. Furious, he pushed Donovan's hands off and stepped back. "What do you mean where have I been? Last time I checked, I was an adult capable of coming and going as I pleased."

"That's funny. Really. Because last time I checked you and I were partners, the next best thing to married, and the fathers of a disturbed child who needs structure, routine, and love."

Donovan's voice lost its reasonable tone and his anger was clear. Tough. Fury coursed through Mischa's veins. Was Donovan suggesting somehow that he was at fault? "I am still your partner, and Matt's father. But that doesn't mean I don't have other responsibilities and can just hang around here picking up after the two of you."

"Is that how you see us? Responsibilities? I guess that answers me pretty neatly, doesn't it?"
His jaw worked furiously. Fist clenched at his side, Mischa opened his mouth to speak.

"Just...stop. Whatever clever, rebellious retort you're about to make, hold on to it. Don't say something you can't unsay. Just, please, listen to me," Donovan interrupted him.

Mischa drew in a long, deep breath. Yeah, what he'd probably been about to say might have hurt someone's feelings...but what about his feelings? He nodded.

"I pushed you into too much, too quickly. The last three years should have been you enjoying college, us enjoying each other, and instead, I pushed you to adopt and be a parent. It was too much. But I could swear that you loved him as much as I did the moment we set eyes on Matt."
Heart aching, Mischa whispered, "I did." What the fuck was going on? Why did it sound like Donovan was breaking up with him?

"The thing is, Mischa. We're adults. We made all the choices and Matt got pulled along with us. Now, I understand how you could want to be free, to hang out with your friends, go to parties and..." He waved a hand. "Do whatever you want."

A warming flush spread over his face and Mischa lost all interest in sex. "What are you talking about?"

"You were supposed to be here to go to the soccer game with us. You said you were going to the library. You disappeared. Ran off with Dex and Trick without even bothering to tell us where you were going, because I'm damn sure you didn't take those two to the library with you! How do you suppose that made me feel? How do you think it made Matt feel?"

Biting his lip, Mischa stared at his lover. "I..."

"I'm an adult and I can handle it, Mischa. But Matt is a child and he's been hurt by enough people who are supposed to care for him. I can't let you keep hurting him like that."

"I love Matt. I'd never hurt him."

"Your not being here hurts him, Mischa." Donovan met his gaze steadily. "You need to take the weekend and think this through."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Teaching Teacher by Raven McAllan


Blurb
Finding love in a new town had not been in Seb's plans. But life has a tendency to throw you curveballs – like Ruari.


When the new head teacher walks into his bar, Ruari knows he has to have him, and damn the consequences. When lust turns to love, nothing else matters. Together they will overcome, no matter what. Or will circumstances drive them apart?


Excerpt

Ruari's head was spinning, his arms were stiff, his cock ached, and he wanted to be alone with Seb. It seemed like hours, but was probably no more than forty-five minutes, before he judged they could leave his bar staff to finish off. He swung behind the bar, grabbed a surprised Seb, and kissed him full on the lips. Cheers and catcalls sounded from the people around the bar.
"You." He finished off with a squeeze to Seb's ass, "are a fucking star. Definitely, a fucking star."
"Too much info, boss." Dave was smirking at him.

Oh fucking shit. He realized where he was. Bollocks and buggery and any other appropriate epithets. How the hell was he going to sort this monumental cock-up out? He chanced a look at Seb's expression, and sighed inwardly with relief. Seb was laughing.

"Feet. Mouth into?" Seb asked him.

He nodded. "As Ever. Okay we're finished here. Coffee?"

Seb nodded. Kizzy, who had walked up to them unnoticed made a face, and sniggered. "That is the most pathetic euphemism I've heard boss. Coffee. Hah!" She carried on past them, still sniggering.

"Gotcha there, Boss." Dave patted him on the back. "Take yourself off for er coffee. Don't forget the Swiss roll with it."

"Hells bells." Ruari almost pushed Seb through the door and into the stairwell of his flat. "Are you sure you still want to take a chance on me. I shouldn't be let out without a keeper. And my lips sealed."

Seb pulled him tightly towards his body. Cock found cock and reacted in the best possible way. "Oh, you're not reneging now, boss man." Seb moved so his cock surged upwards. "All that is so easily arranged."

"Huh?" He was so caught up in the sensations of Seb hard against him, he'd lost the thread of the conversation.

"Lips sealed and a keeper. I'll be happy to be in charge of all that. Soon." Seb said.
"Okay, so, first we have coffee?"

Seb smiled and squeezed Ruari's arm. "Coffee, where's your car?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Merry Christmas, Shelton by Dianne Hartsock


Blurb
Can Shelton and Nevil overcome the obstacles of a blizzard, a baby, and one hot redhead and find their way to a merry Christmas?

Shelton and Nevil have rented a cozy cabin in the mountains in which to spend the Christmas holiday. Tree is lit. Presents sparkle. Shelton anticipates a very merry Christmas indeed. But then a blizzard springs up, landing a sexy redhead on their doorstep looking like trouble in a pretty package.

Tommy brings a message for Nevil, but when he first hits on Shelton in the shower, then offers to drive Nevil to his sister's side while she has her baby, Shelton begins to wonder just how this mixed up Christmas is going to end.
Excerpt

Shelton woke from a sound sleep, disoriented by a pounding on the door. He untangled from Nevil and sat up, heart racing. A glance at the clock showed it was barely three o'clock in the morning. What the hell? The pounding resumed and he scrambled to his feet, taking a second to slip on sweat pants before unlocking the door. The wind had died down and Shelton blinked at the snow piled up against the cabin walls. A slight figure huddled on the step, illuminated by the porch light, and without hesitation Shelton drew him into the warmth of the room, closing the door on the bitter night.

"What's happened?"

Shelton jumped a little at Nevil's voice and blinked as the light went on overhead. There was a gasp from the bundle under his hand and he searched the pale face the young man raised. The pretty blue eyes weren't looking at him and he followed his gaze to where his lover stood in all his naked splendor. Nevil scowled at their interest and pulled on the cotton pajama bottoms he'd picked up.

Shelton gave the boy a slight shake, knocking snow off his jacket and cap. "God, you're soaked through! You need to get out of those clothes. Nevil, can you stir up the fire?"

"Of course."

As if knowing his danger, the young man stripped off his coat and sopping shirt while Shelton unlaced his boots and carefully slipped them off, leaving the socks for now. Ski pants and under armor were lowered and the young man leaned a hand on Shelton's shoulder as he stepped out of them. Shelton glanced up and found himself on eye level with a pair of dark boxers that did little to cover the treasures beneath. His gaze swept up a tight stomach and muscular chest and clashed with laughing eyes. Trouble!

He cleared his throat. "Come to the fire and I'll check for frostbite."

The young man followed him, lifting the cap off a shock of copper hair. He sat on the quilts and Nevil draped one over his shoulders while Shelton knelt beside him. "Hands first," he said and slid the wet gloves by careful inches off his hands. The skin felt cold and white, but the fingertips weren't blue. "Can you move them?"

He looked up when the young man didn't answer and met his puzzled gaze. "You're really concerned, aren't you?"

The man sounded slightly amused and Shelton felt the blush in his cheeks as he answered, "Yes. I saw a boy with frostbite last winter, in Colorado. It was...painful to witness. Let's check those toes."

He removed the damp socks with the same care as the gloves, and sighed in relief when the boy wiggled each toe. Nevil snorted from where he leaned against the mantle watching the proceedings. "Now that we know nothing is going to fall off, can you tell us what the hell you're doing here?"

"Tera Shaw left a message for you at the lodge." He smirked when Nevil straightened, tense. "I volunteered to bring it. She says she's fine, but that they're admitting her to the hospital in the morning. She'd like you to be there as soon as you can."

"I'll go immediately."

"No, sir. The snow's not too bad at the lodge, but worse up here. We'll have to wait for the snowplow to get your car out."

Nevil paced the room, cursing under his breath. Shelton heard the young man's breath quicken as he watched the lithe movements of the sleek body, and frowned. "What's your name?" he asked as a distraction. "Tommy."

Of course it was. A cute name for a pretty face and sexy, youthful body.Damn.

"Well, Tommy, thanks for risking your neck for us. Why don't you get some sleep here by the fire?" Shelton climbed stiffly to his feet and went to Nevil's side. "Come to bed, honey." Nevil grunted and Shelton slid an arm around his waist. "Try to sleep, at least a little. It's going to be a long day tomorrow."

Nevil relaxed against him. "You're right." He allowed Shelton to lead him to their room, and paused in the doorway to glance back at Tommy. "Thanks, man."

"My pleasure," Tommy said with a purr.

Shelton's lips thinned at the interest in the young man's gaze and tugged Nevil into the room, purposefully closing the door. He pushed his lover on the bed, cuddled up to him under the blankets, and held him close until they slept.



Sunday, August 7, 2011

Guest Blogger Carrie Pulkinen

Welcome if you will Breathless Press author Carrie Pulkinen, who is going to answer an age old question for us. No, not that one! Pull up a chair and sit for a spell, why don't you?  Take it away, Carrie!



Blog Post:

With the recent release of To Catch a Spirit, I've been asked the age-old question time and again. "Which came first?" No, not the chicken or the egg...  

The plot or the characters?

I suppose it's different for every author. Just like everyone has her own view on the chicken vs. egg dilemma. You have to have chickens to make eggs. And they use the eggs to procreate. So it must have been the chicken, right? But how can you have a chicken without first having an egg? My theory? The eggs created the chickens in order to create more eggs! ;)

The same is true with plot and characters. You can't have characters running around doing nothing. There has to be a plot. But, how do you determine which direction the plot will go, if you don't know your characters?

For me, the characters definitely come first. I don't know them inside and out immediately. But we have a vague understanding of each other in the beginning. I usually start with a scenario: a conversation between two people or an incident happening to one character. As I get further along, the characters begin revealing themselves to me. I learn more and more about them each time I sit down and write with them. 

Yes, I said with them. My characters become my friends. We have conversations, as weird as that may sound. I give them the situation, and they tell me how it will play out. Sometimes, I'll get several chapters into a story before a character reveals a vital bit of information about himself. My most recent release, To Catch a Spirit, is a perfect example. I was on chapter three or four before Logan let me on the little secret that he has Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. I remember, very vividly, sitting at my computer, writing a scene with him, and going, "Huh? I didn't know that!"

Of course, that opened up a whole slew of doors that we could go through. So Logan led me on the path of how he manages his disorder and how he eventually overcomes it. The story just wouldn't be the same if I'd had it all plotted out without really knowing my characters.

And once I know my players, the story writes itself. It's already there... wherever "there" is. All I do is uncover it and put pen to paper (or fingers to keys, as the case may be).

The really exciting part is that I've got tons of characters swimming in my mind, just waiting to tell me their stories!



Blurb – To Catch a Spirit:

Psychic Allison Dupuis has a soft spot for Logan Mitchell, even though she’s never met him. All it takes is one encounter for the millionaire’s true emotions to slip through Allison’s shields, and she is intrigued. He needs her help, but Allison soon discovers that the kind of help Logan needs is the kind she isn’t willing to give. Logan has a ghost, and Allison doesn’t work with spirits anymore.

But the ghost is the least of Logan’s problems. Born an empath, Logan is constantly barraged with human emotions. And while his talent has come in handy in the business world, it’s about to drive him insane. Literally. Logan has OCD, and his ability triggers unbearable attacks that have him counting and cleaning until he collapses from exhaustion.

Sex and money. That’s all anyone wants from him. Even worse, he’s plagued with recurring visions of his future wife’s death, so Logan has spent his entire life avoiding love. He’s given up hope of ever having a normal life, until he meets Allison. She’s everything he’s ever dreamed of, and now he has to decide if loving her is worth risking her life.

If she’ll even have him. Allison’s lost too much already – her mother to cancer, her father to suicide. But, Logan is so charming and so real, she can’t help but fall for him. Now she has to overcome her fear of commitment…and ghosts…or face spending the rest of her life alone.



Excerpt:

She sensed them as they drew closer to her—many different spirits, their energy buzzing on varying frequencies.

"One at a time, guys. Please." she said. But they didn’t listen. These were the spirits of the mentally ill, after all. Taking turns wasn’t their concern, and they all rushed her. She felt their presence closing in on her like an avalanche, and she was consumed. Every mental illness imaginable was thrown into her psyche as she tightened her grip on Gage’s hand and slumped down in her chair.

"Allison! Allison, are you okay?" Gage’s voice was a distant echo as she fought to hold on to herself. She was slipping. Sliding into the depths of despair and the spirits were pulling her down.

"It’s… No… There’s a light… You need to… You need to go to it." She tried to help the spirits cross over, but they wouldn’t listen. There were too many. Twenty at least, and they were so consumed by their own illnesses they thought of nothing else. Paranoia, depression, anxiety. Allison felt it all, and it was going to kill her. The pressure. So hard to breath. Her hands cradled her head as the migraine overtook her. Sharp, pounding pain had her crumpled on the floor as she drew her knees into her chest and rocked back and forth.

"Make it stop. Please, just make it stop." She was paralyzed. Frozen by the anguish of the tortured souls that forced themselves upon her. Hot tears streamed down her face and blood trickled from her nose. She gasped for air as she heard a faint voice call, "Get her out of here!"




Author Bio:

Carrie Pulkinen has always been fascinated with the paranormal. Of course, when you grow up next door to a cemetery, the dead (and the undead) are hard to ignore. Pair that with her passion for writing and her father’s insatiable love for monster movies, and you’ve got the perfect recipe for an exciting storyteller.
When she’s not writing stories of amazing sex with devilishly handsome men, Carrie likes to read, take pictures, and play with her kids. She also enjoys hearing from her readers, who can write to her at carrie.pulkinen@hotmail.com.



Carrie welcomes all comments, questions and suggestions!

Thanks for being here, Carrie, and for sharing with us! Best of luck with your new release! Y'all come back now, y'hear?

Until next time, take care!

♥ Julie