Wednesday, September 7, 2016

Wednesday Briefs: Moving Forward #51 (12.3)

Good morning and Happy Hump Day! If it's Wednesday, it must be time for more flash fiction from the Wednesday Briefers! We're a group of authors who bring you our finest flash fiction every week, from 500 to 1000 words, inspired by one of our prompts.

In Moving Forward, Marshall and Lee are enjoying the nude beach on St. John while on their gay cruise. The fun continues this week! Don't forget to see what the other Briefers are up to! Their links follow my tale! Enjoy!

Moving Forward #51 (12.3)


“I like the way you think,” Lee said as he rolled Marshall onto his back, so that they were face to face.

Marshall reached between them, taking Lee’s cock in his hand. He loved to touch Lee, loved the feel of him. He pumped him, his gaze meeting Lee’s. “I like the way you feel,” he growled in a low voice, “especially inside of me.”

Lee moaned at Marshall’s touch, thrusting into his hand for a few strokes before he moved Marshall’s hand. Marshall didn’t object, knowing what was coming. No pun intended.

Marshall drew his legs back against his chest, holding them in position, while Lee maneuvered his cock into place, poised at Marshall’s entrance.

“Don’t tease,” Marshall begged, “just do it. Now.”

Lee thrust in quickly, sheathing himself inside Marshall in one fluid motion. Marshall gasped in pleasure.

“Give me your legs,” Lee directed. Marshall obeyed without hesitation as Lee placed them on either shoulder, allowing himself to move more deeply into Marshall. Lee was a perfect fit.

Marshall could not have conceived of a more perfect backdrop to their lovemaking than this beach. The weather was warm without being humid, a gentle breeze tickling their bare bodies as it blew across the beach. The tree above them provided just the right amount of shade so they wouldn’t burn. There was no one else nearby, so for these few minutes, they could pretend this was their own private paradise, and no one else existed.

Lee began to move, setting a steady rhythm between them. Marshall pushed his hips up to meet Lee’s thrusts. He wanted to draw out this moment for as long as he could, taking mental pictures he could thumb through at leisure.

After a few minutes, Lee released Marshall’s legs. “Get on your side, I want to change up the angle,” he said. Marshall moved onto his right side, and Lee repositioned himself, lifting Marshall’s leg and entering him. He kissed Marshall’s foot as he thrust inside him, over and over.

Marshall was so hard, his cock ached, but he knew better than to touch himself without permission. That was simply the nature of their relationship. They were equal partners, but Lee was the stronger, more dominant partner.

“Permission to touch?” Marshall asked in a breathy voice.

“Go ahead,” Lee consented, never breaking his rhythm.

Marshall wrapped his hand about his weeping shaft and began to pump. His body was already on fire from Lee, this only served to add fuel to the flames of his desire, and he knew he didn’t have long. His balls were already tightening against his body, in expectation of release. He tried to hold off the final moment for as long as he could, savoring the pleasure of Lee inside him. But he reached his boiling point and began to come into his hand, and over his chest.

Lee kept going, his thrusts becoming shorter and harder as he neared his own orgasm. Marshall knew the signs only too well. At the last moment, Lee swooped down and claimed Marshall’s lips, kissing him long and hard as he came inside him, filling him with his seed.

Afterward, he dropped down beside Marshall on the beach towel and wrapped an arm about him as he evened out his breathing. They lay together without speaking, breathing each other in, content to bask in the beauty of this place.

Finally, Lee got out the personal wipes he’d brought, and they cleaned up as well as they could, and dressed. Just because no one had passed them by and gotten an eyeful of flesh didn’t mean they still couldn’t. Besides, the others could return at any time.

“Want to go dancing tonight?” Lee asked. “Or maybe we can try again to get to the pool? What sounds good to you?”

“I wouldn’t mind trying the pool again. We can always go dancing afterward. Don’t the bars stay open pretty late?”

“I believe they do. We should probably wait until after dinner, though. When we get back to the ship, we can see if there’s anything interesting going on, and make our final plans then.”

“Sounds good to me,” Marshall said, snuggling against Lee’s chest. Damn, he smelled so good. He never got tired of the scent and feel of Lee, no matter how often they made love. Lee was his soul mate, of that he had no doubt.

He didn’t care what anyone else thought. As long as he had Lee, the rest of the world could go to hell.

to be continued

Now go see what the other Briefers are up to!



Virtual Book Tour: Lyrical Press Contemporary Romance

Please welcome the authors of Lyrical Press today. They will be awarding copies of all 3 books to a randomly drawn commenter via Rafflecopter during the tour. The more you comment, the better your chances of winning.To find where the other stops on the tour are, go here.  Don't forget to look for the Rafflecopter at the end of this post!



A Moment of Bliss
by Heather McGovern

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GENRE: Contemporary Romance


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BLURB:

Nestled in the lush green mountains of North Carolina, the Honeywilde Inn will be a romantic’s dream getaway—if only the Bradley siblings can keep it running. It will take a combination of hard work, good luck, and the kind of love that dreams are made of…

Roark Bradley is no stranger to responsibility. Growing up, he practically raised his younger siblings while his parents threw themselves into working the inn—and arguing with each other. Determined to make the Honeywilde shine once more, Roark jumps at the chance to conduct business with a no-nonsense event planner who approaches him about celebrity nuptials that could put the inn back on the map. If only it wasn’t so tempting to discuss some no-strings attached pleasure with her instead…

Madison Kline is done with weddings—at least personally. Her own youthful mistake is a well-guarded secret, and one she refuses to repeat. But as she and bold, broad-shouldered Roark work together to make a rock star couple’s wedding a reality, she finds herself wishing romance didn’t feel like a four-letter word. Can either of them surrender their hard-won independence and workaholic ways for something sweeter—and even more rewarding?...

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EXCERPT:



“Wright named them that. Says it’s because they’ll make your eyes roll back in pleasure. His words, not mine. And he calls the frosted ones Frosty Fixations.”

She rubbed at her mouth to hide her grin over the ridiculous names.

“He’s a fanatic, I’m telling you. But I can’t eat just one. Would you like to try a Pumpkin Pleasure Roll?”

Would she like to try one?

She barely managed not to laugh like a hyena. Hell yes, she would like to try a whole plate of them and then roll around in the crumbs, but she was not going to fall victim to the inn’s goodies yet. Not until she knew this deal wasn’t going to blow up in her face.

“No, thank you.”

“Seriously?”

She couldn’t believe it either. The self-restraint she was practicing right now would impress a nun.

Roark stepped aside. “Suit yourself then. Feel free to have a look around the kitchen. You’ll see the enormous vat of vanilla mixture over there. It’s been known to attack. Give it a wide berth.”

Madison turned away so he couldn’t see her smile. She was here to work; to broker a deal that meant she was capable of succeeding on her own. That deal meant practically taking over his inn for a weekend and pulling off the impossible in about three weeks. She was not here to smile and laugh with the good-looking inn owner.

The kitchen was clean but recently used and cluttered. Wright might be a messy chef, but he tidied up afterwards. The revamps Roark had mentioned showed in the new commercial oven and appliances.

Luckily, she was capable of doing a thorough yet speedy overview of everything. The longer she spent in this kitchen, the more tempted she was to stuff a cookie in her mouth.

A scenario ran through her mind. What was the likelihood she could scarf down one, possibly three, cookies without anyone noticing?

She finished checking out the kitchen and wound back around to the front, right in time to find Roark polishing off a Pumpkin Pleasure Roll.

His cheeks full, he dipped his chin, color rushing to his face. When he got done chewing, the strong line of his jaw was back in place, but his cheeks were still pink. Roark’s flush was a complete contradiction to his steady gaze and serious look. He wiped his fingers on a napkin and smoothed his shirt down, as though straightening a tie that wasn’t there.

“Busted.” He smiled, showing the tiniest hint of a dimple in his right cheek.

In that moment, Madison finally admitted the truth to herself. Between the cookies and the resort owner, Roark Bradley was the yummiest choice.



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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Heather McGovern writes contemporary romance in swoony, southern settings. While her love of travel and adventure takes her far, there is no place quite like home. She lives in South Carolina with her husband and son, and a collection of Legos that's threatening to take over the house. When she isn't writing, she's working out, or binging on books and Netflix.
She is a member of Romance Writers of America, as well as Carolina Romance Writers, and she's represented by Nicole Resciniti of The Seymour Agency.
Connect with Heather on her website, Facebook, Twitter, or her group blog. She'd love to hear to from you!

Buy the book:




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Tuesday, September 6, 2016

Virtual Book Tour: Lyrical Press Historical Romances

Please welcome the authors of Lyrical Press today.They will be awarding digital copies of all the books featured to a randomly drawn winner during the tour via Rafflecopter. The more you comment, the better your chances of winning. To find the other stops on the tour, go here. Don't forget to look for the Rafflecopter at the end of this post.



Passionate Pursuit
by Tina Donahue

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GENRE: Historical Romance

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BLURB:


Is their passion strong enough to break her chains?

Andalucía Spain, 1489: Innocent Beatriz is desperate to escape the threat of a miserable marriage to a cruel Marquis. Forced into the betrothal by her ruthless merchant papá, her only hope is to conceal her identity and become a servant in a nearby castle—a life drastically different from her comfortable upbringing.

Tomás doesn’t know what to make of his well-spoken new servant girl. Her beauty and charm captivates the military hero; her mysterious nature intrigues him. And the desire she ignites burns brighter with each glance, as does his longing to claim her for his own.

Beatriz can’t resist Tomás’ passion nor deny the heat of her own. But neither the lush countryside nor the walls of the opulent Moorish castle can entirely protect her—and if he were to discover her secret, she could be torn away from him forever. Yet how can she sustain his love if she’s living a lie?



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EXCERPT:



A gentle breeze carried laughter and converse from the señoritas who surrounded Tomás, each vying for his attention. The one in dark green silk with a matching caul danced around trying to get closer to him. The one in red with a white flower in her hair elbowed past another girl. Those in gold and bright yellow were even less demure, pushing into each other, speaking loudly, far removed from how a lowly servant had to act.

Especially to please Nuncio.

How dare he make her solely responsible for a man’s carnal moves? Beatriz had no control over anyone’s passion except her own. Thus far, she’d failed miserably at quelling her desires.

Despite what Nuncio had said, she still ached to feel Tomás’s heat and strength, to have him imprison and possess her. No threat in the world would change her longing. However, she wasn’t foolish enough to act on her attraction. Poor man already had enough trouble.

His broad shoulders were slumped, mouth turned down. She wanted to make him smile. To have him stand as the noble lord he was, magnificent in his dark blue robe and doublet, his hose snug to his sinewy thighs and calves.

Several young women spoke to him at once. A señorita in a bright yellow gown touched his upper arm. The girl next to her, clad in vivid orange silk, touched his jaw.

Jealousy heated Beatriz’s face and throat.

Tomás drew back until the young woman groped air, not him. He faced the window, his gaze touching Beatriz, his dark brown eyes flooding with warmth, bronze complexion deepening.

Weak with desire, she leaned against the sill for support.

The señoritas gestured to him, talking endlessly, their words too garbled to understand.

Whatever they said, Tomás ignored them. He studied Beatriz’s eyes, then her lips and lingered there. She was smiling without realizing it. He answered with a broad grin and stepped closer.


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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Tina Donahue is an award-winning, bestselling novelist in erotic, paranormal, contemporary and historical romance for Kensington, Ellora’s Cave, Samhain Publishing, Siren Publishing, Booktrope, and indie. Booklist, Publisher’s Weekly, Romantic Times and numerous online sites have praised her work. Three of her erotic novels (Adored; Deep, Dark, Delicious; Lush Velvet Nights) were named finalists in the 2011 EPIC competition. Sensual Stranger, her erotic romance, was chosen Book of the Year 2010 (erotic category) at the French review site, Blue Moon reviews. The Golden Nib Award at Miz Love Loves Books was created specifically for her erotic romance Lush Velvet Nights. Deep, Dark, Delicious(erotic romance) received an Award of Merit in the RWA Holt Medallion competition. Take Me Away (erotic romance) captured second place in the NEC-RWA contest. And The Yearning (erotic paranormal) was honored with an Award of Merit in the RWA Holt Medallion competition. She’s featured in the 2012 Novel and Writer’s Market. Before penning romances, she worked in Story Direction for a Hollywood production company.

Buy the book:

Book available now:

https://www.amazon.com/s/?field-keywords=9781601835918
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/passionate-pursuit/id1090820787?mt=11
https://play.google.com/store/search?q=9781601835918&c=books
https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/passionate-pursuit-2
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/passionate-pursuit-tina-donahue/1122923996

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Thursday, September 1, 2016

Virtual Guest Tour: Wide Open Spaces

WideOpenSpaces_BT Banner



You’re marooned on a small island with one person and one item of your choice—who is that person and what item do you have?
My hubby and is it cheating to say a satellite phone. Sure, we’d take a break from every day life and enjoy it, but after a week or say we could call for help J
Which musical would you say best exemplifies your life – and which character in that musical are you?
I’ve never really watched musicals, so can’t really pick one.
Take these three words and give me a 100 word or less scene using them:  colony, sunglasses, thermometer
Damn it was hot. If the outside thermometer was to be believed, it was already in the nineties and it was barely nine o’clock in the morning. The heat wave we’d been having needed to end. Even more than that, the colony of ants that had built their home where my porch met the cement walkway needed to be exterminated. A bee buzzed next me. I whirled to get away from it and tripped over the edge of the porch, knocking my sunglasses off in the process and sending them careening to the cement.
What is your idea of how to spend romantic time with your significant other?
To me, a romantic time is when we’re out camping under a canopy of stars. Sitting around the campfire, the only light coming from the flames and the moon.
When you start a new story, do you begin with a character, or a plot?
It depends on the story. With “Wide Open Spaces” it all kind of came to me at the same time. Typically though I get the idea for the plot first and then I have to figure out the basics about my characters so that I can start.
Who’s your favorite horror villain and why?
I don’t really watch a lot of horror, at least not enough that I could really have a favorite villain. And of the horror that I’ve watched, I can’t really even remember the villains that were in them.
Do you have an historical crush and if so, who is it?
Not really. Sure, there’s people I’d like to have met, like Abraham Lincoln and others like him, but a crush, nope.
Is there a story that you’d like to tell but you think the world isn’t ready to receive it?
Well, if the world isn’t ready for my upcoming stories, then I guess they’d better get ready, because I’ll be writing them anyway sJ






AVAILABLE NOW

 

WIDE OPEN SPACES
States of Love - Wyoming


Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: Maria Fanning

Genre: Contemporary
Length:
35,659 Words
Rating:
Adult/Mature



BUY NOW

Amazon: US I CA I AU I UK I DE





Blurb


Devon fled Wyoming as soon as he turned eighteen, leaving behind his high school love, Levi. After six years in the big city, Devon returns to his hometown. Not much has changed, except that Levi is no longer in the closet. He’s also single and living his dream—managing the local wild horse population. Both of them are very interested in picking up where they left off, but Devon is no more ready to reveal his orientation than he was as a teenager.

No one is going to shove Levi back in the closet—not even Devon. For a relationship to work, they’ll have to put the past behind them and find the courage to face the future as who they really are—a couple in love. But Devon doesn’t know if he’s strong enough. Maybe Levi would be better off without him—and his hang-ups.

States of Love: Stories of romance that span every corner of the United States.

Excerpt


Devon sank down on his couch as exhaustion swamped him. Most of it was from moving in, but the change in elevation didn’t help. He’d gotten used to being closer to sea level, so going back to the dry air at over six thousand feet was going to take some getting used to.

Bloody noses had become the norm while he stayed with Blake. Devon didn’t want to deal with them repeatedly and considered getting a humidifier until he managed to acclimate.

He looked around his living room. Boxes were scattered everywhere, and he should be unpacking, but he was too tired. At least he hadn’t had to carry everything in himself. Blake, Travis, and Seth were waiting for him when he pulled into the apartment complex. They shrugged off his objections and insisted they had nothing better to do. Devon appreciated it, but he wasn’t comfortable around them anymore. He managed to be a proper host, but damn, he was glad they left after a couple beers each. They made noise about getting together again soon, but Devon had used getting settled in as an excuse to keep from committing to anything.

He stood and wandered into his small kitchen. He didn’t bother opening the fridge or any of the cupboards. He knew they were empty. His stomach growled, reminding him he hadn’t eaten for a while. Devon dug his keys out of his pocket and headed for the door. He’d get something to eat and then maybe stop at the store to pick up a few staples. Paper plates, sandwich fixings, some chips, and he’d be good for a couple of days. At least it would give him time to get a few things—like pots and pans—unpacked. Then he could do a full grocery shop.

An hour later he was comfortably full from a greasy burger, fries, and a shake. He’d never eaten a lot of fast food, but he had few other options. He headed to Walmart, determined to stick to his list of sandwich stuff and maybe some eggs. Surely he could dig out some pans before the food expired. He headed to the chips first and scanned for the familiar bag of Cheddar and Sour Cream Ruffles. They were his all-time favorite, though he also knew he’d want something else after a day or two. So he grabbed a couple of other bags and headed for the eggs and then the freezer aisle.

Sandwiches and chips would get old fast. He found some frozen breakfast sandwiches he could microwave, tossed them in the cart, and moved on. Frozen lasagna quickly joined the few other items in his cart, followed by some potpies, a few TV dinners, and a bag of chimichangas. So what if he wasn’t sticking to his mental list?

He was more focused on getting groceries for the next few days than on the people around him.

“Devon.”

He froze when a familiar voice spoke his name. He closed his eyes briefly, ducked his head, and steeled himself. He knew it would happen eventually, when he found out Levi still lived there. He thought he’d have more time to prepare. He swallowed—hard—and turned to face the man who had at one time meant everything to him. The man he’d risked being found out for. He lifted his head and gazed into the moss-colored eyes.

“Levi.”

WideOpenSpaces_headerbanner

About the Author


Renee Stevens first started writing in her teens but didn’t get serious about being an author until her mid-twenties. Since then she’s written a number of contemporary stories, as well as delved into the paranormal. When not writing, or spending time in the outdoors, Renee can usually be found working on GayAuthors.org in her capacity of Admin, Blog Coordinator, and Anthology Coordinator.

Renee resides in Wyoming with her wonderfully supportive husband and a menagerie of four-legged critters. Making the most of the nearly constant negative temperatures and mounds of snow, Renee spends much of the winter months in hibernation with her laptop, the voices in her head keeping her company while her husband works.

When she needs a break from writing, Renee takes to the sewing machine to design, and make, beautiful quilts. When the snow finally disappears, usually around May or June, Renee can be found in the great-outdoors. She spends her time on the mountain, at the lake, and just anywhere that she can do some camping, take some photos, and ride the four-wheelers with her hubby. Once back at home, it’s back to writing.



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Blog Tour Schedule - More chances to win!!!! 


August 24th: M.A. Church - Nic starr
August 25th: Grace Duncan
August 26th: Anna Butler
August 27th: David Dawson
August 28th: Alicia Nordwell
August 29th: Anne Barwell
August 30th: Antonia Aquilante
August 31st *RELEASE DAY*: Mann Ramblings - Michael Mandrake
September 1st: Julie Hayes - Elyzabeth M. VaLey
September 2nd: Caraway Carter
September 3rd: JC Wallace
September 4th: Caz Pedroso
September 5th: Brynn Stein
September 6th: Lila Leigh Hunter
September 7th: Morticia Knight
September 8th: Charley Descoteaux
September 9th: Cheryl Headford
September 10th: Heloise West
September 12th: Foster Bridget Cassidy

Wednesday, August 31, 2016

Wednesday Briefs: Moving Forward #50 (12.2)

Good morning and Happy Hump Day! If it's Wednesday, it must be time for more flash fiction from the Wednesday Briefers! We're a group of authors who bring you our finest flash fiction every week, from 500 to 1000 words, inspired by one of our prompts.

Last night, Marshall and Lee and a few of their friends went to a nude beach on St. John Island, in the Virgin Islands. The fun continues in this week's episode, tune in to find out who gets nude lol Don't forget to visit the other Briefers and see what they've been up to. Their links follow my tale! Enjoy!

Moving Forward #50 (12.2)


At first the six men swam together, laughing and enjoying the beautiful clear blue water. They’d brought a Frisbie which they tossed about and tried to catch. But gradually each couple’s attention turned  more toward each other, and touches became more intimate, kisses longer. Everyone returned to the beach to dry off. Denver and Dustin announced their intentions of exploring the next beach over—Honeymoon Beach it was called—and said they’d be sure to be gone for at least an hour. Maybe two.

Marshall and Lee found a shady niche to themselves beneath a small cluster of palm trees while Roger and Kenny made themselves scarce just around a slight bend. Now they were alone, for all intents and purposes, beneath a gorgeous tropical sky.

Lee reclined on one of their beach towels while Marshall stood just above him, shaking the water from his long hair, which he had left loose today.

“Come down here,” Lee growled in a throaty voice, and Marshall didn’t hesitate to drop to his knees beside him. Lee pulled him into his arms and their lips meshed in a long hard kiss. By the time they came up for air, they were both hard.

“Ready to make this a real nude beach?” Lee asked. The words had barely left his mouth when Marshall divested himself of his wet suit and hung it to dry on one of the palms. Lee quickly stripped as well, placing his suit beside Marshall’s, before they tumbled back onto the generous beach towel, entwined in one another, mouths fused hungrily.

There was a chance that people could pass by this beach in sightseeing boats or kayaks or even paddleboards, but that was a risk they were willing to take. In the meantime, this was Paradise, and they could pretend it was just for them, and that no one else existed.

They kissed for a good long time, allowing hands and fingers the freedom of exploration. Touching, feeling, loving every place that could be reached. Tongues tangled and danced in familiar patterns as flames of desire were kindled and fanned, but not so high that they burnt themselves out.

Finally, Lee drew back, panting slightly. “On your hands and knees,” he commanded, moving to give Marshall the space to obey, which he did with alacrity. Marshall never looked back to see what Lee was doing. He knew he’d find out soon enough, and he shivered in anticipation.

Then he felt Lee’s tongue cross the sole of his foot. The sensation tickled, but in a sensuous way. Lee began to travel along Marshall’s leg, kissing and licking as he went. He hoped Lee was headed toward where he thought he was, and sure enough, once Lee’s tongue had taken a leisurely stroll along Marshall’s cheeks, he spread the flesh with his fingers and licked across Marshall’s hole.

Marshall couldn’t help but moan at Lee’s most intimate touch. His entire body tingled with pleasure, and he knew there was more to come.

Lee reached between Marshall’s legs and grasped his weeping cock. Marshall knew without asking what he was doing—wetting his fingers for entry. Sure enough, moments later, he’d embedded one finger inside Marshall’s ass.

Marshall gasped in sheer pleasure, and Lee took that as a sign to add a second finger. He angled his attack and pegged Marshall’s bundle of nerves. Marshall yelped and Lee did it again, every time causing Marshall to jump and his cock to leak pre-cum onto the towel beneath them.

“Like that, do you?” Lee asked, although of course he knew the answer.

“Hell yes,” Marshall said. He wriggled his ass in encouragement.

“Tell me what you want,” Lee said in a lust-laden voice.

“You. Inside me,” Marshall said without hesitation.

to be continued

Now go visit the other Briefers and see what's up with them!




Tuesday, August 30, 2016

Virtual Book Tour: When a Marquis Chooses a Bride

Please welcome author Ella Quinn, here to discuss her new release, When a Marquis Chooses a Bride. Ella will be awarding a signed ARC of her book (US only) to five randomly drawn commenters via Rafflecopter. The more you comment, the better your chances of winning. To see where the rest of the stops on her tour are, go here. Don't forget to look for the Rafflecopter at the end of his post.



When a Marquis Chooses a Bride
by Ella Quinn

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GENRE: Historical Romance

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BLURB:


Thanks to their large extended family and unconventional courtship, the Worthingtons have seen their share of scandal and excitement. But nothing has prepared them for this...

The Dowager Lady Worthington isn’t quite sure what to make of country-girl Dorothea Stern. As the granddaughter of the Duke of Bristol, Dotty is schooled in the ways and means of the nobility. But her sharp wit and outspoken nature has everyone in a tizzy. Especially their cousin, Dominic, the Marquis of Merton.

Prematurely stuffy, Dom was raised by his cheerless uncle to be wary of a host of things, including innovation, waltzing, and most perilous of all: true love. Still, there’s something about Dotty, beyond her beauty, that Dom cannot resist. But the odds are against him if he intends to win her as his bride. Will he choose loyalty to his family—or risk everything for the one woman he believes is his perfect match…

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EXCERPT:



“Kimbal,” Dom called to his valet.

“Yes, my lord.”

“I shall be dining at White’s.”

“Yes, my lord.”

Dom scribbled a note to his friend Viscount Fotherby asking if he would like to join Dom for dinner. By the time he was dressed and had donned his hat, Fotherby’s answer affirming the invitation had arrived.

A short while later, just as a light sprinkle turned into a persistent rain, Dom handed his hat and cane to the footman at White’s and found his friend lounging in the room that held the club’s famous betting book. William Alvanley, another of Dom’s friends, was seated next to the window with another man staring intently at the rain.

He turned to Fotherby. “What are they doing?”

“Five thousand quid on which raindrop will reach the bottom of the sill first.”

Despite being close with many of the Prince Regent’s circle, Dom could not abide the excessive wagers his friends made. Alvanley would end up ruining himself and his estates at the rate he was going. “Are you ready to dine, or are you waiting the outcome?”

“Famished.” Fotherby tossed off his glass of wine. “Thought you weren’t coming to Town this year.”

“My plans changed.” Dom and Fotherby entered the dining room. “I have decided to take a wife.”

“Wife?” Fotherby choked. “Any idea who?”

“Not yet, but I have a list of qualifications. She must be well-bred, not given to fits of temper or strange starts, quiet, biddable, easy to look at—I must get an heir on her after all—know what is expected of a marchioness. And not prone to scandals. You know how my uncle hated them. I think that about covers it.”

“A paragon, in other words.”

Dom gave a cut nod. “Indeed. I could wed no one less.”


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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Bestselling author Ella Quinn’s studies and other jobs have always been on the serious side. Reading historical romances, especially Regencies, were her escape. Eventually her love of historical novels led her to start writing them. She has just finished her first series, The Marriage Game, and her new series, The Worthingtons, began in April 2016.

She is married to her wonderful husband of over thirty years. They have a son and two beautiful granddaughters, and a dog. After living in the South Pacific, Central America, North Africa, England and Europe, she and her husband decided to make their dreams come true and are now living on a sailboat cruising the Caribbean and North America. Europe is next!
    
Website: www.ellaquinnauthor.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/EllaQuinnAuthor
Twitter www.twitter.com/ellaquinnauthor
Blog http://ellaquinnauthor.wordpresscom

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Wednesday, August 24, 2016

Wednesday Briefs: Moving Forward #49 (12.1)

Good morning and Happy Hump Day! If it's Wednesday, then it must be time for more flash fiction from the Wednesday Briefers! We're a group of authors who bring you our finest flash fiction every week, from 500 to 1000 words, inspired by one of our prompts!

Time for more fun in the sun for Marshall and Lee! Join them as they head to the second island on their cruise, St. John... did someone say nude beach? Find out in this week's episode of Moving Forward! Don't forget to see what the other Briefers are up to! Their links follow my tale!

Moving Forward #49 (12.1)



Despite his excitement at going to a nude beach, Marshall was concerned that there might be too many people to actually take their clothes off comfortably. But once they arrived at Salomon Bay Beach, Marshall realized they’d gotten lucky—the beach was almost deserted. Just one other couple, and they were already packing up to leave. Most tourists were probably discouraged by the mile long hike to reach the beach, along the Lind Point Trail, which began at the Visitor’s Center. Marshall hadn’t been exactly enamored of it himself, but it was worth it to have this measure of privacy in such a beautiful setting.

Lee had tendered an invitation to Denver and Dustin that morning, and both men had accepted, once Lee assured Denver that everything was cool, and they were willing to let bygones be bygones. Assuming Dustin stayed on his best behavior, of course. Denver said that wouldn’t be a problem, and he’d make sure his cousin toed the line.

Roger and Kenny had come along with them as well. Kenny had laughingly commented that maybe it was time for them to come out of the cabin and mingle a little bit. Marshall wasn’t fooled one bit. He suspected their motives were similar to his and Lee’s—lovemaking in a different venue.

This beach was even more beautiful than the last one they’d gone to, on St. Thomas. The sand was like white sugar, warm beneath their toes. They set up their stuff and shucked off their shoes. The water was a clear aqua gently rippling against the beach, which was dotted with graceful palm trees.
For now, they would hang together and relax—drink a little, talk a little, soaking up the breeze while sitting in the shade before each couple dispersed for more intimate activities. They’d brought a good-sized cooler which they’d stocked with bottles of cold beer . They took turns carrying it on the long hike to the beach. They’d debated bringing chairs and had decided towels would do just fine, and they’d be a lot lighter.

Now they were all sitting together beneath a large palm tree, enjoying the cold brew and the warm sun.

“So, where you from?” Kenny asked. “I know Roger’s from Texas and I’m from New Orleans.” Except it came out N’awlins when he said it.

The other men exchanged glances. “We’re all from Texas,” Lee answered.  “Marshall and I are more toward the southern part, and Denver and Dustin are a bit north of us. But we’re all good old Texas boys, aren’t we, fellas?”

“You know we are,” Denver said. “And proud of it.”

“Well hell, let’s drink to Texas,” Kenny suggested, lifting his bottle. “That state sure produces some mighty fine men!”

“To Texas!” each of the others repeated, and everyone took a drink.

“And to New Orleans, which is obviously no slouch in that department either!” Roger toasted. Agreeing,  they all clinked their bottles and drank to Kenny’s home town.

“You ever been to Texas, Kenny?” Marshall couldn’t help the looks that were being exchanged between him and Roger. He had a feeling these two were going to take this shipboard romance ashore when the cruise was through, maybe develop it into something more.

“No, but I’m going to,” Kenny replied, confirming Marshall’s thoughts. “New Orleans is only a few hours away from Amarillo, by plane.”

Lee said, “If y’all ever get down to our neck of the woods, look us up. We’ll take you to our favorite club, Partners, over in Tucker Falls. We’ve had some damn good times there.”

“Yeah, you should join us,” Denver agreed. “We’ll have a blast.”

“And you guys can come to New Orleans some time, and I’ll show you some Louisiana hospitality.”

Marshall thought going to Louisiana might be a lot of fun. Maybe not during Mardi Gras, though. He wasn’t overly fond of big crowds. San Antonio was crowded enough for him; he suspected New Orleans would be worse.

They sat together in a comfortable silence for a few minutes, drinking their beer and soaking up sun. Dustin was the first to rise. He pulled his shirt over his head, stripping down to his swim suit.

“I think I’m going to take a swim, anyone else game?”

The other men looked at one another.

“Sounds good to me,” Roger said, a sentiment echoed by the rest, and soon all six men were cooling off in the beautiful water.

to be continued

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