Olivia shares a mystical—and irresistible—connection with brooding Marrok. Soon after the sexy warrior appears in her erotic dreams, he abducts her, demanding she uncurse him. Their intense passion is more powerful—and intimate—than either of them has ever known. Olivia may be the key to unlocking the diary that will break Morganna’s hold on his life. But in the wrong hands, the book also holds the power to destroy magickind. As they search for answers, a ruthless wizard returned from exile is building an army of evil. When he discovers Marrok and Olivia have the diary, only their love—with the help of a powerful group of magical Brethren—can save them.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Black vaults into the supernatural… Kudos!” Romantic Times Bookclub

“Shayla’s created a very interesting reality with standout characters… I certainly was kept up past bedtime by this one! I’ll look forward to the next book with pleasure.” ~ Merry Cutler, Romantic Times Bookseller of the Year

~~~~~~~~~~~
“Your social skills haven’t grown during the last fifteen centuries. You can’t just accuse me of stabbing you in the back. I’m not Morganna.”

“Honesty from her is something I neither needed nor wasted my breath asking for. You…” he swallowed, pain shadowing his face. He buried his fists in her hair and stared at her with stark blue eyes. “Do not betray me. You will rip out my heart.”

His voice was a whisper, his words a plea. And they melted her like butter.

He was telling her that she, a woman who had never been wanted, could bring this fierce warrior to his knees. Did she dare believe it? How often had she fantasized about being wanted, having someone who would touch her freely, with affection? Marrok knew it. He could be feigning all this emotion to keep her close until he discovered how to open the diary and end his curse. When he’d met her, he hadn’t been hoping for a wife.

When he’d mated with her, it hadn’t been for love.

But when he touched her, she swore that nothing—no one—mattered as much to him.

Tears pricked her eyes as Olivia grabbed the hard line of his jaw and looked into his icy-hot eyes. “I know what rejection feels like. Why would I purposely hurt you?”

“Mayhap you resent your abduction, our mating. Or because you can.”

He’d given her power over him…but all she wanted was his touch, his affection. Marrok pressed against her, chest, belly, hips, thighs, as close as he could without being inside her. Then his lips followed, consuming hers in one greedy stroke.

She should stop him, sort out this tangle of thoughts, hopes, and desires before jumping into the fire. But her nipples burned into his chest, and he pulled her deeper into the kiss. Everything inside her incinerated. Letting him go was impossible.

Panting, he pulled back and drilled her with a hot stare. Without words, Olivia knew he wanted to be deep inside her. That look siphoned off her anger and inhibitions. She forgot everything but the moment as he pressed passionate kisses to her neck, his hands drifting to her breasts. His cock pushed between her legs as if begging for entry.

She burned up, itchy and hot, smoldering inside for something only he could give her. Leaning into him, Olivia opened herself to him—her kiss, her need, her heart. He took them, hungry and unrelenting. The contrast of his soft lips and rough stubble mesmerized her.

“Mine,” he growled against her mouth, challenging her to deny it.

“For now.”

“Forever.”

He sounded so determined. Marrok was looking to break his curse and die. Did it really matter to him? Did she?

He kissed her like she did, now at her mouth again, sliding deep. His callused palms burned her breasts, pinched her tight nipples. The pleasure-pain made her gasp. As Marrok unsnapped her jeans and shoved them down her legs and off, he took sensitive nipples in his mouth, one after the other, back and forth. Until she trembled. Arched. Gushed.

Olivia couldn’t believe she stood completely naked in Bram’s hallway, her back against the wall, panting for Marrok to make love to her. Worse, she didn’t want it to stop.

Marrok nipped at her breast with his teeth, then licked softly. As he repeated the process on her other, he shoved his sweat pants past his hips.

“Open for me.”

The need to feel him deep rose hard and fast. Olivia complied, and he kissed his way down until he kneeled between her spread feet. When he latched on to her wet folds with his mouth, tongue toying with her, she cried out, grabbing the dark silk of his hair as his lips spread desire all through her.

He lapped at her, and her need soared. As she whimpered his name, he nibbled at her thigh, rose to kiss her belly, suckle a breast, breathe against her lips. “Release all your need unto me.”

Then Marrok lifted her, wrapped her thighs around his hips, and thrust deep. At the sudden intrusion, pleasure shot past any pain, ripping through her. She opened her mouth to scream, and Marrok covered it, driving her higher with his hungry demands.

His kiss claimed her, never-ending. He swallowed all her cries, as if he refused to share them with anyone. Her body devoured every inch of his erection and squeezed, craving more. The ache inside skyrocketed, burning hot, threatening to incinerate her. Blood rushed to her swollen clit. Olivia convulsed as pleasure climbed, spiked, and overtook her.

He opened his eyes. Hard, bright, rapacious. A sizzling blue that threatened her sanity—her soul.

“Again,” he demanded.

The warrior in him compelled her surrender; he’d settle for nothing less than a proverbial white flag. But with one relentless thrust after another into her weeping core, the tightening tension and the perfect friction only strengthened their bond. It expanded outward, filling everything inside her, cocooning and disintegrating her at once.

“Feel me,” he whispered. “Tell me who you belong to.”

“No one.”

“Wrong! You belong to me.”

His determined growl resounded with passion and filled an empty place in her heart. Did she dare believe him?

“Say it,” he demanded. “Tell me.”

Inside her, he swelled, eased back, then pressed inside her again with a molasses-slow stroke that had her clawing his back.

“You!” Pleasure ripped the word from her.

“Only me. There will be no other.”

“Never!” She threw her head back to the wall.

With her neck exposed, Marrok planted his lips just beneath her ear.

“Come for me, love. Give everything to me.”

Author Spotlight-Shayla Black

August 25, 2008 by Melissa · 17 Comments 

Shayla Black, aka Shelley Bradley, is making a name for herself with her erotic contemporaries for her steamy, edgy voice and compelling characters. She now dips into the paranormal genre with an amazing new series The Doomsday Brethren with the first book in the series, Tempt me with Darkness.
Today, you have a chance for a Shelley or Shayla RECENT backlist book and all you have to do is comment on the two posts. One comment on each post gets you a name in there twice, but you can only be entered twice. I will draw TWO names at Noon eastern tomorrow.

Where can you find Shayla?

SHAYLA WEBSITE or DOOMSDAY WEBSITE
BLOG
My Space

Excerpt coming right up!

Coming Tomorrow!!!

August 24, 2008 by Melissa · Leave a Comment 

Tomorrow the featured author is Shayla Black! She is going to be giving away two books from her backlist so be sure to drop by tomorrow to read all about her new release, Tempt Me with Darkness.

Floating along

August 23, 2008 by Melissa · 2 Comments 

I think that I have just come out of my two year funk. Or I should say about 18 months. Yes, I had moved on from the depression and stress that had plagued much of my life for 2007. But, as I discussed what I should be doing career-wise with a friend, it hit me that for the first time in about two years, I am really looking at my career and being EXCITED. I had been before, had enjoyed planning projects(I am a Capricorn) and working toward achieving them. But all of the sudden, I am excited about books that have popped into my head. Maybe it is because of Clan and getting the proposal sharpened. Shelley Bradley has been kicking my ass, making me work harder at character development, add more to the description. I liked what I was writing before this happened, but maybe without the fog I had been in the last year and a half, I can see how much I truly LOVE writing.
It made me think of just what people who deal with depression for years have to go through. It clouds everything, from your personal to your professional life and taints everything. I am happy to say that I have a full schedule again of projects I am working on, along with a few rereleases down the line.
Oh, and my very first Victorian that is full of spies, misconceptions, and a very naughty widow:) My creative juices are really going again, and I am happy for it.

Just moving along

August 22, 2008 by Melissa · 1 Comment 

The proposal for my Clan books went out this week, so cross your fingers everyone! I am hard at work on another book right now, so I hope to have more info soon on that and I am cleaning up Her Mother’s Kiler to turn in very soon.
I keep getting emails about this and again, I have to apologize for the slow down in releases. I had to take some time off to work through personal issues, including my health, my daughter’s health and my cross country move. If I had written the books, they would have been horrible. I was just not in the right place to right them, not mentally or physically.
But, I am getting back on track now and I am working toward getting ahead. I have a feeling that 2009 you’ll get sick of hearing about my releases. One of them was the older woman/younger men book and A Little Harmless Obsession.
So, I will be packing to head out with the family and spending another day with my phone waiting for the VP announcement because I am a political nerd.
oh and look for a five k drawing next week.

WINNERS!!!!

August 19, 2008 by Melissa · 5 Comments 

I want to thank Michelle Miles for being such a wonderful hostess this week! And thanks to all of you for participating. The winners have been given to Michelle and she will be contacting you.

Carolyn M won the download of A Bend in Time and Pam P won the signed copy of A Break in Time.

Coming next week we have Shayla Black, aka Shelley Bradley. Her next release, Tempt me with Darkness, is amazing, since I have already gotten a peek. Also, in the running is a chance at two books from the Shayla/Shelley backlist!

It happens next Monday:)

Excerpt-A Break in Time

August 18, 2008 by Melissa · 13 Comments 

A Break in Time is the second of the Ransom and Fortune series. Where can you get it?

Ebook
Print on preorder

The truth could set them free—or tear them apart forever.
Book 2 of the Adventures of Ransom and Fortune

At the mercy of a faulty time machine, Skye Ransom and Dane Fortune are forced to randomly leap through time on a wild, roller-coaster ride of danger as they try to get back to the 21st century. Each jump sends them farther away from home, but brings their hearts closer together in a bond that not even a time bender can sever.

Getting back home may be the least of their worries. Warmed by Skye’s love, Dane’s soul struggles against that of the cold, unfeeling man he once was. Skye’s had enough of witnessing history firsthand. Yet finally getting home could mean she’ll lose Dane forever.

Worshipped by a jungle tribe, thwarted by a mad scientist, and captured by powerful Druids, Skye and Dane face the ultimate test of survival. Even if they get through it alive, will they be able to overcome their strongest enemy to date—themselves?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Michelle Miles pens an exciting story. From jungle natives to burning pirate ships, Ms. Miles creates such vivid scenes that they play through the reader’s mind. … A Break in Time was a joy to read.
– 4.5 lips, TwoLips Reviews
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dane was tied to the main mast. Things were not looking good at all, especially since Conner and his pirates had recaptured the ladies—and were not the nicest fellows either—and shoved them all back into the hold.

“I have to hand it to you, Fortune. You’re resourceful.” Conner stood in front of him again, the boat gently rocking to and fro.

Dane had tried to get the ladies to safety, but they couldn’t make it off the ship undetected. And now Tia was their prisoner as well. There was only so much one man could do. He needed a backup plan. Hell, he needed a fricking army if he was going to succeed in this insane task. He wasn’t Indiana Jones, dammit.

If he had his gun, Conner would already be dead.

“But not resourceful enough,” Conner said.

“You’re right. I’m not.” Dane forced a smile. This man was really starting to get on his nerves.

Not only did Conner not have a shred of conscience about selling the women into slavery, but he’d managed to kill or seriously wound the few male villagers Tia had rallied. What the hell was he going to do now?

Not a goddamn thing. Especially not tied to this mast. His arms were pulled back around the thing and there was no way in holy hell he was getting out of this mess.

Where was a real pirate when you needed one?

He had a sudden craving for a cigarette, something he’d not had in a long while.

“Aaaeeeeeeiiiiii!”

The shout rose up from the surrounding jungle, making all the hairs on his arms stand at attention. It sounded like a very similar war cry to the one he had heard earlier when he was being chased by the villagers and then later when the handful of men stormed the decks of the ship. But there was something different about this one. Something that signaled all hell was about to break loose.

Conner spun and dashed for the railing, as did his men.

“Aaaeeeeeeiiiiii!”

“Captain?”

“I don’t see them,” Conner said.

Dane could hear something whistling through the air and his instinct told him to duck. No such chance of that happening. He scanned the late afternoon sky, looking for the something—anything—that could make that sound. He saw it then—the arrow arching in the air and headed straight for—

Thunk.

It found its way into the neck of one of Conner’s pirates. He fell backward to the deck, blood streaming from the wound.

“Raise the anchor!” Conner shouted. “Get us out of here now.”

But it was too late. A rain of arrows pelted the ship. A few brave men stood at the railing, firing their flintlock pistols into the jungle, only hoping to hit their targets.

“Jackson, take several men and go below. Fire the cannons!”

“Aye, sir!”

Confusion and mass hysteria. If that’s what whoever was in the jungle was going for, they got it. Conner ran toward the helm, shouting orders to lower the sails.

Why couldn’t he get an arrow in the head? Dane watched the madman, thinking what a coward he was.

Rising up on tiptoe, he hoped to stretch tall enough to see what was happening. Suddenly the men at the railing scattered as more arrows rained down and one happened to find a place in the main mast just above Dane’s head.

Sheesh.

He didn’t need another sign to get out these bindings. He wiggled his arms and tried to loosen the knots. All the while the ropes burned into his wrists, his hands.

Men from the village swarmed the ship in droves. Every man from that village had to be accounted for. Some carried machetes, others had bows slung over one shoulder and carried a quiver of arrows.

The pirates fired at close range but they didn’t stand a chance. They were cut down mercilessly by the village men and Dane had to wonder who or what could inspire them to fight so passionately.

And then he had his answer. Skye stepped onto the main deck of the ship, a machete in one hand and her beautiful face glistening with sweat, her chest heaving from exertion. She spotted him and her face flooded with relief. For a moment he thought she might burst into tears.

“Skye, what the hell—” he began.

She ran toward him, swinging the machete in a high arc and chopping the ropes in half, freeing him. He shrugged out of the bindings, rubbing his raw wrists. Luckily, he hadn’t thrashed enough to tear the skin.

“Careful with that thing, doll.”

She dropped the machete and collapsed against him, her face buried in his chest and one hand fisting his tunic. His hand slipped into her hair as he held her close.

“I’m happy to see you, too,” he said. “What are you doing here?”

He hoped her sudden arrival meant she had succeeded in getting the time bender back from Ridgewood. Otherwise, they’d be in deep—

“What does it look like?” She tilted her head back to look at him, tears pooling in her indigo eyes. “I’m saving your ass!”

For the first time in his entire life, a woman came riding to his rescue. It seemed fitting it would be Skye. He fought the urge to kiss her senseless. He didn’t deserve her, especially after everything he’d put her through.

“Where’s Ridgewood? Did you get the time bender? And more importantly, how did you manage to get them all fired up?” He nodded toward the villagers.

“I’ll explain everything later. Let’s get the women and get out of here before he sets sail.”

The ship lurched, followed by a loud boom from one of the cannons. Conner’s men were firing on the villagers.

“You get the women,” Dane said. “I’m going below to disarm the bastards.”

“Dane.” She caught his arm before he dashed away. He met her gaze, her face tear-stained and dirty. “I’m glad you’re alive.”

He couldn’t stop himself from cupping her face in his hands and claiming her lips hungrily. She willingly opened her mouth, their tongues doing a tango and each one fighting for control of the other. Their scorching collision of mouth against mouth sent heat surging through him, giving him a problem he really didn’t need right now. When he broke from her, her chest heaved, allowing him a nice view of her cleavage in the low-cut shirt.

“I’ll finish with you later.”

He couldn’t wait to get his hands on her naked ass, because next time…she was going to be naked. And under him.

As he left her there, he heard her shout, “That better be a promise, Dane Fortune!”

It did nothing for the state of affairs in his pants. He’d have to figure out her change of heart later; right now, he had other pressing matters. Another boom sounded as the cannon fired again. As he headed for the hold, she snatched up a gun from one of the dead men.

Great, Dane thought. Maybe I really am a goddamn pirate.

“Go! Help!” Skye shouted.

He saw her waving men in his direction. She was sending in more troops with him. He chuckled. Seeing her in a take-charge moment made him want her all the more.

Be sure to preorder it on Amazon or Barnes & Noble! Oh, and remember to comment to get your name in the hat for the free books!

Author Spotlight-Michelle Miles

August 18, 2008 by Melissa · 11 Comments 

This week our author is Michelle Miles. People who are on my yahoo chat group know Michelle, who has a wicked sense of humor. Her upcoming print release from Samhain, the time travel romance A Break in Time, is the featured book. It is the second book in the fabulous Ransom and Fortune series. And, she is offering up two prizes.

The 411 on Michelle:
Website
Blog
Myspace

Make sure to check out her blog which is just wonderful.

And, what can you get today? Well, Michelle is offering up a free download of the first book in the series, A Bend in Time, and a signed copy of A Break in Time(which she should get in the next two weeks). How to win? Just make a comment on either post about Michelle and you get your name in. Make sure to get your comment on each one so your name goes in twice.
Good Luck!

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