Web design
May 23, 2009 by Melissa · 6 Comments
Two on one day, I KNOW. WTF is going on?
I am getting ready to redo my website. I think I have figured out how I want it to look, layout wise, with the books. But, I don’t know WTF to do with the template. Frauke from Croco Designs is going to be working on it this summer, and I don’t even know what colors I want to use!
So, you tell me, readers, authors, random spammers who try to post links to underaged sex. Okay, not the last group, but everyone else. What colors do you like, font, and how do you feel about naked men? I read a blog this week or last, or some time…I don’t remember. Anyway, the reader was complaining about naked men on the authors’ sites, so I wanted to ask you all. Also, are there any colors you don’t like?
Really off to write now.
Well…
May 23, 2009 by Melissa · 1 Comment
Yeah, I am dug in and it is making me cranky.I have a ton of things I want to read, and I have to put it off until I am done. I think I finally have Sexy Devil going in the right direction. Thanks to a lot of help from Kris Cook and Shelley Bradley, not to mention my agent, I finally worked out what I was missing and I think I should be finishing up this weekend. Then, I am spending the week reading. I have In the Flesh, by Livia Dare(AKA Sylvia Day), JR Ward’s and Amanda Quick’s newest books, and I am lucky enough that both Kris and Shelley are letting me read some of their unpubbed stuff. And for all you Shayla people out there, I am going to be reading Delicious, bwahahahaha.
Anyway, I was thinking about my blog and how I neglected it. I need to blog about more than just excerpts and the occasional naked man. I had come up with a schedule before, but the ADD kicked in, as it often does when I try and force myself to do something, and I would constantly forget. I know, not really a surprise.
I have decided I do want to have some scheduled days. One in particular, Wednesday, I am going to devote to writing. If you are an author and want to write something up to promote a recent or upcoming release let me know. Writing Wednesdays will start this week, and I will probably be chatting about plotting. Shelley has taught me her method of plotting(and if you can take one of her online or in person classes, DO IT) and I’ll talk about how that has changed my way of writing.
The rest of the week will be unscheduled, but I promise to blog at least three times a week. And, I will allow for naked men posts also:) If you would like to see as a reader, let me know.
Off to work and do some errands today. Crossing fingers that I can get this off to my agent by Tuesday and just have the synopsis to work. Then I can play with India and her men.
Shelli Stevens:Anybody but Justin
May 13, 2009 by Melissa · 2 Comments
My friend Shelli Stevens released a novella in her Chances Are series yesterday! It is available from Samhain Publishing in digital.
Buy Ebook at My Bookstore and More
The line between friends and lovers can get a little blurry…especially when you add tequila.
Gabby is serious about her search for Mr. Right, but no one can say she hasn’t had a good time looking. She enjoys her numerous dates and the sex that comes with them. Until she finds herself falling for the one man she vows to never love. Her best friend and roommate, Justin. A player in every sense of the word—and a reminder of her awful past.
One night, with the help of a bottle of tequila, things get a little too hot for comfort. She moves out, intent on removing him from the line of temptation.
Justin has different plans. The tequila did more than just change how he sees his good friend. It made him realize he doesn’t want to be just friends any more. He’s ready for something more intimate, and he’ll do whatever it takes to find out why she’s running. And convince her to stay.
EXCERPT:
“Look at me, Gab.”
Her shoulders rose with the deep breath she dragged in, and then she tilted her head to give him a sideways g lance. Her eyes were carefully schooled. He knew that look. She’d come to poker night too many times with the guys for him to not recognize that you won’t get shit out of me look.
“I want you to be completely honest with me,” he said quietly and tightened his grip on her hand—her dainty, soft hand. His brows drew together. Had her hands always been this feminine?
“Okay.” She arched an eyebrow. “Are you going to ask it?”
He shook his head, wondering how the hell she was managing to get him so damn flustered.
“Yeah. I’m gonna ask it,” he said gruffly and then focused his attention on her face again. “Did you move out because of that night?”
The only sign that he’d shocked her was the slight widening of her eyes. But then she narrowed them just as quickly and a sardonic grin slipped across her mouth.
“That night? Ah, Justin, you’re going to have to be a lot more specific than that. We lived together for a couple of years.”
“Damn it, Gab. Don’t pull that crap on me. Anyone else might buy it, but I don’t.” He scowled. “You know exactly which night I’m talking about.”
Her fingers arched against his hand, but he didn’t loosen his grip. The slight smell of sweat from their run lingered in the room, with the overlying scent of her lotion. Some melon thing she=E 2d worn the entire time he’d known her. It had never seemed seductive before, but now…
She lowered her gaze from his and her tongue swept across her bottom lip before retreating safely back into her mouth.
Desire stirred low in his groin and his next breath in wasn’t quite as steady. Jesus. He still wanted her.
The idea rocked him to his core.
Bad idea, Justin.
“Are you telling me—” He leaned forward and caught her chin, his face just inches from hers. Very bad idea, Justin. “—that you don’t remember this?”
The need to remind her of that night consumed him. Her eyes widened in trepidation, just before he lowered his mouth down onto hers.
So soft. So sweet.
When she would have pushed him away, he moved his palm to her back and held her still, moving his mouth against hers.
Half a year. How had he gone a half a year without her? And why had it taken two years for them to reach this level of intimacy?
His tongue teased the crease of her mouth open, and then slid inside to taste her.
The angry sound she made morphed into a frustrated moan and finally one of surrender. Her tongue moved out to meet his—almost angry in the bold strokes she made to tease him.
Justin’s blood pounded through his veins. His entire being focused on the smell of her, the press of her breasts against his chest, an d the soft sounds she made as she kissed him back. Sounds that alternated between pleasure and frustration.
Her hands slid up to his shoulders to wrap around his neck, pressing her body snugger against his. The scrape of her hardened nipples against his chest sent another rush of blood to his cock, bringing it fully erect. He groaned, grateful for his loose running pants.
He explored her mouth thoroughly, teasing the hidden spots before returning to spar with her tongue.
His hands, which had been resting on her waist, slid up her ribcage to just under her breasts.
He barely hesitated before sweeping his thumbs up to stroke over the tight peaks of her breasts. He lifted his lips from hers just a fraction to allow her strangled gasp, before he captured her mouth again.
All rational thoughts on why he’d come here tonight—because it couldn’t have been for this, could it?—abandoned his mind. The need to touch her naked skin, to taste the salty sweet softness of her flesh, swept through him.
He deepened the kiss, caught her nipple between two fingers and pinched, all while easing her onto her back on the couch. It was a move he’d mastered in years of seducing women.
Tonight it failed.
Gabby wrenched her mouth from his, shoving him so hard he fell off her and onto the floor.
“Stop.” She scurried off the couch and across the room from him. “What was that, Justin? What the hell was that?”
He winced, picking himself up from the floor. His balls ached and his dick still throbbed with the need to be buried inside her. Inside…Gabby. Shit.
WTF is going on?
May 12, 2009 by Melissa · 3 Comments
Lots. I have to do some major editing. I have my work cut out for me. It has been a long time since I wrote category, I forgot some of the basic principles, and it showed in my writing. So I am trying to get at least Chapter One done before Les’ folks get here on Friday. Thankfully, Mary Beth Lee has offered to look them over for me:) If any writer knows category writing, it is MB:) I used to read every Blaze that came out, but I have fallen behind. So, in addition to reworking this, I am going on another reading binge of Blazes. I realized I was way behind on two of my favs, Leslie Kelly and Alison Kent. I have always loved their writing, but my absent mindedness really came into play and I would miss them in the stores. Well, now I can read them in ebook, YEA!
Another important. I did a Q and A with my agent, Melissa Jeglinski, for the WRW newsletter. I have posted it in my articles section 
So many people kept asking me what she was looking for, so I decided this was the easiest way to address it:)
And since I need to keep my spirits up, let’s share a moment with a purty man. 
*g* Now, back to worrk.
Her Mother’s Killer
May 8, 2009 by Melissa · 2 Comments
HER MOTHER’S KILLER
PUBLISHER: WCP TORRID
BUY THE PRINT AND EBOOK AT WCP TORRID
DIGITAL ISBN: 978-1-60313-188-9
PRINT ISBN: 978-1-60313-187-2
Althea Johnson would like to leave the past behind. The memories of her mother’s murder lurk in her dreams. She was happy to try to ignore it until someone drives her off the road and then begins sending her sick letters. Deciding to return to the small Texas town where it took place, Althea plans on using the skills she developed at Atlanta PD to solve the case. Her main problem is avoiding the sheriff, her old crush, Duncan Perry.
Duncan can’t believe his best friend’s little sister has grown into such a wonderful bundle of curves. He is at first stunned by his reaction to her, but never one to be slow, he starts putting the moves on her. It isn’t until he is completely seduced by her that he realizes that she is putting herself in danger to solve the old crime.
As both of them fall in love with each other, the stalking and danger escalates. Women close to Althea’s description are being found raped and murdered. The new lovers work overtime to figure out just what went wrong 20 years earlier, not realizing the mysteries they will reveal could jeopardize everything they are fighting for.
PRAISE FOR THE BOOK
While Ms. Schroeder thankfully adds more than enough love scenes to satisfy even the most ardent erotica fan, her touch is delicate and her characters have enough depth to make the book about more than just bodies coming together on paper. It is a joy reading a book by an author who can actually write, and write well. This is book that any fan of romantic suspense needs to read very soon, you will not regret it.
MICKEY, You Gotta Read Reviews
With a smorgasbord of juicy intricate details, the plot is a feast for the reader’s soul and a marvel the storyline could come together so seamlessly with no loose ends, no stones left unturned, no slow spots and no insulting solutions. The fearful tension begins with the first sentence and only steps aside for the intensity of the sexual tension…an absolute must read.
Karen Haas, Just Erotic Romance Reviews, Five Stars, O Rating
EXCERPT
He decided he’d waited long enough for Thea and started up to the house. He ignored the interested stares and his brother’s laughter. Within moments, he stepped into the house. A few more people were gathered around the TV waiting for the next football game to start. Duncan paid them no attention and kept walking, determined to get to his destination. He turned the corner and started down the hall as Thea stepped out of the bathroom. Her eyes widened when she saw him.
“Duncan—”
He ignored her, slipping his arm around her waist and pulling her around another corner for privacy. She practically sputtered and tried to dig in her heels, but he didn’t slow down.
“Duncan Michael Perry!”
He stopped once he knew they were far enough away from the other guests. “What?”
She settled her hands on her hips. “What? Just what?”
He crossed his hands over his chest to keep from touching her. But it was hard to resist her. Her face was still flushed from the cool air outside and her irritation. He wondered what she would look like when she came.
“Duncan.”
She never lost her Texas twang, and it deepened when she was mad. He could just imagine her moaning his name, the way her flesh would feel against his.
“Duncan!”
He shook his head trying to get rid of the image, but it just wouldn’t budge. All he could think about was having her under him.
“Stop.”
He focused on her mouth, the lush ripeness of her lips as her tongue darted out over the plump bottom.
“Stop what?” he asked.
He leaned closer, drew in the sweet essence of her.
“We agreed this wasn’t a good idea.”
He shook his head. “You said, not me.”
She placed her hand on his chest and he looked down at it, then back up at her. He saw it there, the passion he felt burning in his veins, speeding through his blood like fire. He knew she felt it. Her eyes darkened, her breathing increased. The noise of the TV and the guests faded in the background.
He leaned forward. She offered him no other resistance as he rubbed his mouth over hers, the barest of touch.
“We shouldn’t.”
Her voice barely registered it was so low, the denial so weak. Her breath heated his lips, her tongue dipping into his mouth.
“But we will.”
Without waiting for her response, he dipped his head and took possession of her mouth.
