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Reviews:
TASTING CANDY is decadently delicious! I will admit to a certain fondness for very macho men and Blade definitely fits that bill, but he is also compassionate, frustrating, and of course, a tad unsure of the female mind. These characteristics combined with Candy’s emerging feminine powers make for intriguing reading. –Sarah, Romance Junkies
TASTING CANDY is more than a sexy little romance, it is a story of deep and abiding love that conquers and even heals all. From the title, I expected something fun and perhaps light. What I found was something much more. Bravo to Ms. Rainey for delivering such a beautiful and responsible love story.- Jennifer, Wild On Books
TASTING CANDY
(c) 2008 Anne Rainey, Samhain Publishing
Never in his life had he been accused of being a patient man. Aggressive. Stubborn. Chauvinistic. Intimidating. Yep, all of the above, but never patient. And right now every fiber in his being screamed at him to toss patience to the wolves and get on with it already. Still he held back, suppressed his innate need to control and dominate, and let Candice run the show.
She was such a fiery little thing, he was sure of it, but she would need to strip off her thick layer of fear first. If he rushed her, he’d only risk alarming her. Blade would die before he caused Candice even an ounce of pain.
That didn’t help his gonads one bit. As Candice moaned and wriggled, he was ready to explode. His cock responded to her soft ass with bursts of pulsating excitement. All he could do was sit back and let her play. It was killing him. The best things were worth the wait, he reminded himself for the thousandth time. Nevertheless, that shouldn’t mean they couldn’t move on to the next stage of their torturous activity.
Blade gently released Candice’s mouth, absurdly thrilled when she whimpered her dissatisfaction. “Sweetheart, as much as I love kissing you, I think maybe you’re ready for more.” The heat and desire in her eyes nearly sizzled his mustache. “Will you let me touch you?” he asked with a fair amount of caution. “Only above the clothes…for tonight,” he reminded her. When Candice gave him a breathy, “Yes,” Blade’s cock grew another inch.
Never once straying away from the deep, blue pools of her eyes, Blade rubbed his hands up and down Candice’s back, stroking her taut muscles. She arched for him and he let his hands move around to the front of her. Careful to make sure he stayed on neutral ground, he flattened one palm over her concave belly, delighted when she trembled. She was so small that his hand was able to cover the entire width of her. Christ, she was so fragile, it made him want to protect her from all the evils of the world.
Blade moved his palms slowly upward, ever watchful of signs of panic or fear. When her head fell back and her eyes closed, a wave of tender affection overtook him.
“I’m going to touch your breasts now,” he told her softly. Her whimper urged him on.
His hands spread over the gentle swell of her tits and Blade knew a whole new form of bliss. For a man who thought he’d known everything there was to know about women and sexual gratification, it was humbling and thrilling to find out that a slip of a woman could bring him to new heights of pleasure.
“I like that, Blade,” Candice rasped out.
“Me, too, baby,” Blade assured, as he palmed her. He loved the incoherent sounds she made as he kneaded and fondled. When he took a chance and squeezed her erect nipples between his fingers, she fairly jumped.
“I want you, Candice,” he growled, “so fucking bad.”
Her gaze fastened on the erection straining against the confines of his jeans. “I will keep my word to you, sweetheart,” he reassured her. “Just over the clothes. But I won’t lie to you, either. I want to be buried inside of you, so deep and so tight.” Blade had to swallow hard to get himself under control. “You’ll fit me perfectly, too, I just know you’ll fit me perfectly, baby.”
“Oh, Blade.”
He clenched his jaw and closed his eyes against the need in her voice. It was agony to see her so turned-on, yet unable to do a thing about it. Her next words had his heart racing out of control and made his blood run fast and hot.
“Maybe, we can move under the clothes.”
Blade’s eyes flew open as he tried to comprehend her words. “Under?” Blade asked optimistically.
Candice nodded, and Blade drowned in the deep blue of her eyes.
“Are you sure?” She nodded again, more enthusiastic this time, and he nearly came in his pants.
“Just tell me what you want and it’s yours, Candy. Anything. Christ, everything!” he promised heatedly.
She smiled and, in a voice so soft he had to strain to hear, asked, “Will you take off your shirt? I’d like to see you.”
The delicate pleading drove him wild. He wanted to give her whatever she wanted, but he’d made her a promise. Damn it. “I swore only above the clothes. I don’t want to break that promise, baby,” Blade ground out. Being a man of honor was a nuisance at times.
“I know, and you’ve stuck to your word wonderfully.” Candice’s eyes and smile were tender. “But, I think I’ve waited too long to move on with my life. You’ve helped me to see that.” She touched her hand to his cheek. “I want to know what it’s like to feel passion and I want you to be the one to show me, Blade. Please don’t deny me.”
Hearing her say it, and knowing he wasn’t pushing her into anything, helped him make up his mind. Without further delay, Blade whipped his t-shirt over his head and waited. Her gaze traveled over his chest in a heated caress, turning him on further. “Now, will you take off your shirt, Candy girl?” he asked on a ragged breath. “I’d very much like to see you, too.”
Candice’s eyes grew big. For a suspended moment in time, Blade feared he’d lost her, that he’d gone too far. But then she surprised the hell out of him and whipped her own shirt over her head. She sat straddling his thighs with an unadorned white bra covering her small, pert breasts.
Blade’s mouth watered.
He’d never encountered such genuine innocence. She couldn’t have been more beautiful to him if she were wearing some fancy bit of lace and satin. Never in Blade’s life had he felt more like the pillaging bandit. “I want your bra off,” he pleaded. “Please, let me.”
“Yes, Blade.”
With his hands shaking, Blade reached around and undid the clasp, letting the bra fall to her lap. Candice was a small woman, and so her breasts were, too, but to Blade she was perfect. Round and firm and meant for his hands alone. Her taut nipples were enticing dark-mauve cherries surrounded by sweet, creamy fullness. Blade couldn’t seem to muster the strength to stop his fingers from reaching out and stroking the gentle slopes. She moaned and wiggled, and he had to clamp down on the clawing need to take her. To make her his.
She was even softer than he’d dreamed—and Blade had dreamed about her a hell of a lot. Nevertheless, nothing could compare to being able to touch her sweet perfection in real life. He could sit in her barely-lit living room, touching Candy for hours and not get bored.
Blade smoothed his palms over and under, rubbing and cuddling, relishing her rapid breaths. Thrilling over the way she kept her hands in her lap, fisting them together, as if she wanted to do the same to him but was too shy to ask.
“Touch me,” he demanded. “Put your hands on my chest and feel me with your fingers.”
Very gently, she flattened her delicate hands against him. At first, her fingers shook, but soon she sifted them through his chest hair, playing and stroking.
“Can you feel how fast my heart’s beating?” he asked. “I’m excited, sweetheart. Yours is doing the same thing for me. I can feel you beneath my palm, baby. Seeing you like this, all open and ready, it makes me want to taste you. Will you let me do that?” If he could have just one taste of Candy, then surely he’d die a happy man.
“Yes, I-I think I’d like that, Blade.”
“I swear you’ll love it,” he promised. He bent forward and tasted her for the first time. Holding her in his embrace, he sucked on her beaded nipple, laving it with his tongue, encouraged when Candice’s fingers pulled his hair, holding him firmly against her. Her head fell back and she moaned long and deep.
He lifted away from her slightly, breathing as if he’d run a marathon, and growled, “You taste so fucking good, woman.” Then he moved to the other nipple, giving her what she’d asked for—as much passion as he was capable of giving without self-combusting.
“That feels so incredible,” she cried. “I want…” Candice let the words drift off, as if unable to express the turmoil his mouth created.
Blade lifted his head. “I know the feeling.”
“But I’m not doing anything to you.”
He smiled at her naivety. “Are you kidding? I’m ready to explode here. Believe me, seeing you all hot and anxious is definitely doing something to me.”
She blinked, wide-eyed, and whispered, “Oh.”
He chuckled. “Yeah, Oh.” When she blushed and her smile turned slightly wicked, Blade wondered if maybe Candice was ready for more. “Do you think you could handle the next round?” Her hands came up and covered her breasts. Spellbound, Blade watched her rub them as if trying to quell an ache.
“I do want more. I’m just not sure I’m ready to…go all the way, yet.”
Damn if that “yet” didn’t please him to no end.
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WOW, I think I am ready for some more! And I am sure y’all are too! So, here is the question for the GC:
Often times, life imitates art. In Tasting Candy I deal a little bit about date rape, which is a very real crime. Do you feel date rape often times goes unpunished?
Anne was generous enough to offer up a TEN DOLLAR GC from AMAZON, so answer away folks! Oh, and be sure to come back tomorrow for the interview and the announcement of the winner!
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Anne, I’ve enjoyed every story I’ve read from you so far, but I think that TASTING CANDY is my favorite yet, for a multitude of reasons.
One, Blade just totally does it for me. He caught my attention in TOUCHING LACE, so I was very excited to see he was the hero for the sequel to that story.
Second, you handled a very sensitive situation with considerable aplomb.
I can’t recommend this book highly enough!
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Oh, and to answer the question, I think it goes unpunished often, with the menatality of it is his word against hers.
And often times, I think it still goes largely unreported. I do understand totally why a woman would be reluctant to report it, though. I can’t even imagine being in that position and my heart goes out to anyone who is or has been.
It is an absolute travesty that rapists can get away with this.
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I can’t wait to read this one.
Hugs!
Destiny :))
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Thanks, Destiny!
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Jennifer–Thanks so much!! And I’m so glad you enjoyed Blade. He really is one of my top three favorite heroes. I wish there were more guys out there like him!
I agree with you. It’s horrible that rapists often get away with such a terrible crime. So much of the time even when they are convicted the sentence they receive is much too light! We need to stop slapping these people on the wrist and get serious.
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I believe that date rape goes on especially among teens and young adults far too often. No means that- NO. It’s a crime in itself that often does go unprosecuted. Girls are too afraid to come forth and when they do, it’s often with lawyers’ attitudes like “what did you do to deserve it, honey”? I think like drinking and driving, we can start to change society’s attitude’s on this and maybe 10-15 years from now, law enforcement will do more.
by Laura K
on June 23rd, 2008 at 12:04 pm
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I think the whole idea of date rape is too subjective. If a woman or teen is brave enough to come forward to say she’s said NO then her word should be taken into consideration and an investigation should be dealt with accordingly without recriminations. Too often this isn’t the case with not only lawyers but the police also, and even parents or custodians.
Unfortunately, I don’t see this changing anytime in the future.
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Laura K–I agree with you totally! And as a mother of two young girls (15, 13) I can see how they might feel uncomfortable coming forwad. You try to reassure them that no matter what, we’ll listen and help, no matter the situation, but in the end if they don’t say something, then we can’t help. It’s a frustrating situation for parents to be sure.
Stephanie–You’re so right. I watched one show where the daughter did tell her mother, but the mother didn’t believe her, she thought she was lying. So messed up!
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I think it is both underreported and underpunished. I didn’t find out until many years after the fact that several people I knew were victims of this. Looking back, I can see how they were affected by their experiences.
BTW, your book sounds fabulous.
by Beth aka Scifibookcat
on June 23rd, 2008 at 2:50 pm
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The sad part is it’s something that affects your whole life. I think, considering that, it’s only fair for a rapist to get life in prison for this type of crime.
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and thanks, Beth!!
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I agree with you’all, that many cases of date rape go unreported because of embarrasment and fear of legal intimidation, with inadequate punishment meted out to really act as a deterrant.
by Cathy M
on June 23rd, 2008 at 3:59 pm
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Tasting Candy sounds great! I do think it goes unpunished a lot. A lot of girls don’t report it because they are afraid of what the police and their family will think or even if they will believe them about it.
by Amy S.
on June 23rd, 2008 at 4:17 pm
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I agree with the ladies. It’s sad because some girls feel that they were somewhat responsible for what happened to them. They believe they placed themselves in danger.
by cyclops8
on June 23rd, 2008 at 4:31 pm
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Thanks for stopping in Amy S. and Cyclops8! I’ll tell you something. Awhile back my daughter was harrassed by some boys at a gas station. She’d gone to get a pop from the pop machine while I pumped gas. Anyway, they were saying all sorts of nasty, vulgar things. The frustrating thing is for a mom, I want to shut her away, but on the same token, I don’t think she should be ashamed of being pretty. So, instead I try to teach both my girls to be independant and I like to teach them to defend themselves, but also to be careful not to let themselves get into a bad situation. Still, there are those out there who seem so nice, but aren’t. How do you tell the good guys from the bad? Very scary.
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Anne, congrats on your books! This sounds like a great read! To answer your question, I agree with Jennifer–I imagine that date rape is underreported and still relatively difficult to prosecute. And with even one publicized case of a woman lying, that seems to torpedo the many, many real instances that unfortunately go unpunished. It breaks my heart, and the continued existence of the type of mentality that allows this to happen is something that really frightens me about raising a daughter. I do agree that girls shouldn’t be ashamed of being attractive or trying to look attractive; they do also need to be able to defend themselves, but boys need to be raised in such a way that girls shouldn’t have to.
Sorry to go on so long! Clearly a sensitive topic!
by fedora
on June 23rd, 2008 at 6:27 pm
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it can be hard to determine, because of he said she said and drugs or aclohol involved, and it can go unpunished.
love the covers, sounds so hot
by kim h
on June 23rd, 2008 at 11:48 pm
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[…] Excerpt and Prize Question | Home […]
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fedora, thanks for the comments. It’s an issue that we all feel so strongly about and that’s a good thing. Passion changes laws!
Thanks for stopping by Kim!
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Hey, Anne! I’m so excited things are going well for you–and really looking forward to reading Tasting Candy! Hmmm…do you think it would be a conflict of interest if I reviewed it? 
Unfortunately, I know first-hand how under-reported date rape is. I lost my virginity to date rape, but at that time, the term didn’t even exist. The overwhelmingly prevalent attitude was “She must’ve asked for it”. Clue–when a normally built, healthy girl (I was 17 at the time), experiences excruciating pain (I could barely walk for several hours, and I hurt for days) and bleeds for 3 days after the fact… it wasn’t good for her.
A couple of my closest friends knew about it, and THEY took “the attitude”. Funny thing–the guy tried something with one of them a few months later, but she got away. She, at least, had the decency to tell me, and to apologize for her ignorance toward me. And yes, it affected my life for years, and caused some very self-destructive behaviors for a time… but I have my hero now!
by escondita
on June 24th, 2008 at 10:45 am
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Escondita–I’m so sorry this happened to you and even more sorry for the way everyone treated you. I’m glad that in this day and age things have changed, but we still need have a long way to go.
I’m very glad you have your hero now! He’s a lucky guy!
hugs,
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Thanks, Anne. Date rape is one of those sort of ambiguous terms, that can cover such a wide range of circumstances, I’m sure it’s a nightmare from a legal, prosecutorial standpoint. There’s the element of “he said, she said”, and as has been pointed out, there are liars out there who make it worse for the real victims.
Ultimately, though, it’s up to the person involved to make the decision to move on from “victim” to “survivor”; not an easy thing, and often more of an upward spiral than a straight line, but it’s worth the journey!
Honestly, books can make it tougher or easier to cope. Those old “forced seduction” stories of the late ’70’s–’80’s used to drive me nuts, and make me feel even worse about myself. Stories like Candy’s can be really affirming, and encouraging. Good for you, darlin’, for making a story that takes a bad thing, and lets a girl confront and overcome it!
hugs back atcha,
Julia, aka…
by escondita
on June 24th, 2008 at 11:44 am
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Your cover is amazingly juicy!!!
The answer to the question, yes I think it kind of just slips through the crack sometimes. It is her word against his word or vice versa, how can you really prove that it happened. I feel sorry for the victims it happens to.
by Tami
on June 24th, 2008 at 11:50 am
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Julia–I knew it was you, I just didn’t want to use your name in case your were in stealth mode. LOL
Okay, pet peeve…forced seduction. Grrrrr! Those types of books just get under my skin. Pretty it up if you want, but it’s still rape if she’s shouting NO!
Okay, getting down from my soap box now. Thankfully, most of today’s authors write responsibly!
Tami–Thanks for stopping by. I’ll tell you a secret about that cover. I wanted something totally different. When the cover artist presented me with that, I was totally blown away. His vision of “Tasting Candy” was WAY better than mine. Thank God, he didn’t listen to me!!
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Sad but true, I do believe that many cases of date rape go unpunished and a lot has to do with the fact that it does go unreported… even those that are reported I belive most cases go unpunished.
I wish I had seen that documentary you mentioned in your interview, Anne.
by Ali
on June 24th, 2008 at 1:10 pm
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Yes, I do believe that date rape often does go unpunished. Women fear telling anyone because it is their word against the man’s.
by CrystalGB
on June 24th, 2008 at 1:36 pm
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Anne, I absolutely loved Tasting Candy and can’t recommend it highly enough. This is the third of your books I have read and they just keep getting better. I am eagerly waiting for the next one.
I am sure that date rate often goes unpunished. First the girl/woman is ashamed to mention it. Sometimes she has even been convinced that it’s her fault. Sometimes she is threatened by the date rapist.
And if it does go to court it’s very embarrasing for her to testify and answer the questions that his lawyer slams her with.
Unfortunately I don’t have an answer for this. This problem will continue untill technology advances to the point of having a fool proof lie detector. And while he can refuse to take the test, if she does and it comes back showing she told the truth, He is going to be convicted.
sandie * waiting for that day *
by sandie
on June 24th, 2008 at 2:40 pm
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Anne, first let me say that I absolutely loved Tasting Candy and can’t recommend it highly enough. This is the third of your books I have read and they just keep getting better. I am eagerly waiting for the next one.
I am sure that date rate often goes unpunished. First the girl/woman is ashamed to mention it. Sometimes she has even been convinced that it’s her fault. Sometimes she is threatened by the date rapist.
And if it does go to court it’s very embarrasing for her to testify and answer the questions that his lawyer slams her with.
Unfortunately I don’t have an answer for this. The problem will continue untill technology advances to the point of having a fool proof lie detector. And while he can refuse to take the test, if she does and it comes back showing she told the truth, He is going to be convicted.
sandie * waiting for that day *
by sandie
on June 24th, 2008 at 2:42 pm
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Ali–Thanks for stopping by and commenting. That documentary stayed with me. I wish I could think of the name of it, but all I can see is her face. I’ve often wondered how she’s doing now. I hope she’s managed to move past her trauma.
Sandie–Thanks for the comments on Tasting Candy!Yeah, I think a lot of cases of date rape go unreported. I wonder just how many teenage girls were traumatized this way, but were too afraid or ashamed to say anything? Scary.
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