Today's Special Guest - Desiree Holt

Today at our Tiki Hut Blog, we're welcoming award-winning and bestselling author Desiree Holt's as a stop on her blog tour to celebrate her super impressive 100th Release!!! 


Desiree has lived a life of excitement that brings the color to her writing. She was a summer fishing guide, a summer field hand where she was one of only three women working, a member of a beginning ski team that skied in competition (and no, no broken bones!). She spent several years in the music business representing every kind of artist from country singer to heavy metal rock bands. For several years she also ran her own public relations agency handling any client that interested her.

She is twice a finalist for an EPIC E-Book Award, a nominee for a Romantic Times Reviewers Choice Award, winner of the first 5 Heart Sweetheart of the Year Award at The Romance Studio, and is published by four different houses. Romance Junkies said of her work: "Desiree Holt is the most amazing erotica author of our time and each story is more fulfilling then the last."

WEBSITE *** BLOG *** FACEBOOK *** MYSPACE *** TWITTER *** YAHOO GROUP


You’ve been hit by the dreaded writer’s block

So. You current WIP is racing along at warp speed, your characters all know their place, no one is speaking out of turn and you’re feeling pretty darn good about yourself. Then bam! Out of nowhere, a granite wall surrounds your brain. No matter how long you sit at the keyboard and stare at that pesky monitor screen, not one word will come to your brain. What to so. What to do.

There are so many suggested cures for writers block out in cyberspace that if you took the time to read them all, you’d for sure never get any writing done and you wouldn’t have to worry about your frozen brain cells. I thought some were very creative, some were hysterical, and some just plain made good sense.

One suggestions was hypnosis. Of course, you’d have to find a qualified hypnotist and be sure you were a good subject. But if you get past that, maybe you could have him or her implant a few extra suggestions for your next stories. And actually, believe it or not, for $12.95 you can download a CD, play it and hypnotize yourself. Only…who wakes you up?

Another suggestion is to step away from the computer. Well, duh. Don’t we all try that? But while you’re away from the dreaded computer, try translating a poem into another language (Google Babelfish). Or better yet, writing one yourself. It takes your brain on a whole new trip and gets it unstuck from the crossroads you can’t cross.

Watch a movie with English subtitles. I watched the movie, “Z”, that way and not only found myself drawn into the movie but as I concentrated many other idea came to me.

Indulge in a favorite treat. For me it’s coffee ice cream, or sometimes coffee and chocolate mixed together. Which of course is why I’ll never be modeling on the cover of Vogue.

Meditate. A good companion to hypnosis. Sometimes it helps to wipe the brain clean, sometimes it finds that little bend in the road where it’s stuck and unkinks it.

Brainstorm with a friend. Unless of course the friend is either under deadline or having her own writer’s block. If that latter, I suggest a two margarita lunch.

Keep a journal and write in it on the fays your brilliant ideas smack you in the head and the days your brain won’t work at all. When you go back later on and read them you’ll be surprised, stunned, hilarious at what you’ve written.

And finally, just put your WIP aside and start something new. Maybe something outrageous you haven’t tried before. Something that takes you to a whole new place. You’d be surprised how it will flow backwards to the place where you got stuck.

Me? I personally find my brain works best in the shower, which is why I often resemble an old prune.. But then, at least you know I’m always clean!

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WIN - Celebrate Desiree’s 100th release, DOWNSTROKE, with a party at over 30 different blogs in the month of April. Each day the blog hostess for that day will pull a name from the commenters for a free download of the winner’s choice from Desiree’s backlist. A different winner every day. And be sure to register here for a refurbished Acer Netbook with external DVD drive!

And check out the http://www.authorisland.com/ Book of the Day today - you could win a copy of Desiree's UNTIL MIDNIGHT!!

Welcoming Desiree Holt

Today at our Tiki Hut Blog, we're welcoming award-winning and bestselling author Desiree Holt's as a stop on her blog tour to celebrate her super impressive 100th Release!!! 


Desiree has lived a life of excitement that brings the color to her writing. She was a summer fishing guide, a summer field hand where she was one of only three women working, a member of a beginning ski team that skied in competition (and no, no broken bones!). She spent several years in the music business representing every kind of artist from country singer to heavy metal rock bands. For several years she also ran her own public relations agency handling any client that interested her.

She is twice a finalist for an EPIC E-Book Award, a nominee for a Romantic Times Reviewers Choice Award, winner of the first 5 Heart Sweetheart of the Year Award at The Romance Studio, and is published by four different houses. Romance Junkies said of her work: "Desiree Holt is the most amazing erotica author of our time and each story is more fulfilling then the last."

WEBSITE *** BLOG *** FACEBOOK *** MYSPACE *** TWITTER *** YAHOO GROUP


DOWNSTROKE by Desiree Holt

It's been twenty years since security specialist Charley Roper and country star Dallas Creed had their bitter parting. Now a killer has brought them together again, but neither is ready for a reunion - despite signs that their explosive chemistry hasn't waned with time. She can't forget the feel of his hands on her body. He can't forget the hot touch of her mouth. When they finally tumble into bed, the sex is just as good as they remember, hot enough to singe the sheets. But is it enough?

Thrown together during an exhausting, frenzied concert tour, with a killer nipping at their heels, Dallas and Charley find themselves on a hot, suspenseful, erotic roller coaster ride. Can he convince her to trust her heart to him one more time, to reach out for a richer, deeper, more mature love?

More importantly - can Charley keep Dallas alive long enough for either of them to enjoy a second chance?

BUY THE eBOOK *** READ THE EXCERPT *** WATCH THE VIDEO



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The making of a book by Desiree Holt

Downstroke, the story of an anguished love and it’s chance to mature, is my 100th release. And it’s appropriate that for a milestone like this the book should be one that came straight from my heart.

I didn’t begin it as I do many of my stories, with a kernel of an idea or a character who wouldn’t get out of my head. Or in the case of one book, one line of dialogue. To tell you about the birth of the book I have to explain that in a life that’s been fortunately varied and exciting I spent ten years in the music industry, as a booking agent and a manager. The music has changed and technology has altered many things in the industry. But one thing hasn’t changed at all–the excitement of a performance and the magic that an electrifying performance brings.

Driving into town one day I happened to pull an old cassette out of the console in my truck (yes, I know, cassette – LOL! That’s how long ago I was in the business!). It was the recording of a concert with a major headliner that one of my bands opened for. As I listened to the music I was transported back to that night in the open air amphitheater, the crowd stirring restlessly as it waited for the concert to begin, the notes of the band tuning up behind the curtain. The anticipation that something magic was about to happen.

Except for one story I hadn’t really drawn on those years of experience in my writing but now ideas began dancing around in my mind. I wanted people to know what it was like in the industry, to share the excitement I’d felt so many times over those years. I’d have a hero-Dallas Creed-and a heroine (ultimately named Charley) and against a backdrop of the music business and the tension of a stalking killer I’d tell their story.

When I walked into my appointment that day I came face to face with the man who would become the inspiration for Dallas Creed-lean and muscular, mid forties, blond with streaks of grey in his hair. Smoky eyes filled with wisdom and anguish. I couldn’t wait to get home and get started.

As I listened to the music again on the way back the title popped into my head-Downstroke. The word refers to the motion of the hand from the top string to the bottom on a guitar. And in my book it would also refer to the rise of my hero, his fall to the bottom and his rise again. I could feel him in my heart-a man who’d thrown away a chance at happiness for the glitter of fame and success, who’d nearly died because of it and now was back on top again but with an emotional emptiness he couldn’t fill.

And then back into his life comes Charley, the woman he’s always loved. Top notch security agent with a successful business but also a void in her life. Twenty years of bitterness lies between them when she’s hired by his brother to find the killer stalking him.

This is a romantic suspense novel and a story of an exciting industry. But most of all it’s a love story of two people in midlife who have a chance to recapture what they threw away. Writing Downstroke was my reward to myself for all the time I’d spent learning my craft, earning my stripes. However you want to define it.

I hope you will love it as much as I do.

***

WIN - Celebrate Desiree’s 100th release, DOWNSTROKE, with a party at over 30 different blogs in the month of April. Each day the blog hostess for that day will pull a name from the commenters for a free download of the winner’s choice from Desiree’s backlist. A different winner every day. And be sure to register here for a refurbished Acer Netbook with external DVD drive!

This Week At The Tiki Hut -- Cris Anson

This week's guest at the AuthorIsland Tiki Hut is Cris Anson who writes for Ellora's Cave and she stops by to tell us all about how she ended up on the cover of her brand new release WHAT SHE NEEDS!

15 Minutes in Angelo’s Arms
by Cris Anson

Ellora’s Caveman Angelo exploded into our consciousness at last October’s RomantiCon, Ellora’s Cave’s first annual erotic romance conference. (He has since graced dozens of Ellora’s Cave covers.) The quintessential tall, dark and handsome Venezuelan riveted everyone’s attention as he danced. Made our hearts beat faster whenever he smiled, which was often. Charmed us all when speaking with us in his delightful accent.

For a lucky few, he was more. Saturday morning of the conference, I was invited to participate in a photo shoot with Angelo at his virgin cover-model gig for Ellora’s Cave. My immediate reaction: Is the Pope Catholic? Does the sun set in the west?

If you’ve attended a Romantic Times convention, you’ve seen the Mr. Romance contestants or the Ellora’s Cavemen posing as a group with one attendee at a time, proceeds to charity, three minutes max and on to the next person in line. And yes, I have a few of those poses myself.

But this. This was fifteen minutes of permission to stand seriously close to Angelo, to look deeply into his warm brown eyes, to run my fingers through his long black hair. To have his undivided attention as he held me in his muscular arms.

Have I mentioned that Angelo is hawt?

He was wearing only a towel, as you can see from the photo gracing the cover of my July release WHAT SHE NEEDS, and I’m not positive (or maybe it’s wishful thinking), but he might have gone commando. Be still, my heart!

Alas, I could never quite forget the photographers arrayed around us—standing, kneeling, moving to get different camera angles. Furniture had been moved to the side. Sunlight poured in through the hotel room’s windows. Lights had been set up to the side and behind us. Directives flew like machine-gun fire.

“Look this way.” “Turn around just a bit to your left.” “Now move behind her.” And so on.

The results astounded me. Or, I should say, the results of Ellora’s Cave Art Director Syneca’s efforts with PhotoShop astounded me. I look like…someone Angelo might want to get closer to. Like someone living the script she wrote. Like Delia Barnes, the heroine of WHAT SHE NEEDS, who found her younger man in a most unexpected place—an erotic romance convention.

Here’s the blurb for WHAT SHE NEEDS:

Older widow Delia Barnes greets fellow authors before an erotic romance convention sporting a black eye, which she explains away with “I didn’t say ‘Yes, Master’ quick enough.” Sitting at the bar, burned-out ad executive and former Dom Kurt Reinhardt overhears that comment once too often and interrupts to suggest, “Maybe you need a new Master.”

Urged by her friends to accept the younger man’s invitation to learn some D/s basics—hey, an author needs to do her research, right?—Delia joins him to get first-hand experience at being submissive, starting with removing her panties in a corner booth. Later, she learns more than she bargained for when she spends a weekend at Kurt’s home with his eager business partner added to the mix.

But an innocent misstep brings Delia’s world crashing down around her. Can she trust Kurt with her heart…and her life?

You can read an excerpt of WHAT SHE NEEDS and buy the book here.

If you want to know more about RomantiCon 2010, here’s the link. We’ll be eagerly looking to see which of the Ellora’s Cavemen attend.

To read more about me and my books, please check out my Website , my MySpace page and friend me at Facebook.

Oh, and one more thing about WHAT SHE NEEDS mirroring real life: I attended my first Romantic Times convention sporting a black eye. This photo of me with Mr. Romance finalist and Ellora’s Caveman John Fish was not PhotoShopped.

If you enjoyed this mini-peek into a model’s hard life, I hope you’ll take a moment to comment (this will enter you into the drawing for a prize). Thanks for stopping by!


PS - Please leave your email address, so Cris can contact you if you are this week's winner!

The Cougar Challenge - Book Seven - CAM'S HOLIDAY by Ciana Stone

Seven of the wildest women of erotic romance pull out all the stops in a series about women who dare to take the challenge and experience the delights of sex with a younger man. Women who cast off their cloaks of conventionality and indulge their inner wild woman.

Call it fate or coincidence, but when Autumn Kelley, Rachel Bridges, Camille Stockton, Monica Allen, Elizabeth Winters, and Stevie Jones meet at Romanticon™, an Erotic Romance convention, an instant bond is formed. Not only do they share a love of Erotic Romance, but their lives are traveling remarkably parallel paths. All single due to quirks of fate (or unfaithful men), each of them longs for the kind of sexual adventure and romance they read about in the erotic romance books they so love. And each one is terrified at the idea of trying to pursue that dream.

When the convention ends, the friendship grows. They chat online and by phone and even blog on a private blog Camille sets up. They discuss their fantasies and tease one another about not having the courage to have a “real” Cougar experience. Soon they are joined by an unlikely new member, Edie Howard, unbeknownst to them an ex-supermodel.

One of the women gets a bit tired of “all talk and no action” or as she refers to it “the Elvis song” (a little less conversation a little more action) and challenges everyone to get out there and see what’s available.

And so they do.

Each woman finds her own brand of sexual adventure and perhaps sexual reawakening. And she blogs about it to her friends. They cheer one another on, laugh at the “oops” moments and tease each other good naturedly as their stories unfold.

Books in the Cougar Challenge Series:
1. PLAY IT AGAIN, SAM by Samantha Kane
2. BEAUTY OF SUNSET by Lynne Connolly
3. WINTER’S THAW by Dalton Diaz
4. HOT TO TROT by Desiree Holt
5. ASSUME THE POSITIONS by Mari Carr
6. SIN ON SKIN by Mari Freeman
7. CAM’S HOLIDAY by Ciana Stone

Come meet the ladies of Cougar Challenge at Romantic Times Booklovers convention. The Cougar Growl on Thursday, April 29 2:30-3:30 will have the authors in person and feature lots of prizes and giveaways. Visit their blog for yummy pictures, posts and details!

CAM'S HOLIDAY By: Ciana Stone
Book seven of the Cougar Challenge series.

Fantasies about being with a younger man? Before her husband left her for a younger model, they wouldn’t have crossed Cam’s mind, but now she has plenty. After meeting a group of ladies at RomantiCon, Cam and the women form a blog celebrating younger men—Tempt the Cougar. Then they challenge each other to find a younger man to make their fantasies come true. It’s not a husband hunt. It isn’t about love. It’s about a night of hot, steamy sex.

When Lee Holiday enters Cam’s life, he seems like the right man for the job. A personal trainer, he makes it clear he’d love to ring Cam’s bell. And ring it he does. Repeatedly. Cam’s found sexual nirvana. Only Lee’s not going to be happy with a short-term, sex-only relationship. He wants the whole nine yards and is out to prove to Cam that he’s more than just a holiday from her normal life. He’s the man of her dreams.

BUY THE BOOK *** READ THE EXCERPT

WIN - Seven authors, seven books, seven days...each day this week, we'll talk about one of the books in this hot and sexy series from Ellora's Cave and each day, we'll give away a free download of that book to one of the readers who comments that day! All readers who comment on each of this week's seven posts will get their name in the hat for a beautiful tote bag filled with author goodies and signed by the authors at the 2009 RomantiCon! Please be sure to leave your email address so we can contact you if you're one of our winners.

The Cougar Challenge - Book Six - SIN ON SKIN by Mari Freeman

Seven of the wildest women of erotic romance pull out all the stops in a series about women who dare to take the challenge and experience the delights of sex with a younger man. Women who cast off their cloaks of conventionality and indulge their inner wild woman.



Call it fate or coincidence, but when Autumn Kelley, Rachel Bridges, Camille Stockton, Monica Allen, Elizabeth Winters, and Stevie Jones meet at Romanticon™, an Erotic Romance convention, an instant bond is formed. Not only do they share a love of Erotic Romance, but their lives are traveling remarkably parallel paths. All single due to quirks of fate (or unfaithful men), each of them longs for the kind of sexual adventure and romance they read about in the erotic romance books they so love. And each one is terrified at the idea of trying to pursue that dream.

When the convention ends, the friendship grows. They chat online and by phone and even blog on a private blog Camille sets up. They discuss their fantasies and tease one another about not having the courage to have a “real” Cougar experience. Soon they are joined by an unlikely new member, Edie Howard, unbeknownst to them an ex-supermodel.

One of the women gets a bit tired of “all talk and no action” or as she refers to it “the Elvis song” (a little less conversation a little more action) and challenges everyone to get out there and see what’s available.

And so they do.

Each woman finds her own brand of sexual adventure and perhaps sexual reawakening. And she blogs about it to her friends. They cheer one another on, laugh at the “oops” moments and tease each other good naturedly as their stories unfold.

Books in the Cougar Challenge Series:
1. PLAY IT AGAIN, SAM by Samantha Kane
2. BEAUTY OF SUNSET by Lynne Connolly
3. WINTER’S THAW by Dalton Diaz
4. HOT TO TROT by Desiree Holt
5. ASSUME THE POSITIONS by Mari Carr
6. SIN ON SKIN by Mari Freeman
7. CAM’S HOLIDAY by Ciana Stone

Come meet the ladies of Cougar Challenge at Romantic Times Booklovers convention. The Cougar Growl on Thursday, April 29 2:30-3:30 will have the authors in person and feature lots of prizes and giveaways. Visit their blog for yummy pictures, posts and details!

SIN ON SKIN By: Mari Freeman

Book six of the Cougar Challenge series.

Wild women do…

That’s the theme for the friends Stevie Jones found at an erotic-romance convention. But as the women share their experiences with younger guys on their Tempt the Cougar blog, Stevie discovers she’s the least wild of the bunch. Finding a younger man isn’t the problem; after a lifetime of unfulfilled desires, Stevie needs a younger alpha man. In the meantime, getting a tattoo is an easy, safe way to begin ramping up her wild side.

Tattoo artist Errol knows instantly what Stevie needs, and it’s not just a bit of ink. He’s hot, young—and he’s just invited Stevie to his private BDSM club. Before you can say “green light”, Stevie is experiencing things she’d only read in her favorite erotic novels. Sinful toys, spanking benches and voyeurism are just some of the stops on what will become the wildest ride of her life.

BUY THE BOOK *** READ THE EXCERPT

WIN - Seven authors, seven books, seven days...each day this week, we'll talk about one of the books in this hot and sexy series from Ellora's Cave and each day, we'll give away a free download of that book to one of the readers who comments that day! All readers who comment on each of this week's seven posts will get their name in the hat for a beautiful tote bag filled with author goodies and signed by the authors at the 2009 Romanticon! Please be sure to leave your email address so we can contact you if you're one of our winners.

The Cougar Challenge - Book Five - ASSUME THE POSITIONS by Mari Carr

Seven of the wildest women of erotic romance pull out all the stops in a series about women who dare to take the challenge and experience the delights of sex with a younger man. Women who cast off their cloaks of conventionality and indulge their inner wild woman.

Call it fate or coincidence, but when Autumn Kelley, Rachel Bridges, Camille Stockton, Monica Allen, Elizabeth Winters, and Stevie Jones meet at Romanticon™, an Erotic Romance convention, an instant bond is formed. Not only do they share a love of Erotic Romance, but their lives are traveling remarkably parallel paths. All single due to quirks of fate (or unfaithful men), each of them longs for the kind of sexual adventure and romance they read about in the erotic romance books they so love. And each one is terrified at the idea of trying to pursue that dream.

When the convention ends, the friendship grows. They chat online and by phone and even blog on a private blog Camille sets up. They discuss their fantasies and tease one another about not having the courage to have a “real” Cougar experience. Soon they are joined by an unlikely new member, Edie Howard, unbeknownst to them an ex-supermodel.

One of the women gets a bit tired of “all talk and no action” or as she refers to it “the Elvis song” (a little less conversation a little more action) and challenges everyone to get out there and see what’s available.

And so they do.

Each woman finds her own brand of sexual adventure and perhaps sexual reawakening. And she blogs about it to her friends. They cheer one another on, laugh at the “oops” moments and tease each other good naturedly as their stories unfold.

Books in the Cougar Challenge Series:
1. PLAY IT AGAIN, SAM by Samantha Kane
2. BEAUTY OF SUNSET by Lynne Connolly
3. WINTER’S THAW by Dalton Diaz
4. HOT TO TROT by Desiree Holt
5. ASSUME THE POSITIONS by Mari Carr
6. SIN ON SKIN by Mari Freeman
7. CAM’S HOLIDAY by Ciana Stone

Come meet the ladies of Cougar Challenge at Romantic Times Booklovers convention. The Cougar Growl on Thursday, April 29 2:30-3:30 will have the authors in person and feature lots of prizes and giveaways. Visit their blog for yummy pictures, posts and details!


ASSUME THE POSTIONS By: Mari Carr

Book five of the Cougar Challenge series.

Damn Cougar Challenge!

Rachel’s thankful for the new friends she met while attending an erotica-book convention. They instantly connected and began sharing the relationship woes unique to older single women on their Tempt the Cougar blog. Then Monica issues that challenge… How is Rachel going to convince a younger man to have sex with her? Hell, even she doesn’t want to look at herself naked. To control her growing angst, she makes a list of eligible men then… Nothing. It’s been too long and her divorce was too painful. She’ll never be able to do this.

Ethan, one of Rachel’s physical therapy patients, is pissed when he learns of the challenge. Not because he finds it silly—because he’s not on Rachel’s list! So he does what any self-assured young stud would do. The luscious police officer gives her a copy of the Kama Sutra then asks her to make a new list.

And assume the positions…

BUY THE BOOK *** READ THE EXCERPT

WIN - Seven authors, seven books, seven days...each day this week, we'll talk about one of the books in this hot and sexy series from Ellora's Cave and each day, we'll give away a free download of that book to one of the readers who comments that day! All readers who comment on each of this week's seven posts will get their name in the hat for a beautiful tote bag filled with author goodies and signed by the authors at the 2009 RomantiCon! Please be sure to leave your email address so we can contact you if you're one of our winners.

The Cougar Challenge - Book Four - HOT TO TROT by Desiree Holt

Seven of the wildest women of erotic romance pull out all the stops in a series about women who dare to take the challenge and experience the delights of sex with a younger man. Women who cast off their cloaks of conventionality and indulge their inner wild woman.

Call it fate or coincidence, but when Autumn Kelley, Rachel Bridges, Camille Stockton, Monica Allen, Elizabeth Winters, and Stevie Jones meet at Romanticon™, an Erotic Romance convention, an instant bond is formed. Not only do they share a love of Erotic Romance, but their lives are traveling remarkably parallel paths. All single due to quirks of fate (or unfaithful men), each of them longs for the kind of sexual adventure and romance they read about in the erotic romance books they so love. And each one is terrified at the idea of trying to pursue that dream.

When the convention ends, the friendship grows. They chat online and by phone and even blog on a private blog Camille sets up. They discuss their fantasies and tease one another about not having the courage to have a “real” Cougar experience. Soon they are joined by an unlikely new member, Edie Howard, unbeknownst to them an ex-supermodel.

One of the women gets a bit tired of “all talk and no action” or as she refers to it “the Elvis song” (a little less conversation a little more action) and challenges everyone to get out there and see what’s available.

And so they do.

Each woman finds her own brand of sexual adventure and perhaps sexual reawakening. And she blogs about it to her friends. They cheer one another on, laugh at the “oops” moments and tease each other good naturedly as their stories unfold.

Books in the Cougar Challenge Series:
1. PLAY IT AGAIN, SAM by Samantha Kane
2. BEAUTY OF SUNSET by Lynne Connolly
3. WINTER’S THAW by Dalton Diaz
4. HOT TO TROT by Desiree Holt
5. ASSUME THE POSITIONS by Mari Carr
6. SIN ON SKIN by Mari Freeman
7. CAM’S HOLIDAY by Ciana Stone

Come meet the ladies of Cougar Challenge at Romantic Times Booklovers convention. The Cougar Growl on Thursday, April 29 2:30-3:30 will have the authors in person and feature lots of prizes and giveaways. Visit their blog for yummy pictures, posts and details!

HOT TO TROT By: Desiree Holt

Book four of the Cougar Challenge series.

Buying a ranch on eBay was the wildest thing Autumn Kelley had ever done. Past forty, she’d pretty much written excitement out of her life. But then she discovers the ranch comes with a foreman who makes her pulse pound and could give her an orgasm just by looking at her. As if that isn’t enough, he has a friend equally as mouthwatering—and the two of them take Autumn on an erotic trip that outdoes any fantasy she could ever have imagined.

If sex with one hot boy toy is fantastic, sex with two at the same time is a whole new level of amazing. But what happens when Autumn inevitably has to come down from the orgasmic high

BUY THE BOOK *** READ THE EXCERPT

WIN - Seven authors, seven books, seven days...each day this week, we'll talk about one of the books in this hot and sexy series from Ellora's Cave and each day, we'll give away a free download of that book to one of the readers who comments that day! All readers who comment on each of this week's seven posts will get their name in the hat for a beautiful tote bag filled with author goodies and signed by the authors at the 2009 RomantiCon! Please be sure to leave your email address so we can contact you if you're one of our winners.

The Cougar Challenge - Book Three - WINTER'S THAW by Dalton Diaz

Seven of the wildest women of erotic romance pull out all the stops in a series about women who dare to take the challenge and experience the delights of sex with a younger man. Women who cast off their cloaks of conventionality and indulge their inner wild woman.

Call it fate or coincidence, but when Autumn Kelley, Rachel Bridges, Camille Stockton, Monica Allen, Elizabeth Winters, and Stevie Jones meet at Romanticon™, an Erotic Romance convention, an instant bond is formed. Not only do they share a love of Erotic Romance, but their lives are traveling remarkably parallel paths. All single due to quirks of fate (or unfaithful men), each of them longs for the kind of sexual adventure and romance they read about in the erotic romance books they so love. And each one is terrified at the idea of trying to pursue that dream.

When the convention ends, the friendship grows. They chat online and by phone and even blog on a private blog Camille sets up. They discuss their fantasies and tease one another about not having the courage to have a “real” Cougar experience. Soon they are joined by an unlikely new member, Edie Howard, unbeknownst to them an ex-supermodel.

One of the women gets a bit tired of “all talk and no action” or as she refers to it “the Elvis song” (a little less conversation a little more action) and challenges everyone to get out there and see what’s available.

And so they do.

Each woman finds her own brand of sexual adventure and perhaps sexual reawakening. And she blogs about it to her friends. They cheer one another on, laugh at the “oops” moments and tease each other good naturedly as their stories unfold.

Books in the Cougar Challenge Series:
1. PLAY IT AGAIN, SAM by Samantha Kane
2. BEAUTY OF SUNSET by Lynne Connolly
3. WINTER’S THAW by Dalton Diaz
4. HOT TO TROT by Desiree Holt
5. ASSUME THE POSITIONS by Mari Carr
6. SIN ON SKIN by Mari Freeman
7. CAM’S HOLIDAY by Ciana Stone

Come meet the ladies of Cougar Challenge at Romantic Times Booklovers convention. The Cougar Growl on Thursday, April 29 2:30-3:30 will have the authors in person and feature lots of prizes and giveaways. Visit their blog for yummy pictures, posts and details!

WINTER'S THAW By: Dalton Diaz

Book three of the Cougar Challenge series.

OR nurse Elizabeth Winters is forty-one, divorced and determined to figure out what all the fuss is about sex. Her ex spent over twenty years crushing her sensuality and it is long past time for release. Literally, dammit! In her quest, she befriends a group of women her age who admit having a passion for younger men—and thus begins a challenge…

Thirty-year-old engineer Kevin Springer loves solving puzzles and “Elle” has him aching to fit the pieces. The more he gets to know her, the more intrigued he becomes, especially in bed. He quickly realizes he wants more than her offered no-strings-attached, wild sex, but convincing her to take a chance on a relationship isn’t going to be easy.

BUY THE BOOK *** READ THE EXCERPT

WIN - Seven authors, seven books, seven days...each day this week, we'll talk about one of the books in this hot and sexy series from Ellora's Cave and each day, we'll give away a free download of that book to one of the readers who comments that day! All readers who comment on each of this week's seven posts will get their name in the hat for a beautiful tote bag filled with author goodies and signed by the authors at the 2009 RomantiCon! Please be sure to leave your email address so we can contact you if you're one of our winners.

The Cougar Challenge - Book Two - BEAUTY OF SUNSET by Lynne Connolly

Seven of the wildest women of erotic romance pull out all the stops in a series about women who dare to take the challenge and experience the delights of sex with a younger man. Women who cast off their cloaks of conventionality and indulge their inner wild woman.



Call it fate or coincidence, but when Autumn Kelley, Rachel Bridges, Camille Stockton, Monica Allen, Elizabeth Winters, and Stevie Jones meet at Romanticon™, an Erotic Romance convention, an instant bond is formed. Not only do they share a love of Erotic Romance, but their lives are traveling remarkably parallel paths. All single due to quirks of fate (or unfaithful men), each of them longs for the kind of sexual adventure and romance they read about in the erotic romance books they so love. And each one is terrified at the idea of trying to pursue that dream.

When the convention ends, the friendship grows. They chat online and by phone and even blog on a private blog Camille sets up. They discuss their fantasies and tease one another about not having the courage to have a “real” Cougar experience. Soon they are joined by an unlikely new member, Edie Howard, unbeknownst to them an ex-supermodel.

One of the women gets a bit tired of “all talk and no action” or as she refers to it “the Elvis song” (a little less conversation a little more action) and challenges everyone to get out there and see what’s available.

And so they do.

Each woman finds her own brand of sexual adventure and perhaps sexual reawakening. And she blogs about it to her friends. They cheer one another on, laugh at the “oops” moments and tease each other good naturedly as their stories unfold.

Books in the Cougar Challenge Series:
1. PLAY IT AGAIN, SAM by Samantha Kane
2. BEAUTY OF SUNSET by Lynne Connolly
3. WINTER’S THAW by Dalton Diaz
4. HOT TO TROT by Desiree Holt
5. ASSUME THE POSITIONS by Mari Carr
6. SIN ON SKIN by Mari Freeman
7. CAM’S HOLIDAY by Ciana Stone

Come meet the ladies of Cougar Challenge at Romantic Times Booklovers convention. The Cougar Growl on Thursday, April 29 2:30-3:30 will have the authors in person and feature lots of prizes and giveaways. Visit their blog for yummy pictures, posts and details!


BEAUTY OF SUNSET By: Lynne Connolly
Book two of the Cougar Challenge series.

When Edie Howard meets cosmetic surgeon John Sung, she can’t think of anything except getting the younger man naked. Her friends on the Tempt the Cougar blog remind Edie of her promise—to seduce a younger man. It’s time for Edie to take action.

Dr. John Sung takes one look at Edie and knows he can’t operate on her. He signs off as her doctor and makes her a bet—if he can make her love her body as it is, she won’t have any surgery.

John’s bet involves close examinations—and torrid, sleepless nights. Their passion is far more than either expects, and John begins to wonder if he’ll ever get enough of this woman. Edie just counts her blessings and hopes their

BUY THE BOOK *** READ THE EXCERPT

WIN - Seven authors, seven books, seven days...each day this week, we'll talk about one of the books in this hot and sexy series from Ellora's Cave and each day, we'll give away a free download of that book to one of the readers who comments that day! All readers who comment on each of this week's seven posts will get their name in the hat for a beautiful tote bag filled with author goodies and signed by the authors at the 2009 RomantiCon! Please be sure to leave your email address so we can contact you if you're one of our winners.

The Cougar Challenge - Book One - PLAY IT AGAIN, SAM by Samantha Kane

Seven of the wildest women of erotic romance pull out all the stops in a series about women who dare to take the challenge and experience the delights of sex with a younger man. Women who cast off their cloaks of conventionality and indulge their inner wild woman.



Call it fate or coincidence, but when Autumn Kelley, Rachel Bridges, Camille Stockton, Monica Allen, Elizabeth Winters, and Stevie Jones meet at Romanticon™, an Erotic Romance convention, an instant bond is formed. Not only do they share a love of Erotic Romance, but their lives are traveling remarkably parallel paths. All single due to quirks of fate (or unfaithful men), each of them longs for the kind of sexual adventure and romance they read about in the erotic romance books they so love. And each one is terrified at the idea of trying to pursue that dream.

When the convention ends, the friendship grows. They chat online and by phone and even blog on a private blog Camille sets up. They discuss their fantasies and tease one another about not having the courage to have a “real” Cougar experience. Soon they are joined by an unlikely new member, Edie Howard, unbeknownst to them an ex-supermodel.

One of the women gets a bit tired of “all talk and no action” or as she refers to it “the Elvis song” (a little less conversation a little more action) and challenges everyone to get out there and see what’s available.

And so they do.

Each woman finds her own brand of sexual adventure and perhaps sexual reawakening. And she blogs about it to her friends. They cheer one another on, laugh at the “oops” moments and tease each other good naturedly as their stories unfold.

Books in the Cougar Challenge Series:
1. PLAY IT AGAIN, SAM by Samantha Kane
2. BEAUTY OF SUNSET by Lynne Connolly
3. WINTER’S THAW by Dalton Diaz
4. HOT TO TROT by Desiree Holt
5. ASSUME THE POSITIONS by Mari Carr
6. SIN ON SKIN by Mari Freeman
7. CAM’S HOLIDAY by Ciana Stone

Come meet the ladies of Cougar Challenge at Romantic Times Booklovers convention. The Cougar Growl on Thursday, April 29 2:30-3:30 will have the authors in person and feature lots of prizes and giveaways. Visit their blog for yummy pictures, posts and details!


PLAY IT AGAIN, SAM By: Samantha Kane
Book One of the Cougar Challenge series.

Monica Allen has always been attracted to younger men. She even married one. But after the divorce, she thought she was through with them for good. Then she meets a group of ladies at RomantiCon, and they form a blog celebrating younger men, Tempt the Cougar.

After another lonely Friday night, Monica challenges her friends to each find a younger man to make their fantasies come true. She doesn’t have to marry him—been there, done that, threw away the t-shirt. But for a night of hot sex? Hell yes.

But Sam Lincoln refuses to be just a fantasy. He’s a graduate student with a yen for older women and he may have just found the one to make his own fantasies come true. With a little help from his roommate Josh, Sam fulfills Monica’s deepest desires. Can he convince this sexy cougar to give him a chance at happily ever after?


BUY THE BOOK *** READ THE EXCERPT

WIN - Seven authors, seven books, seven days...each day this week, we'll talk about one of the books in this hot and sexy series from Ellora's Cave and each day, we'll give away a free download of that book to one of the readers who comments that day! All readers who comment on each of this week's seven posts will get their name in the hat for a beautiful tote bag filled with author goodies and signed by the authors at the 2009 RomantiCon! Please be sure to leave your email address so we can contact you if you're one of our winners.

This Tuesday At The Tiki Hut - Cheryl Dragon

The winner of a free download of one of Cheryl Dragon's books is Marcy! Marcy, email me at AuthorIsland at yahoo.com with your contact information so Cheryl can get with you about which of her books you'd like to try out!

Thanks to everyone for stopping by to keep Cheryl company at the Tiki Hut!

A lover of unusual things, Cheryl Dragon enjoys writing unique stories with sinfully hot erotic romance or suspenseful mainstream paranormals. Never at a loss for ideas, there are plenty of stories in her brain waiting to be written. Her two favorites book settings are Las Vegas and New Orleans...where anything can happen!

Cheryl lives in the Chicagoland area with her deaf albino cat. By day she crunches & analyzes numbers as an Assistant Controller for a division of a large international conglomerate which leaves the creative juices free for her erotic romance and paranormal suspense novels.

Visit Website *** Visit Myspace *** Visit Blog

Welcome to the Tiki Hut, Cheryl!

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Escape for Summer….One way or another!

Some days I wish I had become a teacher. Some profession where I get the summers off. But no such luck here. Day job, writing, and life continue year round.

We all need to escape reality for a little while. Some of us can go on vacation. I went on a mini-working vacation in early June to the Lori Foster Weekend. Not a big vacation but affordable and fun. I got to see my writer friends and my slave labor promoters (like DeNita!).

Another way I personally escape is TV. I love my shows…like The Closer, Leverage, The Office, Family Guy, and more. I blog about the new stuff or a great rerun weely at my new blog: http://cheryldragon.blogspot.com/ You’ll also find info on my releases as they come out so there is a little promo there as well.

My other way of escaping is writing and I’ve got a lot of stuff coming out this summer. Ménage, m/m, paranormal, and all of it really really HOT!

Cheryl Dragon Summer Releases for your Escape Pleasure!!

May: Her Boyfriend’s Boyfriend
Available Now in Ebook at Loose Id
Link: http://www.loose-id.com/prod-Her_Boyfriend_s_Boyfriend-938.aspx

Excerpt Link: http://www.loose-id.com/CDHBBex.aspx

Genre: Ménage
Blurb:

Cassie has found the man of her dreams. Neil’s rich and smart and hotter than hell! He's perfect. Except for one small thing. Their sex life is cooling off and he’s not talking. It's not her, she's almost sure, and she's not giving up. She's determined to get to the bottom of it. And fix it.

What Cassie doesn't know is that Neil used to have a boyfriend. Lou. They used to pick up women together, have sex with them, enjoy them, but they never found one they wanted to keep. Then Lou moved on. Neil tried. He tried to go straight for Cassie and for his career, but he never stopped loving Lou and without that man in his bed, he's never going to have everything he needs, no matter how much he loves Cassie.

Once Cassie starts digging around, the truth can't be denied. And neither can the chemistry between Cassie and Lou. Is she the one they needed all along? Cassie's never had two men before. Not even just in bed. The idea of a ménage life scares her a little, honestly. But now that she knows how to please her boyfriend, she's not letting him go. Even if it means learning to love her boyfriend's boyfriend.

June:
Out of Body Sexy
Paranormal Rubenesque Erotic Romance
Available: Now at Ellora’s Cave
Length: Quickie
Link: http://www.jasminejade.com/ps-7331-50-out-of-body-sex.aspx
Excerpt Link: http://www.jasminejade.com/ps-7331-50-out-of-body-sex.aspx

Blurb:

Plus-size psychic Kim Vennon doesn’t know how to get sexy Matt Rayne but she can’t resist using her skills to get close. Going out of her body is freeing and she can play with his hard, sexy form anonymously. But it goes farther than planned. When he calls her name, she flees to her body but Matt follows, determined to get the full experience and no more games. Matt has wanted the voluptuous woman but fate kept them apart. Now he’s going to have his way with her, in and out of their bodies.



Psychic Rebels
Available TODAY at Loose Id
Link: http://www.loose-id.com/prod-Psychic_Rebels-965.aspx
Excerpt Link: http://cheryldragon.blogspot.com/2009/06/new-release-psychic-rebels.html

Blurb:

On again off again lovers Colin and Dennis, a psychic and a healer, know they are meant to be together, but the world is against them. They have the power to destroy evil before it happens, if only they can survive their lust for each other.

I also have two more releases coming out in August…keep an eye on my blog or my website for that info. Of course it’ll be on Author Island as well.

Let the Tiki gods sweep you away for summer fun! Enjoy and mix some margaritas to keep cool and check out my current contest up at Author Island to win some goodies!

Cheryl Dragon

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A chance to win - one winner will be drawn tomorrow morning from all those leaving comments for Cheryl today to win a free download of one of Cheryl's books - good luck!