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The Romance Reviews

Friday, 24 January 2014

#FlashFictionFriday


Every week, a fabulous group of writers take inspiration from a selected pic and write 100 words to go with it. Check them out  #FlashFictionFriday

Saffron clicked on the icon her boyfriend had tried to minimize on the laptop as she came into the room.
"What the hell is this?"
Images of an overweight, virtually naked man popped up on the screen. She knew Tom had a bit of a dodgy past he didn't like to talk about, but a fetish for portly gentlemen was definitely something they needed to address.
"I wish you hadn't seen that," he said with a sigh.
"Is there something I should know?" She feared anything that would jeopardize their relationship.

"That's what I looked like before the gastric band."

Wednesday, 22 January 2014

#ThursdayTasters


Every Thursday a group of talented writers share a sample of their awesome writing here. Check them out!

This week, I've stopped by the cosmetics counter in my wip. This is the second book in my series, The Department Store.

With grim determination, he pulled her back the way she came, not saying a word.
"Jonah? What's going on? I need to go home." The tone of her voice varied from loud, outright panic, to quiet resignation. It only succeeded in driving him on in his quest.
When they reached the pub again he dodged down the alleyway at the side. They didn't need an audience. He pushed Maggie up against the wall, careful not to hurt her, but, with enough force to stop her running again. He caged her between his body and the brick building. As she worried her bottom lip with her teeth, Jonah leaned down to catch it and draw it back out. She was soft and pliant, and her gentle scent intoxicated him further.
With a point to prove, he kissed her hard, plunging his tongue in to her mouth to taste her sweetness and claim it for himself. Such an audacious move would've deserved a slap or a knee to the balls. Either would've been worth it. Instead, she went limp beneath him, submitting immediately.
Whoah!
He levered her off and stepped back. "That is how you make me feel. How you should be kissed."

Christ, the way she responded to it made it a double sin that someone didn't do that to her frequently.

Tuesday, 21 January 2014

New Release! - Stacey Espino

Today's Hot New Release comes from the fabulous Stacey Espino :)


COWBOYS MINE by Stacey Espino

Western Menage (MFM) Romance

Releasing January 22nd from Evernight Publishing

http://www.evernightpublishing.com/cowboys-mine-by-stacey-espino

Blurb

Eva Ford lives a sheltered life on her small rural farm. At twenty-two, she feels the need to spread her wings and start her own life, planning a trip to the city to show her prized cows. Colton and North McReed from the next ranch over are determined to make sure she stays out of trouble.
Twin brothers, Colton and North, have always loved little Eva. She's their rock in life, the one pure thing in their otherwise dark existence. Their abusive father ran out on the family years ago and their mother suffers from a serious addiction. They never look at Eva with desire...until they spend a week alone with her in the city.
Everything changes when Eva and the cowboys realize just how deep their love for each other runs. Once their passion is unleashed, it's impossible to contain. But can their unorthodox relationship last? Will sex ruin the friendship of a lifetime?


Excerpt

North was ready to brawl. In fact, he craved it like never before. Pain would be preferable to the ache in his heart. Somewhere along the line he began to see Eva as more than the sweet girl next door. Somewhere along the line he’d fallen in love.
What he didn’t understand was Colton’s sudden disinterest. Their feelings for Eva always mirrored each other’s. Half the time when he’d escape to the Ford house, Colton was already there. They’d come on the trip specifically to keep Eva out of trouble, but instead, his twin was turning a blind eye.
They ate dinner in silence. North watched the sky turn from blue to black, every darkening shade bringing his anxiety to a new level. She still wasn’t back. God knows what that cowboy was doing with little Eva. The thought of his filthy hands on her made his blood boil. He wasn’t sure how much longer he could sit still with his imagination running wild.
He was just about to bolt from his seat when the door to the trailer opened. Cool air flooded the interior and the sound of Eva clearing her throat made every live wire inside him suddenly lose power. He exhaled a nervous breath, glad she was at least home safely.
“Told you I’d be back in one piece,” she said as she hung up her cardigan. “There’s no need to go hunting me down. Seriously.”
She started to climb up into the loft.
“Where’s lover boy?” asked North, no humor in his tone.
“His name is Wade, and he just dropped me off, like a perfect gentleman.”
“That why he had his lips all over you?” asked Colton. His brother was just as unimpressed, even though he’d condoned the behavior.
“Hush you!” Eva slipped under the covers.
“You haven’t eaten,” said North.
“Wade bought me dinner.”
He ground his teeth together, stifling a growl. The sound of that man’s name on Eva’s lips made him see red. If he never heard the name again it would be too soon.
They secured the trailer and turned out the lights before joining Eva in the bed. He tossed his shirt and lay down on his back, staring up at the low ceiling. She was already comfortable, obviously not feeling the volatile energy keeping him awake. He kept as far to his side as possible, the cold wall of the trailer chilling his arm. Every time she shifted in the bed, he tensed.
“I’m cold,” she murmured, cuddling closer to him. The heat of her body scorched his bare skin. In a matter of days, everything changed for him. He wasn’t sure when it happened, but he wished he could go back to the way things were. Uncomplicated.
He tried to get away from her but he was trapped in the tight confines of the sleeping area. He held his breath as she ran her palm over his chest, over and over in small circles. Her touch had always been soothing—not so much anymore.
“What’s wrong with you?” she whispered against his neck. His eyes lolled back in his head. Even her fucking breath was sweet.
“Nothing. Go to sleep, Eva.”
“You’re acting weird, North. Is this because of Wade?”
He decided the cowboy was a safer topic than his changing feelings for her. “I don’t trust him.”
“Why not?”
“Just don’t is all.” He rolled to his side and away from her. It didn’t feel right going to sleep on a sour note, but he couldn’t have this discussion now. Mrs. Ford was the one to teach him and Colton not to speak out of passion. It was always best to confront a person with a level head, after cooling off and replaying the events over in your head. He usually didn’t take the advice, but tonight felt like a good time to start.
“Will you two quiet down,” said Colton.
Eva pressed her body against his back. Why had he taken off his shirt? He needed layers between them—many, many layers.
“I know what I’m doing,” she said in a whisper. “You don’t have to worry about me.”
“I’d worry less if you spent more time with Bessie and Ruby than that drifter.”
“He’s not a drifter.”
“Why you defending him?” he asked. “You act like you’re already an item.”
She kissed his shoulder. “I just want you to be happy for me, North.”
“It doesn’t matter what I think.”
“It does. You’re the one who taught me how to rope a calf, and even though it took me weeks to learn, you never got impatient. You protected me when Jameson’s dogs got loose.” She ran her hand delicately down his arm, her fingers lingering over the raised scars on his forearm. “You bought me a corsage when no boy asked me to prom. Remember when the three of us danced in the rain that night? My dress was covered in mud.”
“I remember.”
“Well those are just examples of why I love you so much. It doesn’t feel right doing anything without your blessing.”
He wasn’t sure he could ever give her what she wanted.


Stacey Espino
https://www.twitter.com/staceyespino

Monday, 20 January 2014

#TantalizingTuesdays - In the Club



Every Tuesday a bunch of talented writers choose a picture that inspires them to write a 200 word teaser. Check them out here.

This week, I'm going clubbing...


"What the hell is a paint party anyway?" Kim was having second thoughts even as she reached the doors of the club.

"Like a foam party, only with glow in the dark paint." Nina bounced inside, trailing Kim behind her.

"Great. How am I supposed to make Jake see what he's missing if I look like a psychedelic drowned rat?" The whole point of coming here was to flirt in front of her ex and make him sorry for not calling her back.

"You went out for one whole week. He dumped you. Get over it, and let's have some fun." Nina was right, but what a week it had been. They'd barely left her bed.

Kim went through the motions, dancing like Jake was watching. Suddenly he was.

"Hi," he said as they were pushed together in the throng. "Sorry, I didn't call you."

"It doesn't matter." And it didn't once he started kissing her. 

As his lips captured hers, she barely noticed the paint raining down on them. The colours smudged together as they clung to one another. 

She could forgive him anything when she was in his arms. One more night with Jake was worth any pain.

Friday, 17 January 2014

#FlasherFictionFriday #FFF

Check out these other authors and their 100 word take on this week's picture - Flasher Fiction Friday



After all her effort Vanessa's evening was turning into a nightmare. The knowledge that with one itsy bitsy spell she could salvage it was hard to resist.
"Only use your powers in an emergency." Her mother's warning rang in her ears.
Well, this situation was critical. Daniel was waiting in the other room and she needed to make him fall in love with her.

She scraped the burnt offerings of dinner into the bin and summoned all her energy into the palms of her hands. One magic infused soufflƩ and she would have him just where she wanted him.

Thursday, 16 January 2014

Thursday Tasters - The Wolf on the Hill


Check out some Thursday Tasters from some fabulous writers here.
My Taster comes from Book One in my series, The Wild Irish Wolves.


The Wolf on the Hill - Blurb
Lone wolf Caleb Jackson is only back in town long enough to sell his late father's house, and the bad memories with it. He never expected to find his mate.
Good girl Mia Blake never behaves badly. Except for the time she shifts into her wolf, chases a stranger through Olcan Hills, and has the hottest sex of her life on the forest floor.
He has no desire to settle down. She is afraid to upset her family. But, with someone determined to destroy Caleb's inheritance, and his secret fling with Mia getting hot and heavy, moving on isn't as easy as he'd hoped.

Can either of them let down their guards long enough to take a chance on love?

Teaser
Rain soaked Mia’s fur as she bounded through the woods bordering the Olcan Hills, relishing every inch of earth mashed beneath her claws. Trees became nothing more than a blur as she raced by, running to find her release out here where she answered to no one but nature. This was freedom.
When she reached the top of the hill she came to a standstill and released her primal scream of frustration in a howl, unleashing everything she couldn’t say to her overbearing family, pouring every hidden truth of who she really was into one long mournful call.
In the distance, another wolf echoed her cry and answered with one of his own. This was the reason her mother despised her shifting into her wolf form. She went kind of crazy and forgot all sense of danger in the excitement. Exactly the reason why she did it in secret. And now, here she was, totally exposed in the Northern Irish countryside, crouched and listening out for the intruder’s approach. 

Amazon All Romance Totally Bound

Tuesday, 14 January 2014

#TantalizingTuesdays - Letting Go


This one's from the heart...


Even though the morning sun was shining, there was still a nip in the air. Somehow, the chill creeping in through Jasmine's sweater was fitting. How many times had they come here when the wind was howling, and the rain pouring? It hadn't once dampened their enthusiasm.

"Put this around your shoulders." Ryan wrapped a blanket around her and spread another out on the frost-tipped grass.

"Thanks." She smiled as she took up her seat.

This was their special spot, perched high on the hill overlooking the beach. The place where the stresses of reality were carried away on crashing waves. Even now, when happiness seemed impossible, it soothed her.

"I know it's not quite the same-" Ryan shrugged apologetically and poured two cups of hot chocolate from his flask.

"It's perfect." She kissed him on the cheek as the warmth of the cup spread through her cold hands.

It wasn't quite the same, but it never would be. Not without the one person she wanted to be with more than anything. But she had to move on. Sharing this place with Ryan would become her new birthday tradition.


"Miss you, mum," she said and raised a toast to heaven.


Check out some more fabulous authors...