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The Romance Reviews

Saturday, 19 July 2014

#SexySnippets - First Floor: Cosmetics


It's release week, so I'm sharing another Sexy Snippet from book two of The Department Store series. 

First Floor: Cosmetics is available on early download now from Totally Bound.


Take one younger man, add some illicit outdoor sex, and Maggie Fenton is inclined to forget she’s the oldest cosmetics girl at Kelsey’s Department Store.

'Their tongues lashed together, vying for dominance in the dance, as Maggie expressed her growing confidence. It suited Jonah fine.
Then, as quickly as she had heated up, she cooled off and pulled away. He would’ve complained, but she was busy tugging his shirt out from his trousers.
“Maggie—” It was a feeble attempt to stop her—he didn’t know why he bothered. No man in his right mind would rebuff a sexy woman undoing his fly.'



Don't forget to check out the rest of the #SexySnippets over on The Nuthouse Scribblers blog!

Friday, 18 July 2014

Release Day! - The Department Store #2

Take one younger man, add some illicit outdoor sex, and Maggie Fenton is inclined to forget she’s the oldest cosmetics girl at Kelsey’s Department Store.


It's release day! *Bounces* The cosmetics department is now open! Available for early download at Totally Bound.

Blurb

From the outside, it looks as though Maggie Fenton has it all. The glamorous head of the cosmetics department lives a life of luxury, but money definitely hasn’t bought her happiness. In reality, she’s married to a serial cheat who has made her life a misery for over a decade. With her husband chasing younger women, and her teenage co-workers’ catty comments ringing in her ears, Maggie’s resigned herself to being on the scrap heap. Until Jonah Hamilton puts temptation in her way and reminds her she’s still a red-blooded woman.

Commitment is a four letter word as far as Jonah is concerned. He has no intention of settling down when he has the whole world at his feet. The only reason he takes a summer job at Kelsey’s is to fund his travels. Well, that, and the sexy older woman he can’t help flirting with over the makeup counter. Maggie soon becomes a good friend and someone who shows him how good love can be.

The chemistry between them is undeniable but is a fling enough to satisfy their desires, or is it simply the start of something bigger?

Excerpt

Jonah blinked as Maggie disappeared out of the door faster than an alcoholic to a free bar. Her husband had really done a number on her for her to have such low confidence. Her self-esteem was so fragile, one joke had shattered it to smithereens. He couldn’t let her leave like that, thinking such despicable thoughts about herself. And him.
He left the rest of his pint to give chase. He didn’t know why it mattered so much that someone he hardly knew was upset, but he didn’t want to part with her on bad terms.
I’m such a dick.
He dodged through the crowd, cursing himself. Any other sober, conscious of other people’s feelings dumbass would’ve realized she needed that reassurance her husband couldn’t give her. Instead, he’d laughed, convinced that the funny, warm, gorgeous woman with him would realize how daft she was being. Perhaps he’d been too cautious about letting his true thoughts about her be known.
All he’d done was to confirm her suspicions that she was nothing more than a has-been, when, in his experience, she was the most grounded, deeper than a fish pond, natural goddess he’d met in a long time.
He barged the heavy wooden doors open to see the smokers gathered outside in the last of the evening sun. With no sign of Maggie, he knew he’d blown it. Away from the cloud of smoke clogging his lungs, he scanned up and down Great Victoria Street. Among the student crowd, the young professionals and the theater-goers, he spotted her hot-footing it away, dabbing her eyes with a tissue.
Shit!
He sprinted after her, not really caring who he knocked out of his path, but apologizing anyway. “Excuse me. Sorry. Move!”
Her steps slowed as she approached the traffic lights, giving him time to cover the distance between them. Before she could put her foot out onto the road, he grabbed her elbow and yanked her back.
“What the hell?” She stiffened, probably ready to batter her assailant with the handbag she was gripping like a deadly weapon. Only when she saw his face did she stop resisting.
With grim determination, he pulled her back the way she had come, 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 into her mouth to taste her sweetness and claim it for himself. Ordinarily, such an audacious move might’ve deserved a slap or a knee to the balls. Either would’ve been worth it. Instead, she went limp beneath him, submitting immediately.
Whoa!
He stepped back. “That is how you make me feel. How you should be kissed.”
Christ, the way she had responded to it made it a double sin that someone didn’t do that to her frequently.
Maggie stared back at him, her brow furrowed and her kiss-swollen lips parted and waiting. Beer or no beer, a certain part of his anatomy sat up to say hello.
Both he and Maggie stared silently at one another. Deep down Jonah knew he should be the one to walk away this time. He’d made his point. She was attractive and he fancied her. She could file that away for future reference the next time her husband went MIA. Jonah lingered on her moist lips a while longer.
“Do it again,” he could have sworn she said.

Thursday, 17 July 2014

Labour of Love - #FlasherFictionFriday

Every week, an amazing group of writers get inspired by a picture. Each has 100 words, no more, no less, to come up with their version which they do so well. Please click here to find the others and show them some love by reading. As always comments are much appreciated.


Labour of Love

This was it. Five years together and Sharon was sure Kyle was finally going to propose. When he woke up and handed her the anniversary present, her heart sank. The gift box was too big even for the size of diamond she had in mind. She faked a smile as she lifted the lid to find bits of coloured paper inside.

"It took me years to do this. Legend has it that one thousand origami cranes will bring a long and prosperous marriage. Will you marry me?"

"Of course!"

Who needed diamonds when a girl had such a devoted partner?

#ThursdayTasters - WIP


Every Thursday a group of talented writers share a sample of their awesome writing hereCheck them out!

This week I thought I'd share a taster from my current wip, provisionally titled Shifter Pride. It's my first foray into menage...maybe...





Ed was so protective of Ange it bordered on possessiveness but he wouldn't see her hurt for the world. With Reuben's advice to back off, and the PDA from Ange and Cole reverting back to hand holding, the red mist drifted away.
                He relaxed his hands until he had ten fingers again instead of two fists capable of mass destruction. "I could still take him if it came to it."
"Sure." Reuben's knowing nod contradicted his words.
Ed sniffed the air trying to distinguish the scent among the others. "Cat?"
"Panther." The grin spread into a beaming smile showcasing even white teeth and a deep set dimple.
This would be so much easier to make a move if they were two guys in a bar instead of part of this debacle. Although, one night stands didn't work so well when you were both locked up in the same hotel for the weekend. The best he could hope for was a like-minded soul who didn't want anymore complication than he did.
"I could still take him," Ed mumbled.
Reuben got the impression he was no longer talking about Cole judging by the husky rasp of his voice. Heat burned the palm of his hand still resting on Ed's chest. The defined lines of the pecs beneath his fingertips made him itch to see more. Even if Ed should have a large 'Danger' sign slapped across his forehead.
He was exactly what Reuben didn't need – a hothead who thought with his fists. So why was he trembling with anticipation, not fear?
They locked eyes, and for Reuben, all background noise faded away. All he could hear was the thump of his own heart. Ed's chest rose and fell a little faster under his touch. The tightening in Reuben's balls was there even before Ed took his hand and pulled him toward the far side of the room.

Reuben swallowed hard. He knew what was coming, and God help him, he couldn't resist. He was just asking for trouble and it had definitely found him in the form of a sexy red fox.

Wednesday, 16 July 2014

Ya Like That? - Iyana Jenna #Giveaway #BDSM

There seems to be a theme this week with my authors. Lots of hot BDSM for you to enjoy ;) 


Thank you so much, Jorja, for having me today. Before I present you and your readers with my new story, Ya Like That?, I would love to introduce you to one main character in this story, Evan Foster, and ask him to finish a sentence, “When I look in the mirror, I…”

This is what he’s going to say, “When I look in the mirror, I see a young man, lost, alone, and deprived of anything he previously had in his life: money, love, family. I work hard to pay for the hospital where my mom is in. I’m wondering about a job vacancy I just found. Will it help me with my life, or plunge me deeper in the dark instead?”




Ya Like That?
AUTHOR: Iyana Jenna
GENRE: BDSM • Contemporary • Erotic Romance • Fiction • Gay
LENGTH: 12,776 words
RATING: 4 Flames

BLURB
Evan Foster is left with nothing after his father screwed up their family company. Evan's father ended up in jail, his mother in a mental institution, and they lost all their possession to the bank. Evan dropped out of college and he still has to pay for his mother's treatment. He has a job at a diner but it isn’t nearly enough.

Brian Donaghue is a millionaire with a multinational company but isn’t lucky in love. When he sees the picture Evan sends in with a resume, he’s immediately interested. But the way he ropes Evan into his company is far from conventional. Brian makes Evan an offer he can’t refuse.

Or can he?

EXCERPT:
Note: may contain sexually explicit scenes of a homoerotic nature.
Evan’s heart constricted looking at the huge manor standing before him. It reminded him of his family’s former house although that wasn’t as big as this. He shook off the mental picture and strode to the security post, another thing different from his family’s home.

“Hi. I’m Evan Foster. I have an appointment with Mr. Donaghue.” The security guy looked him up and down, making him squirm.

“Can I have your driver’s license?”

Evan gave the man his driver’s license and got a visitor’s card in return.

“Thanks.” He turned toward the house.

“Wait. There’s a message for you.”

“Huh?” Evan took the envelope from the security guard’s hand and opened it. There was only one small piece of paper inside and he took it out.

Go into the house and come to the room at the end of the hall.

Evan frowned. It sounded like a line taken from a bad porn movie. Or perhaps Mr. Donaghue just liked to joke around.

Evan climbed up the short flight of stairs to the porch and reached out for the door knob.

“Hello?” His voice echoed in the large empty hall. Inside, it was dimly lit just like it was outside the house. Evan braced himself. He had permission to be there and instructions. He might as well do what he had to do.

Evan knew he had to get to the room at the end of the hall but he couldn’t help but feel intrigued and wanted to look around. Everything a mansion should have was here in this house: a vast welcoming area for guests, carpeted stairs spiraling up to the next level, and old portraits hung on the walls above the railing. Once he almost strayed, completely spell bound. He shook himself mentally and turned back to the hall.

After passing several rooms and doors, he got to the end of the corridor. He guessed it was the one on the left, for the one on the right was some feet before that. Evan tried the door. It was unlocked and dark inside. He felt around and found the switch. His breath hitched at the sight he was welcomed with. The room was bare, save for the thick red rugs on the floor and another piece of paper. Evan was written across it. He picked it up, turned it over, and read another message for him. Suddenly all of the air felt like it was being sucked out of his lungs. His sight blurred and his knees turned to jelly. He staggered until his back hit the wall, the pain throwing him back to awareness. He looked at the paper once more, hoping that it was just a figment of his twisted imagination. It wasn’t. The message still read the same.

Take off your shirt and shoes. Kneel on the floor in the middle of the room. Put your arms behind your head.

What was that supposed to mean? He signed a contract to be a personal assistant and not some ... sex slave or something. Or was that what they meant by personal assistant? Bile bubbled up in his throat. So it was for this reason that they paid him high, huh? A high-class whore? Evan wanted to run away, not having anything to do with them or the man named Brian Donaghue, whoever he was. He just wanted to forget he'd ever brushed with this ... this kind of stuff.


BUY LINKS



GIVEAWAY

Comment and include your email to this post to win a copy of the story. ;)


About the Author:

Iyana lives in Jakarta, a city famous for its traffic jams, a lot of cars and motorcycles, and people selling stuff on the roads. You can spend two hours on the road going to a place you can reach in half an hour in a normal situation. Thanks to the traffic jams, though, Iyana can come up with a lot of stories, mostly shorties, as she prefers to spend the time during her trips writing into her cell phone rather than sleeping.

Another thing Iyana loves is kitties. Right now she has five of them. Their names are Larva, Nyil, Cil, Betsy, and Horus. When she doesn’t write, she plays with them, or they would play with her when she writes.

Author’s Links:




Tuesday, 15 July 2014

Tantalizing Tuesdays - Meet the Parents


Every Tuesday a bunch of talented writers choose a picture that inspires them to write a 200 word teaser. 
 Thanks to Doris and Raven for sharing their pic inspiration and don't forget to check out their take on it here along with all the other writer peeps taking part.


Meet the Parents

Ryan settled into the comfy armchair as he faced the firing squad. He'd worn his best suit to show Sara's parents he was a man of means but the silk tie around his neck was growing tighter by the second.

"So, Sara tells us you're a banker?" Mr Henderson turned his six figure salary into an insult with a sneer.

"Yes, sir. I'm more than capable of looking after your daughter." Sweat broke on his top lip. This was so much harder than he'd expected.

"I think my Sara can take care of herself, son. You make sure you treat her with the respect she deserves."

"Oh, Alan, leave him alone. They clearly love each other and that's all that matters. Welcome to the family, Ryan. Now, where's that bottle of champagne we've been saving?" Mrs Henderson herded her recalcitrant husband out the door, leaving Ryan alone with his betrothed.

"You are killing me here! I'm trying to present myself as the perfect son-in-law and here I am with a bloody hard-on!" He adjusted his crotch as Sara uncrossed her legs opposite him.


"I thought you preferred me going commando?" She gave him a sinful smile and flashed him again.

Monday, 14 July 2014

Bondage Seduction - Tori Carson

Bondage Seduction


Master Ted tries to keep it purely sexual. He says he doesn’t want a relationship, but Meri has other plans…


Blurb:

Even in a room full of friends, Ted often feels alone. As the black sheep of the family, he’s never measured up to the expectations of others so he’s stopped trying. Expecting to and okay with spending the rest of his life alone, he’s thrown himself into his business. He spends his days managing the sex toy division of DiscipliNation and his evenings in the kink club.
Meri is a home-grown girl and plans to stay that way. While she tries to please those around her, she refuses to be pressured into anything she doesn’t want to do. After an ego-devastating divorce, she discovers a passion for BDSM. She’s ready to start again.
Although fireworks erupt at their very first meeting, Ted knows better than to give his heart to an overachiever like Meri. He valiantly tries to keep his distance, but her allure goes deeper than a purely sexual attraction. Meri ignites his passion and yet, in her company he experiences a peace he’s never enjoyed before.
Ted sets Meri’s panties on fire until he orders her to stop wearing them. Meri falls hard and fast for the tall, dark Dom. He tells her up front that a relationship isn’t part of his plans, but Meri has her own agenda. 
Excerpt:
Meri looked in the mirror of the ladies locker room at DiscipliNation. Her dress had looked cute on the size two mannequin at the fet store. The black spandex mini-dress with strategically placed slashes had seemed like a good idea. It was daring but allowed all her truly private areas to remain private—and kept her from wearing a bra or panties. Damn it, if she pulled the dress down to keep it from showing the cheeks of her ass, the slits opened up like she’d been in a shredder accident.
Decision time. Turn around, go home and be satisfied to only read about other people fulfilling their fantasies, or she could pull off her big girl panties and give this a try. Hell, she’d already spent an enormous amount of money to join the club. What did she have to lose—except her modesty and boredom?
Taking a deep breath, then two. Okay, one more maybe… She bent over and removed her underwear. After stuffing it into her locker, she looked at the ceiling—anywhere but the mirror—and forced one foot in front of the other until she’d entered the great hall. The low, steady beat of music drew her farther into the room. She stayed as close to the walls and in the shadows as possible. Maybe if she could make it to the bar, she could melt into the scenery for a while and get her nerves under control. Why was it way over there?
She caught herself pulling down her skirt then remembered how bad that looked and let it ride back up. Turning toward the locker room, she considered running out of the place before anyone noticed her.
“Welcome to DiscipliNation, I’m Master Ted.”
Meri froze, hearing the deep baritone voice behind her. Too late. She squeezed her eyes shut, wishing she could vanish. Meri tried to breathe. Short, shallow breaths were all she could manage. She plastered a smile on her face, opened her eyes, turned around and looked up. Way up. Holy fucking shit! What was he, six foot five? Meri was tall, five foot twelve was how she usually phrased it. What a pleasant change to find a man actually taller than she was.
She extended her hand. “Nice to meet you. I’m Meri.” She’d never met a more imposing, sexy man in her life. With his jet-black hair and striking blue eyes, he set her heart pounding. Normally, she wasn’t a fan of the goatee look, but on him, it worked. Thank God, she hadn’t run back into the locker room. Just meeting this man was worth the price of membership.
When he took her hand to his mouth and kissed her knuckles, she almost swooned. Do women still swoon these days? Probably not. Most likely that went out with the vapors. Damn it, Meri, focus.
“If this is your first time here, let me show you around and answer any questions you might have.” He slid her hand around his bicep.
Oh hell, yeah. “That’s very sweet of you. Thank you.” Wow, her hand couldn’t fit all the way around his arm.
“Have you filled out an interest inventory? If you let me see it, I could introduce you to likeminded people.”
“No.” Should she admit she was overwhelmed by it? She didn’t even know what half the things on there were. “This is my first time venturing into a club or exploring the lifestyle.” She met his gaze and basked in his warm smile. “I was a little confused by it all, actually.”
“I’ll be happy to talk you through it. Would you like to look around first?”
“I’d love to see more of the club.” Maybe she’d learn a bit and be able to speak more intelligently about the inventory.
They continued along the path Meri had been walking. The first piece of equipment they came across was a beautiful, dark wood table. It had a thin layer of padding along the middle with restraints at all four corners. There was a stack of sheets on a shelf underneath.
“Is this for wax play?” Meri whispered. No one was close by, but it seemed too naughty to talk about it out loud.
“Yes. Do you enjoy sensation play?” Ted was gazing down at her like a tiger hungry for a meal.
Meri raised her shoulders the slightest bit. “I have no idea. I’m afraid I haven’t experienced much outside the vanilla realm and probably toward the conservative side of that.” She gave a nervous chuckle.
The smile that slid across Ted’s face sent butterflies through her tummy. “Everyone in the lifestyle was a newbie at one point. How did you get attracted enough to seek out a club?”
“I love to read BDSM novels and I’m on several internet discussion groups. The authors encouraged those of us that wished we could experience it in real life to find a club.”
“That’s smart. It’s a much safer environment to explore your kink in. Is there anything in particular that you’d like to see? During the week, it’s a bit quieter than on party nights. It’s a good way to get your feet wet without being overwhelmed.”

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