There is a new astrology fortune cookie up on my website AND I have added a Blog page. I blog on other people's pages but somehow never set up my own. So visit Phoebe, check your fortune, and then come on over to the blog page.
Urban Fantasy MUDFLAT Series by Phoebe Matthews
TARBABY TROUBLE, 2009 Eppie AWARD WINNER for best Fantasy
WELCOME TO MUDFLAT, BABY, 2009 Eppie AWARD finalist for Fantasy/Paranormal Romance
MUDFLAT TOY BOY, now available from BookStrand
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Spring rain in Mudflat -
New G-Spot!
I’ve just sent out the latest issue of my newsletter, The G-Spot.
Highlights this issue:
-- Upcoming Author Appearances
-- What I’m Reading/Recommended Reads
-- New Reviews (Excerpts)
-- This Issue’s Novel Excerpt: HER ALPHA MALE by Lillith Payne
-- This Issue’s Author Spotlight: Erotic Romance Author LILLITH PAYNE
-- This Issue's Newsletter Contest—SUBSCRIBERS ONLY!
Highlights this issue:
-- Upcoming Author Appearances
-- What I’m Reading/Recommended Reads
-- New Reviews (Excerpts)
-- This Issue’s Novel Excerpt: HER ALPHA MALE by Lillith Payne
-- This Issue’s Author Spotlight: Erotic Romance Author LILLITH PAYNE
-- This Issue's Newsletter Contest—SUBSCRIBERS ONLY!
And more!
To check out the current and past issues or to subscribe, visit: http://www.authorsden.com/visit/viewnewsletter.asp?AuthorID=623
To check out the current and past issues or to subscribe, visit: http://www.authorsden.com/visit/viewnewsletter.asp?AuthorID=623
Enjoy!
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Wednesday's Words for March 18, 2009
Mothers are very special people.
I know that I sometimes do an essay about mothers in preparation for Mother’s Day. But a friend of mine recently lost his mother, and though that loss was expected, the reality of it has hit hard.
I don’t care what anyone says, you’re never really ready for the loss of a loved one; and I think that the loss of one’s mother must be one of the hardest to bear.
For most of us, our mothers are the very first people to love us. It is into their arms we are given after being wrenched from the womb, after suffering our first major trauma of life, birth.
This turning to mother after life’s traumas is a pattern that, if we are blessed, follows us for most of our lives.
Our mothers are the ones who bathe us, bandage our cuts, and stand us in the corner. They are the ones who sit up nights with us when we are sick. They are the ones who watch over us at the kitchen table making sure we do our homework; and they’re the ones who take our successful test papers and stick them on the fridge.
Mothers are the ones we turn to when our hearts are broken, the ones we go to when we’re faced with a dilemma we don’t know how to solve, and the first person we want to call when we fall in love.
Moms love us, no matter what.
If we are very lucky, and if we’re very smart, we take all those wonderful lessons mom taught us and use them to go forth unto the world and prosper. If we’re blessed, we have families of our own, and infuse our own children with the wisdom of our parents. This is their legacy to us, and one way they remain with us when, as nature intended, we are one day faced with carrying on without them.
Years ago I remember having a debate with a friend, about whether it was easier to lose a parent as a child, or as an adult. I used to think that suffering that loss in childhood was harder—an opinion colored not in the least by the fact that I was eight when I lost my father, and twenty-one when my mom died.
But I’m older now, and I’ve watched several friends and my own husband and his siblings cope with the recent loss of elderly parents, and I’ve changed my mind.
Life is a progression. We start out relying on our mothers to do everything for us when, as helpless newborns we can do little more than scream in outrage at the strangeness of the world. Then we begin to grow, and almost immediately we fight our mothers for our independence. We want to stand on our own and run on our own—that is, until life jumps up and bites us in the butt.
Then, again as nature intended, our Mothers become older and if we are fortunate, we have the opportunity to return some of the nurturing we were so freely and lovingly given.
Blessed are the adults who get the opportunity to care for their parents, to show these progenitors not only how much they are loved, but that their investment in us was not in vain.
No, it’s not easy losing your mother. Only those who have experienced that loss truly understand. Yes, the sun rises and sets every day afterward, and life does go on.
But it is never, ever, the same again.
Love,
Morgan
WANTON WAGER – brand new from Morgan Ashbury
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
It ain't easy being green...
In honor of St. Patrick's Day, I decided to blog on what it means to be green. Sure, we can all wear green, drink green beer, and even swim in the green Chicago River (though I wouldn't recommend it) on St. Patrick's Day. But what does it mean to be green?
When I decided to sell to an e-publisher instead of a traditional NY publisher, the decision wasn't made lightly. I've always had the dream of walking into a bookstore and seeing my books on the shelves. It is the dream of any writer.
So I started doing my research on traditional NY houses. I learned about advances, which thrilled me. Being paid upfront for work not even out, yet? Where do I sign! But then I learned about returns, and print runs, and all that goes along with that. I was shocked. Traditional publishers print a run of several thousand books right out of the gate with no guarantee even one will sell. This not only ties up a heck of a lot of money in overhead, it also wastes valuable resources (paper, chemicals, time, etc.). If the books don't sell, we now have several thousand books in a landfill somewhere. That's right. They just toss them out.
Are ya kiddin me? In this day of the digital age it just doesn't make much sense to me, which is why I turned to e-publishing. It made more sense, and is the more Earth-friendly approach.
An e-publisher has an online bookstore. All of their books are available on demand, downloadable immediately after purchase. No paper necessary. No landfills involved if the book doesn't sell well. And, if you're lucky enough, your book still goes to print, just in a much greener way. I say it's about time we take a closer look at how we can all be green...
There is a new trend sweeping the publishing industry. Well, actually it isn't new at all. It's been around for some time, but it's just now catching on (finally)! It's called Print On Demand, or POD.
Print On Demand with digital technology is used as a way of printing items on demand. In other words, unlike a traditional print run publisher, POD will only print the book when it has been ordered. POD has many benefits. Some of them are:
· You can still order books that otherwise would have been out of print and no longer available. As long as that book is in digital format, it will always be available.
· Large inventories of a book or print material do not need to be kept in stock, reducing storage, handling costs, and inventory accounting costs.
· There is little or no waste from unsold products.
· POD advantages reduce the risks associated with publishing books and prints and can lead to increased choices for consumers.
I'm doing my part at being green, or at least trying. I still eat off paper plates, use paper towels, and forget to turn the light off as I leave the room. Still, every little bit helps. I'm not going to chain myself to a tree to show my "greener" side, but by choosing an Earth-friendly publisher and buying e-books to read on my e-reader, I am showing that I at least do have one.
When I decided to sell to an e-publisher instead of a traditional NY publisher, the decision wasn't made lightly. I've always had the dream of walking into a bookstore and seeing my books on the shelves. It is the dream of any writer.
So I started doing my research on traditional NY houses. I learned about advances, which thrilled me. Being paid upfront for work not even out, yet? Where do I sign! But then I learned about returns, and print runs, and all that goes along with that. I was shocked. Traditional publishers print a run of several thousand books right out of the gate with no guarantee even one will sell. This not only ties up a heck of a lot of money in overhead, it also wastes valuable resources (paper, chemicals, time, etc.). If the books don't sell, we now have several thousand books in a landfill somewhere. That's right. They just toss them out.
Are ya kiddin me? In this day of the digital age it just doesn't make much sense to me, which is why I turned to e-publishing. It made more sense, and is the more Earth-friendly approach.
An e-publisher has an online bookstore. All of their books are available on demand, downloadable immediately after purchase. No paper necessary. No landfills involved if the book doesn't sell well. And, if you're lucky enough, your book still goes to print, just in a much greener way. I say it's about time we take a closer look at how we can all be green...
There is a new trend sweeping the publishing industry. Well, actually it isn't new at all. It's been around for some time, but it's just now catching on (finally)! It's called Print On Demand, or POD.
Print On Demand with digital technology is used as a way of printing items on demand. In other words, unlike a traditional print run publisher, POD will only print the book when it has been ordered. POD has many benefits. Some of them are:
· You can still order books that otherwise would have been out of print and no longer available. As long as that book is in digital format, it will always be available.
· Large inventories of a book or print material do not need to be kept in stock, reducing storage, handling costs, and inventory accounting costs.
· There is little or no waste from unsold products.
· POD advantages reduce the risks associated with publishing books and prints and can lead to increased choices for consumers.
I'm doing my part at being green, or at least trying. I still eat off paper plates, use paper towels, and forget to turn the light off as I leave the room. Still, every little bit helps. I'm not going to chain myself to a tree to show my "greener" side, but by choosing an Earth-friendly publisher and buying e-books to read on my e-reader, I am showing that I at least do have one.
~Eve Adams~
"Under the Covers", Menage Amour
"Riding Double", Menage Amour- ComingSoon
"Trio", Menage Amour - ComingSoon
"Under the Covers", Menage Amour
"Riding Double", Menage Amour- ComingSoon
"Trio", Menage Amour - ComingSoon
Yikes! Return of the Hair Spray Killer
Kalypso fought her way out of the terrifying dream. Demon chihuahuas dressed for St. Patrick’s day appeared in every doorway of the old west ghost town. And she’d already used her silver bullets, killing a slew of them. Now her pistol, that looked like a child’s toy from the sixties, was empty, and the leprechaun chihuahuas surrounded her, their eyes glowing with menace and becoming blood-red. She backed up.
The second the nightmare lifted, Kalypso bolted upright. Her heart raced painfully. She sweated like a hog on the hottest day of summer, and she couldn’t breathe fast enough.
Feeling his strong arms embrace her, she slowed her breathing enough to murmur, “It was him.”
“Him?” Carefully Zryphus brought her against the solid warm wall of his chest.
“The Hair Spray Killer,” she whispered. Frowning, she committed the dream to memory while focusing on the scene still before her mind’s eye.
“He’s dry frozen. God, you feel good, beautiful.” He buried his nose in her hair, just above her hear.
“I know he’s super dry iced,” she impatiently muttered. “I think his consciousness is trying to communicate.”
“Or it could be his Elite Controllers using some tech-method to make it appear that way.”
“Could be,” she agreed. “Stop it, you beast. You already had your way with me. I even let you play Devilray.”
“Whinny, whinny,” he rumbled near her ear. “Tell me everything you remember, Kalypso. We’ll figure out what’s happening. Did it feel like a precognitive dream?”
“The Wearing of Spring Green parade and picnic is in two days. It’s based on the old St. Patrick’s day celebrations before the Conflicts,” she began...
~~~
Just for some St. Patrick’s Day fun, a scene between Kalypso and Zryphus, which takes place after their love story in MURDER BY HAIR SPRAY IN GARDENIA, NEW ATLANTIS.
~~~~~~ 
The future begins here ~
The emerald green Spring in Gardenia, New Atlantis...
The story of beginning a new world on a legendary land...
The beginning of a love Sheriff Kalypso Sun Wing never believed was possible for her, especially not after a hundred years on Earth...
The beginning of a love Federal Agent Zryphus has arrived on Earth to find, only he didn’t plan on remaining in a land where women are in charge...
She’s not about to give in... He’s not about to give up...
But together they capture the elusive Hair Spray Killer
A 2051 suspense futuristic and a match made in intergalactic heaven ~
~~~~~~
~~~ Kalypso & Zryphus invite you to read their love story ~~~
MURDER BY HAIR SPRAY IN GARDENIA, NEW ATLANTIS ~ 2051 suspense futuristic, erotic romance ~ American Title IV finalist ~ rising from Siren-BookStrand ~ http://bookstrand.com/authors/savannakougar ~
~~~~~~
HAPPY ST. PATRICK’S DAY
May your most romantic dreams come true
Savanna Kougar
~ Run on the Wild Side of Romance ~
Irish Cream Kisses from the Kougar...
~~~~~~
Monday, March 16, 2009
3 Five Star Reviews for Love and Seduction
Love and Seduction, a multiple five star reviewed story, is sexy, provocative and thought provoking. It's also, as the reviewers point out, like nothing you've read. If you've missed reading Love and Seduction, you're missing out
Love and Seduction in Las Vegas is a wonderfully sexy book about the good and bad in human nature and the double standard between men and women regarding sex. Now available from BookStrand.
Loretta is thirty-nine, Bobby is only twenty-two and beautiful. At first Sparks fly, then the relationship catches on fire.
5 ANGELS: "I am always amazed every time I read a book by Dee Dawning. Just when you think the next one can't get any better, he pens a read that out tops the last. Love and Seduction in Las Vegas is more than just frolicking between the sheets. It is a story of understanding, love, and learning to accept the other, no matter what their past. The stories are believable. The sex is hotter than any sizzling skillet sitting on a hot stove. This read really leaves an impression." -- Linda L., Fallen Angel Reviews
5 ENCHANTMENTS: "You know it's kind of funny with your books, Dee, they appear so light hearted on the outside, but inside they hit some really significant issues. This book was extremely complex, but you pulled off a lovely story through a myriad of complexity. I was impressed! In some ways this story was all sex, yet in other ways it was complete desolation. I totally enjoyed the happy ever after, which is one of those things that make me tick, but the twists and turns it took to get there were phenomenal. Very creative and very intriguing, I completely enjoyed it." -- Desiree de Cleves, Enchanting Reviews
5 STARS: "There is lot to be said about Love and Seduction in Las Vegas...I am blown away with the way author Dee Dawning managed to draw me in from the very beginning. This is definitely like nothing I have read before. It reflects the point of view of four people who's lives through fate are intertwined together. This shows how tough it can be for a woman no matter what year it is. And it also show the determination of woman to make a good life for herself despite the many obstacles in her way. I definitely love the way the whole book shifted between the years in between of the life of Loretta Bishop in the span of almost thirty years. And of course who doesn't love a happy ending." --Estefanie L., Night Time Romance Reviews
5 STARS: "There is lot to be said about Love and Seduction in Las Vegas...I am blown away with the way author Dee Dawning managed to draw me in from the very beginning. This is definitely like nothing I have read before. It reflects the point of view of four people who's lives through fate are intertwined together. This shows how tough it can be for a woman no matter what year it is. And it also show the determination of woman to make a good life for herself despite the many obstacles in her way. I definitely love the way the whole book shifted between the years in between of the life of Loretta Bishop in the span of almost thirty years. And of course who doesn't love a happy ending." --Estefanie L., Night Time Romance Reviews
Love and Seduction in Las Vegas
Available in: Adobe Acrobat, Microsoft Reader, HTML, Mobipocket
Price: $3.99Buy Love And Seduction
Angelic Forecast ~ XXVIII
“It’s time for the wearin’ of the green,” I greet the Heavenly One. He approaches, the sky brightening around him, the grass greening vibrantly before he walks upon it, like his own personal pathway.
“The green carpet instead of the red carpet,” he jokes.
“Follow the green grass road, instead of the yellow brick road,” I joke back, badly.
“You look disappointed. Were you hoping for fairies and leprechauns?” His purply eyes twinkle, yet hold an infinity of compassion.
“I was. I’m spoiled seeing you every week.”
“You’re not spoiled,” he counters, his expression amused and jovial. “The wee ones are readying themselves for St. Patrick’s day appearances and miracles. It requires huge amounts of energy. Especially creating all those rainbows.”
I nod my understanding. “Do you have a shamrock-lucky message for us this week?” I ask.
“The gold falls from the heavens this year. It holds all the energies of the angels, combined as One vibration. Wear this gift of golden light as you would a fine garment. Envision a sheer layer of gold wrapping you. Let it swirl and dance around you, gleaming and gorgeous and glorious.”
I let my imagination follow the Cherub’s words. As I open my eyes, I see a mist of sparkling gold. The sparkles seem to sink into my arm while I behold them.
“Perfect,” the Heavenly One enthuses. “There is someone here to visit you.”
I glance up. A stunning alabaster unicorn stands at his side. Her wise eyes are dark and velvety.
“I know you,” I whisper, enthralled beyond words. “Where?”
“I await you... in another world, a dimension that flows from Ireland.” She speaks, yet it does not feel telepathic... exactly.
“Shimmeria,” I utter softly. A vague memory tugs at me.
The following week is crucial in several ways. It is a time to accept the golden energies, to open your spirit to their gifts. It is also a time to take a close realistic look at the world around you. What do you see? What do you really see? Is it to your liking? If not, begin making plans to change your physical surroundings, a move perhaps. Now is the time change your location, whether it is a matter of business, or a personal move. This week is all about movement. Look for ways to move your career forward. Look for ways to move your relationships forward. Move... this week. It will work to your advantage in every way.
HAPPY ST. PATRICK’S DAY AND THE WEARING OF THE GREEN...
Angelic blessings from Volcano & Sedona
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 
Leprechauns, do they show themselves in 2013 ~
WHEN A GOOD ANGEL FALLS
Where angels fear to tread, 2012 Earth ~
Is a stranger on a superspeed motorcycle her savior from the brutal endtimes?
Blurb: Winter Solstice, December 21, 2012 – The end of the Mayan Calendar
What happens when a world weary, worn out incarnated angel, Sedona, who believes she is merely human has three choices after her old van breaks down? ...more
~~~ NOW IN PRINT ~~~
Author Discovery by Lindsay Townsend, BookStrand author of FLAVIA’S SECRET and A SECRET TREASURE ~
http://sirenbookstrand.blogspot.com/2008/08/author-discovery-savanna-kougars-when.html ~
WHEN A GOOD ANGEL FALLS ~ adventure fantasy erotic romance ~ available from BookStrand ~
http://www.bookstrand.com/authors/savannakougar/wagaf.asp ~ http://www.bookstrand.com/ ~
Kiss from Savanna Kougar...
~ Run on the Wild Side of Romance
~~~~~~
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Mudflat, where old magic lives -
Just like on TV, the presenter is handed the envelope and reads off the finalists -
And then, at the Awards Banquet at the 2009 EPIC convention in Las Vegas last week, the presenter pulled out the card with the winning name -
Thank you, friends at BookStrand, for your kind good wishes and your support of the Mudflat series.
TARBABY TROUBLE, Mudflat 1, 2009 Eppie for best Fantasy
WELCOME TO MUDFLAT, BABY, Mudflat 2, 2009 Eppie Fantasy/paranormal Romance finalist
MUDFLAT TOY BOY, Mudflat 3, February 2009
Along with a lovely trophy, the committee sent me the envelope and announcement card. Thanks again!
Phoebe Matthews
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Insider tips, straight from the horses' mouth...
Hi everyone! I'm here to tell you about Judah Raine, sweet-sensual romance writer from Durban, South Africa. It's grand, grand, grand to have another place to blog! (Yes, I lurrrve blogging, how did you guess?) Now where was I... oh, right, Judah Raine. First thing you need to know is all her bookies... um, I mean books, are set in South Africa. Surprise, surprise...
Anyway, to get us off to a great start, I thought I'd share a little inside information on the first book, Still Running, which left the starting gate in December 2008. (Before I get carried away and forget this really important piece of information, here's where you can find it: http://www.bookstrand.com/product-stillrunning-13915-330.html) Need to tell you that, otherwise I'm gonna get the hoof, if you know what I mean.
So, Still Running is set in "racing country" - an area just inland from Durban called Shongweni. The name is derived from the Zulu name “Ntshongweni”, which means "column of smoke", referring to the spray of the waterfall on the Ugede River. The magnificent Shongweni dam lies in a deep depression formed by the Mlazi, Sterkfontein and Ugede rivers.
The scenery of the area is dominated by spectacular sandstone cliffs, steep gorges and valleys, and rolling green hills that lead on into the picturesque Valley of a Thousand Hills. It is a "picture-perfect" setting for a romance novel. 
And, of course, there are horses. Gazillions of them. Many of the top racers on Durban's popular horse-racing circuit are born, bred and trained in the Shongweni area. The hero from Still Running, Cade Harper, is a "horse man" - and a lot more besides, as Josie, the heroine, soon discovers!
Now this is where things get interesting... You see, Josie Tate has been running for a long time – from her past, from a tragic secret, and mostly from herself. Then her life is suddenly upended, and she finds herself back in the one place on earth she doesn't want to be. Worse, she is suddenly caught between an unforgiving past and Cade Harper's unrelenting pursuit.
As determined as she is desperate, he seems hell-bent on making sure that her running days are over. It doesn't help that Cade is the most gorgeous man ever. Or that the uncanny attraction between them seems to have a life of its own.
But Josie is determined to keep her distance from Cade. He is equally determined to shatter the walls she is raising up between them. And when her ghosts reappear in the flesh Josie's life finally implodes. The only way out seems to be to keep on running...
More than anything, Still Running is about real people and real "stuff", and how life itself sometimes comes to our rescue and conspires to make us face things. I like Josie – she's tough and gutsy and has integrity. This is her story, and it's about pain and joy, but mostly it's about love, and the power it has to heal and set free...
What the "punters" are saying...
"Romance is in the air from the moment Josie met Cade. The sparks of anger and love fly between these two. The plot is endearing and the characters likable. Still Running by Judah Raine is sure to please the most astute fan of romance." (Five Stars from http://www.reviewyourbook.com/review.cfm?reviewid=1571
"I truly enjoyed reading Josie and Cade’s story. Josie’s angst and Cade’s stubbornness seemed to flow from the book. Even now, I can picture these two having a face-off–and I’m not sure who’d win! “Still Running” is Judah Raine’s tale of a tortured woman and the man who just won’t give up on her. And I think we’d all like to have a man like that." (JJMachshev Book Reviews)
“I love Cade. (Are all South African men that nice and sexy?)… I can understand why poor Josie was so tempted and wanted him so badly… We forget how secrets can mess up lives… I’m definitely going to buy your next book… The children were cute too…" (From Kathy_C, Salt Lake City).
So there you have it...
This is an invitation to step into Judah Raine's romance world, where things are as Write as Raine. Visit her website at http://www.judahraine.com, find out more about her and view her Images of Africa slideshows. Or catch up with her on her blog at http://www.judahraine.com/romancewriteup. For a free read, visit her RomanticSynonymous Blog at http://judahraine.blogspot.com and check out the "neverending story".
Thanks for this time and the opportunity to share a little of my world. I hope to see you all again soon.
Henry the Horse
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Wednesday's Words for March 11, 2009
The old women, that when I was a child I remember being on the periphery of my life, used to have all sorts of sayings. You’ve likely heard most of them: many hands make light work; a stitch in time saves nine; nothing ventured, nothing gained.
One such saying I recall, uttered by a particularly acerbic woman as she was talking about a mutual acquaintance who had made a mistake has always stayed with me. “This I say, and say it plain, what you’ve done, you’ll do again.”
We look to the icons in our society for many reasons. Sometimes to imagine with a touch of envy what a life blessed by fame and fortune might be like, on days when we feel battered and bruised from our own scrabble for survival. Sometimes we look to them to see the real person buried beneath the glitter, or because their industry entertains us; or because their views inspire us.
We forget, sometimes, that leading a life in the spotlight doesn’t diminish or enhance humanity, and that ‘stars’ – for lack of a better name for them – can have just as many obstacles to happiness and peace as the rest of us.
For those of us who are older, this concept isn’t new. As we age we learn to not covet the life of another, no matter how rich or famous, for we know that we all have our own crosses to bear.
For the younger ones – teens and young adults who have not yet learned this lesson—I find there are moments, and people, whose influence over them I would call unfortunate.
A singer named Rihanna has sadly made headlines lately, after being the victim of domestic violence. Gosh, don’t you hate these ‘politically correct’ terms? I do. So let me say that again, in real-speak. Rihanna made headlines lately after her boy friend beat the crap out of her. This thug placated his anger and his temper by using his fists on a woman who trusted him.
That was bad enough. But now, if reports are to be believed it seems that this young woman has forgiven the thug, and reconciled with him.
She’s an adult and entitled to do what she wants, granted. Chances are the thug will hit her again. Statistically, she has a good chance of being murdered by him. What bothers me above and beyond that is the message she is sending to young girls who look up to her.
This is a facet of the female personality that I wish we could circumvent. It is as sad and pathetic as it is real. “But I love him!” I can hear that being wailed by young women to anyone who advises them the man they are with is scum.
“So what if he beat the crap out of me. He didn’t mean to, he said he’s sorry and I love him!”
“So what if he took all his pay check and spent it on drugs and alcohol. He works hard and deserves to relax and I love him!”
“So what if he leaves me to handle the bills and the kids while he goes out with his friends, he has a hard life and I love him!”
Get a clue, ladies. You may love him but he sure as hell does not love you. He loves no one but himself.
My heart goes out to Rihanna. That she suffered at the hands of a man in whom she had placed her trust is horrible. But the real tragedy lies in her acceptance of his apology and her haste to reunite with him. To make herself vulnerable again. To risk herself again.
It isn’t that I don’t believe people can change, because I do and they can. But I believe that trust, once broken, must be earned—and that is not, nor should it be a fast and easy process.
Love,
Morgan
The hottest ménage of the year: The Lady Makes Three
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Own it.
Cowboy Legacy - Available Today!
Menage Amour 58: Menage a Quatre Wild West Romance, F/M/M/M
Nyssa Dupre has always been different. She's been on the move from one town to the next most of her life, never quite being accepted for who she was or what she could do.
A stagecoach trip from Philadelphia to Applegate Valley in the Northwest Territory brings changes into her life that Nyssa never imagined. Starting with the extremely handsome Sheriff Lucas Nash.
Lucas is unlike any man she has ever met. Besides being domineering and sexy as hell, he decides Nyssa is the woman for him and his two brothers, Royce and Ian. For them, and the rest of Applegate Valley, it's normal to share a woman.
Finding out that her family comes from Applegate Valley and that she has inherited the family estate just adds to her problems. It could mean she has to settle down in one place and accept the fact that in Applegate Valley, her ability to manipulate air makes her normal.
But there are those that have their own plans for Nyssa. She turns to Lucas, Royce, and Ian to protect her. But can they save her from people that won't take no for an answer?
For more on this book, to watch a book trailer, and/or to read excerpts check out my website www.stormyglenn.com
Stormy Glenn
Tri-Omega Mates ~*~ Lover’s of Alpha Squad
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
'Bronze Lightning' out today
Here's the blurb and an excerpt from my forthcoming sensual historical romance, Bronze Lightning, set in ancient Krete, Egypt and England. This novel is available from Bookstrand by pre-order and is due out on March 10th.
The cover and buy details can be seen here.
Ancient Krete, 1562 B.C.
Sarmatia is a trainer for the Bull Rite, the dangerous, glamorous ceremony of bull-leaping that gave a young Kretan entry into adulthood. Fearn is healer from the distant northern Isle of Stones summoned for his skills to the sick-bed of Minos, the Kretan king. They meet on the dusty flagstones of the palace courtyard and both save a life.
A year passes. They are betrothed, but Fearn has returned home and is chosen king of his small northern country. As king, master of storms, he cannot return to Krete. Fearn writes to Sarmatia releasing her from her vows - but is this what they really want?
Sarmatia leaves Krete to search for Fearn. Many months and life-and-death adventures later, she is reunited with him. She and Fearn are still deeply in love but there is an unknown enemy working against them, one who will stop at nothing, even murder.
Excerpt:
Krete, c.1562 BC. Summer.
Sarmatia spun away and was gone, somersaulting over her hands and landing with a soft clash of gold ankle bells. Their meeting of eyes had lasted no more than a breath, yet it kept returning to haunt her as the music shrilled to a climax and the piebald bull was let into the court. Even as the flute players left and the Bull Rite began, her gaze was drawn to the back of the courtyard.
Three of the seven had completed their Passage and two were gone: the fourth initiate should have been ready. As the bull came to a jolting stop at one end of the court, pawed restively and licked the painted flags, Sarmatia motioned to a creamy-skinned, gray-eyed girl. The youngster backed up a step. The bull raised its head, its horn scraping against a pillar. The girl blanched and looked wildly about, ready to run. In three strides Sarmatia made up the space between them and gripped her arm. Unseen by the families, she pressed the flat of her dagger into the initiate's side. Cruel to be kind, she threatened.
'This or the bull if you show your back, Pero!' she whispered, turning the blade for the girl to feel its edge. 'The only way out is through the horns.' Whatever Sarmatia's private disgust and unease, custom and the crowd demanded it. They would not forgive Pero if she failed.
'I can't!' Pero was shaking and near tears. A low murmur ran around the watching crowd like a wind through barley: the mob and the bull would not wait much longer. Pierced by pity, Sarmatia squeezed the girl's thin shoulder. 'Do you want to be a child all your life?' she asked gently.
'Sarmatia, I can't! Those horns, they're like knives, and the bull— Oh, Mother!' Pero's voice cracked. 'It's looking for me!' The bull had trotted out of the shadows at the back of the courtyard.
Sarmatia stepped in front of Pero, shielding the girl. 'Look, it's nothing.' She ran forward, clapping her hands.
The bull halted and its head slewed round towards them, a brown forelock covering one eye. 'To me!' she shouted.
The beast dropped its great horns. She heard the people applaud. With an explosion of dust the bull charged. She felt its hot, closed mind surrounding her. For an instant skill deserted her. She remembered she was too old for the Bull Rite. A blaze of gold spilled from the bull's horns, instinct returned and with it sureness. She caught the horns and let herself rise. Time and the horizon fell back, she could see the blue vault of heaven, the red-mouthed 'O' of the crowd, a flash of red-gold hair as Fearn turned his head, following her descent. Her feet touched the bony rump of the bull, she tucked in her arms and somersaulted off, running forward as she landed.
Behind her the beast gave a sulky grunt, swept this way and that with its horns and lashed its tail. Pero worked her way into its sight, swaying her hips to keep quick and supple. The piebald ambled off in the opposite direction then suddenly spun about and bore down on the girl in another burst of speed. Sarmatia moved to cover Pero's tumble and signalled to the remaining initiates to do the same. She heard the girl seize the bull's horns, with a great smack on each palm, and saw her tossed, arching like a dolphin in mid-air and rising clear of the deadly gilded horns. The time of peril would be when the girl landed. If Pero caught an ankle or winded herself, Sarmatia knew she would have to be in quickly to distract the beast.
There was a shower of dark hair and Pero touched earth to a roar from her family. Sarmatia grabbed her arm and pulled her clear, but was not fast enough: already the bull had skidded round. Too late, Sarmatia realized what the beast had seen. A child had kicked a hole in the fencing and was running out into the turbid afternoon light. No time to draw the bull off— all she could hope for was to reach the boy first.
Sprinting, her insides turning to water, Sarmatia rushed for the child. As her hands closed round his tiny—so tiny!—body and her cheek grazed the stones she thought, with terrible clarity: I promised they would be safe. I've failed.
For a second, a dark breathing shadow hung over her. Then came pain, the slow tearing punch of the horn.
* * * *
She came awake suddenly, crying out. Firm hands kept her flat against the stones.
'Peace, Kretan,' said the man crouched beside her, pressing a cloth onto the spurting wound in her side. 'There's nothing to fear.' In the sun his hair framed his broad-featured face like a nimbus, yet there was darkness behind him. The bull was still free in the courtyard.
Sarmatia wet her lips with her tongue. 'The child?'
Fearn jerked his head to one side. 'Ramose has taken his son. He's safe.' The initiates were also gone, the crowd hanging back, uncertain what to do.
They were alone in the court, except for the bull. Fearn pressed on her side again then withdrew the cloth. A dark spiral of blood pooled under Sarmatia's ribs; blood no longer pumped from the wound. She scarcely felt it as he bound the gash with a bandage made from his tunic. 'You must leave, Sir, the bull—'
She broke off, eyes widening, and Fearn whipped round. Ready to gore, the bull was lowering its huge head, its face so close that its breath stirred the bristles of Fearn's beard. Fearn threw up an arm to fend off the horns and drove a fist into the face of the beast. 'Get back!' He hit the creature a second time. 'Learn your lesson!'
The bull snorted and the healer shifted, covering Sarmatia completely with his body. He stamped the stones and shouted at the beast. ‘Go on! Go on!’
As Fearn's boot hammered the flags, there came the rumble of a distant storm, like the muffled roar of a lion. The beast started back and with a bellow turned tail and ran.
Best wishes, Lindsay
http:///lindsaysbookchat.blogspot.com
[Image of bull-leaping fresco from Wikimedia Commons.]
Monday, March 9, 2009
Angelic Forecast ~ XXVII
“It’s been a long time since I’ve experienced such a ferocious hailstorm,” I say to the Heavenly One.
Pretending to be a leprechaun he jigs along the row of crushed daffodils perking them up with a point of his finger. I feel relief and smile at him
“First they endure 5 degree temps and snow,” I continue. “Now they’ve been beaten down by iceballs and slashing rain.” I shake my head at the wonder of Mother Nature, the Cherub kicking up his heels ~ and my brave daffodils, who seem to smile at me.
Wrapping his arm around my waist, the Heavenly One whirls me into a lively dance over the greening grasses. Our feet barely touch the ground, and I feel a lovely headiness I’ve never known. We swing and spin past flitting cardinals, past the squirrels, who stop and gaze at us as if the world has turned upside down.
Not that it hasn’t. We dance around the budding trees, beneath the clear blue sky.
And I remember. The Hundred Watt Bulb Sky of two days ago when I drove into town. I didn’t see the sun despite driving east. Only an immense vista of glaring white sky all around me. It was a type of light and sky I’d never seen before.
“Sun changes,” the Cherub whispers near my ear. “And Earth changes.”
“Earth changes?” I ask, remembering the maps of Gordon Scallion.
“Not that drastic,” the Heavenly Ones soothes. “But coming.”
After a soft kiss on my cheek, he spins into the distance and disappears.
The following week is the week of T’s. Especially on the world stage. Torrid and turbulent. Tempestuous and often terrible. Look for the tender in your life. Look for the loving hearts who surround you. For that becomes your center, out of which to create your life, accomplish your goals and live your dreams. Should an event occur which trembles the world or should you experience an event which trembles you personally. Hold on, and be prepared to know the truth, which will not be apparent at first. Then act.
Angelic blessings from Volcano & Sedona
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 
Leprechauns, do they show themselves in 2013 ~
WHEN A GOOD ANGEL FALLS
Where angels fear to tread, 2012 Earth ~
Is a stranger on a superspeed motorcycle her savior from the brutal endtimes?
Blurb: Winter Solstice, December 21, 2012 – The end of the Mayan Calendar
What happens when a world weary, worn out incarnated angel, Sedona, who believes she is merely human has three choices after her old van breaks down? ...more
~~~ NOW IN PRINT ~~~
Author Discovery by Lindsay Townsend, BookStrand author of FLAVIA’S SECRET and A SECRET TREASURE ~
http://sirenbookstrand.blogspot.com/2008/08/author-discovery-savanna-kougars-when.html ~
WHEN A GOOD ANGEL FALLS ~ adventure fantasy erotic romance ~ available from BookStrand ~
http://www.bookstrand.com/authors/savannakougar/wagaf.asp ~ http://www.bookstrand.com/ ~
Kiss from Savanna Kougar...
~ Run on the Wild Side of Romance
~~~~~~
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Eppie comes to Mudflat!
TARBABY TROUBLE, first of the Mudflat series books, is the 2009 national EPIC fantasy winner!
Featured Author for March at Mochas Erotic Review!
I’m one of two featured authors at Mochas Erotic Review for the month of March. Check it and my latest interview out here: http://www.mochaseroticreview.com/mocha_featured_authors.htm
Saturday, March 7, 2009
"Love at First Bight" Up for Book of the Week!
Two weeks in a row, one of my Tymber Dalton books is up for book of the week at Whipped Cream Erotic Romance Reviews/The Long and the Short of It. Voting is today (3/7) and tomorrow (3/8).
http://www.longandshortreviews.com/WC/recentrev.htm
"Love at First Bight" (writing as Tymber Dalton) received their Best Book rating in a review!
Apparently the site is having intermittent poll issues, so if it's not there when you go to the site, please try again.
Click here to see all my Tymber Dalton Siren-BookStrand releases!
From the review:
"Overall the story is a very emotional one, more so than I initially thought it would be as I read the description. While it does have scorching hot and touching love scenes between all of the main characters, it also has heart as the four bond and form an unconventional relationship. The group becomes so close and emotionally linked that I ached for them toward the end during one of the most emotional and pivotal scenes of the story, however, I don’t want to say too much for fear of spoiling it. I will say that the author did a fabulous job of making me care about these characters and allowing me to experience and feel their pain and emotion with her words. I was drawn into this fascinating world and relationship and loved every minute of it.
Love at First Bight has more than earned a spot among my keepers and I look forward to reading more of what this talented author has to offer."
Click here to read the whole review!
Thank you!!
Lesli. (aka Tymber)
http://tymberdalton.com
http://leslirichardson.com
Friday, March 6, 2009
Time to Take Another Look
Hey everyone, It's Dee Dawning. It's been six months since my initial BookStrand novel, Love and Seduction in Las Vegas was released. Though the reviews have been glowing the sales have been disappointing, so maybe it's time to take another look. Today, I'm posting the third five star review of this very moving, extremely sexy, feel good story anew. Check out the book too. If you do, I'm sure you'll agree with the reviewer, it's like nothing you've ever read. Love and Seduction in Las Vegas is a bell ringer.
LOVE AND SEDUCTION IN LAS VEGAS
By Dee Dawning
Siren - Book Strand Publishing
July 2008
Erotic Romance
Buy Now:
Book Description:
Thrust into her life one night by peculiar circumstances, Loretta Bishop, seventeen years Bobby's senior, has been tasked with taking the shy, modest pretty boy under her wing and turning him into a lady's man. Free spirited and sexually adventurous, Loretta is eminently qualified to teach him the elements of pursuit, seduction, and how to please women.
At first, being with Bobby seems like a dream, but clouds begin to gather from Loretta's spotty and sometime sordid past. Feeling guilt after Bobby asks to marry her, Loretta is no longer able to continue and runs away.
Now, it's up to Bobby to put the methods Loretta has taught him to practical use. Will he succeed and parlay his new talents into love, wealth, and power?
Review:
There is lot to be said about LOVE AND SEDUCTION IN LAS VEGAS by Dee Dawning, but I am just going to write this short review.
I am blown away with the way author Dee Dawning manages to draw me in from the very beginning.
The character of Loretta Bishop is one of a kind that readers won’t help but cheer her on with her generous and fun spirit.
This is definitely like nothing I have read before. It reflects the point of view of four people who’s lives through fate are intertwined together. This shows how tough it can be for a woman no matter what year it is. And it also shows the determination of this woman to make a good life for herself despite the many obstacles in her way.
There is lots of drama going to keep more than one reader entertained. But like all great dramas there’s also great conflict between the main characters of Loretta and Bobby. Especially with the way the author will keep readers wondering about Bobby. But I won’t spoil one of the big secrets by writing about it. If you want to know then you’ll just have to get yourself your own copy of LOVE AND SEDUCTION IN LAS VEGAS.
I definitely love the way the whole book shifted between the years in between of the life of Loretta Bishop in the span of almost thirty years. And of course who doesn’t love a happy ending.
I give LOVE AND SEDUCTION IN LAS VEGAS a rating of 5 Stars.
Reviewed by:
Estefanie L.
Night Time Romance Reviews
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Wednesday's Words for March 4, 2009
It becomes a challenge to unearth good news and hopeful signs these days. The recession we’ve fallen into is eating away at our optimism, and while most of us went into this situation in September with a chin-up, I-can-manage attitude, we also thought that maybe come the spring, things would be looking up.
Hearing the news every night and thinking about the hundreds of thousands of jobs lost in the last couple of months makes me want to weep for all those who suddenly find themselves in a hell of a mess. People who have always done everything right are suddenly finding themselves on a slippery slope not of their own making.
It’s particularly devastating for people who have never had to struggle before.
Those of us who’ve endured misfortune in the past, who’ve had to struggle, stretching grocery dollars until they scream in agony, or who’ve had to come up with creative accounting with regard to bill-paying have an easier time, I think. The prospects ahead, for us, aren’t any rosier than they are for most people. We just know we can do it, is all.
So I thought I would scour around for some hopeful signs, some small symbols of spring and dawning hope, that I could share with you.
My daughter suggested I mention the ‘roll-up-the-rim’ contest that our Canadian coffee chain, Tim Horton’s, holds twice a year, spring and fall. I laughed, because when I got my first contest cup on the weekend, the very words out of my mouth were, “the first sign of spring!” The server at the drive-thru laughed, and said a lot of people were saying that. My daughter does have as deep a fondness for this coffee as do I. I don’t indulge mine as often anymore, because caffeine and heart conditions don’t mix. My daughter, who sometimes comments that she has too much blood in her tims stream has already won a couple of free coffees and donuts.
For the most part our snow has melted and that’s a hopeful sign. It is March, which by my reckoning is the last month of our six months of winter, so the end of this dreadful season, at least, is in sight. The last couple of nights have been severely cold here, though—going down to around zero, Fahrenheit.
This coming weekend, we set our clocks ahead one hour to daylight savings time. That’s always been a solid sign of spring. Of course, the event happening earlier on the calendar now lessens the impact of it being spring-related. Just when I was beginning to enjoy coming back in the morning from taking my beloved to work, the rosy hues of dawn kissing the horizon, on Monday it will be dark again.
Another sign of spring is that convention season is upon us. The RT convention this year is in Orlando. I wasn’t going to attend at first, but my beloved insisted I go. He won’t be joining me, so I’m being given the gift of an all-female week. He’ll take a trip to the Caribbean in the fall. Some of his co-workers doubt that his wife will “let” him go south on his own. They don’t know us very well. We prefer to travel together, but have taken separate vacations in the past, and have no problem with the concept.
I’m looking forward to this all-female week with equal parts excitement and trepidation. Excitement because I’ve grown close to some of my fellow authors and I’m looking forward to seeing them again. It’s only been in the last decade that I began to make close female friends. As a result there is much involved in female ritual that seems foreign to me, and hence the trepidation. That’s probably one of the reasons I enjoy reading the J.D. Robb In Death series so much. I really get Eve. Well, except for her aversion to having a ‘spa day’.
Mostly, though, the place to find a sign of hope is in your own heart. Yes, I know it’s hard to put on a smile and foster optimism in the face of such horrible uncertainty. Few things in life are harder to do, and yet few more rewarding than choosing to be cheerful anyway. Maybe you have to find your joy and your pleasure in different places now than you did a year ago. Maybe you have to stay home and read, or watch a DVD instead of going out to dinner and a show. Maybe you have to take walks with your loved one, holding hands, and talking instead of going out on a date to a club.
But you can do that. You can do anything, if you make the decision. The economy may be faltering, but you don’t have to.
Love,
Morgan
THE LADY MAKES THREE
http://www.bookstrand.com/product-theladymakesthree-13975-200.html
Feed the flames of your passion…with a novel by Morgan Ashbury
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Dust and Moonlight Scores Again With Fab Review
Dust and Moonlight, Keta Diablo
Siren Publishing
Buy It Here
Lupa Says You Need To Read
Review:
Kira Barton swears an oath to the dead girls she will find their killer. What she doesn’t know is that in her pursuit, she will be hurled into the distant past. Balion, Prince of Locke Cress, knows the forest nymph with lavender eyes will come to him. Hasn’t he dreamed of her every night?
Keta Diablo has done a wonderful job weaving this tale of mystery, passion and adventure.
With characters that are well developed, well rounded individuals the story flows well and you end up rooting for the heroes and booing the bad guys.
Of course you toss in a definitely not typical history for the heroine's parents and it makes for a great story. This book was a real pleasure to read.
Serial killers, time travel, magic, mayhem, passion, some smoking erotica and a great twist pack the pages of this book to the gills without overwhelming the reader.
I have to admit I will be finding and reading everything by Ms Diablo that I can get my hands on. A great read for a long, cold winter night.
KETA DIABLO, SIREN PUBLISHING, YOU NEED TO READ
Monday, March 2, 2009
Your Mudflat fortune cookie for this week -
Straight from Claire, the Mudflat fortuneteller -
for more fortunes and a Free Read group check Phoebe Matthews's website.
Julia's Knight by Stormy Glenn
JULIA'S KNIGHT
Lover's of Alpha Squad 3
Julia entrances Caleb the moment he meets her. She's everything he could ever want, but there's one problem--she isn't his woman, she's married to his best friend.
But Julia wants Caleb and has every intention of getting him, if she can convince him hers is a marriage of convenience.
For more on this book, the Lover's of Alpha Squad series, to watch book trailers, and to read book excerpts check out my website http://www.stormyglenn.com/
Time to Take Another Look
Hey everyone, It's Dee Dawning. It's been six months since my initial BookStrand novel, Love and Seduction in Las Vegas was released. Though the reviews have been glowing the sales have been disappointing, so maybe it's time to take another look. Starting today, I'm going to begin promoting this very moving, extremely sexy, feel good story anew. To start with here's a wonderful book trailer, which yours truly created. Check it out, I hope you like it . And check out the book too. If you do, I'm sure you think like I do, it's a bell ringer.
Angelic Forecast ~ XXVI
“I feel a sweeping malaise... so many seem sapped of energy,” I say, then grin as the Heavenly One creates a rainbow bench for us to sit on, before the newly blooming daffodils.
“Yes, some are feeling this malaise... born of unnatural energies,” he answers. I watch him wave his arm in an expansive invitation. Quickly tiny lights appear, flitting in all directions. Soon I glimpse the swift beating of ephemeral wings. “Daffodil fairies,” he explains. “They are busy this time of year.”
“I would imagine,” I respond, bewitched by their erratic ethereal flights. They zoom and hover, then zoom again. “I’m not seeing them fully, am I?”
“You are seeing their crystalline energies in this density of reality.” Lifting his palm he rains drops of pastel colors over the fairies, who whirl upwards and appear to be playing in the sparkling shower.
I smile, simply enjoying for long moments. “Why daffodils?” I finally ask.
“They invite the return of the sun’s spring energy and help revitalize Mother Earth, for the sake of all people and all creatures.”
Who could argue with that? It was logical and magical.
“Born of unnatural energies?” My curiosity grips like a pitbull’s jaws.
“The created waves are set and dispersed to discourage Those who will never conform.”
“Are the waves created for certain brain patterns?” I feel cold, as if someone replaced my middle with a piece from an Arctic glacier.
“No. They are mostly DNA based. Those who do not conform carry certain genetic markers from past civilizations.”
“There’s a story unto itself.” My imagination spins.
“It will be told,” he assures me. I hear the uninhibited joy in his voice. “Do not worry,” he continues. “Their unnatural waves will backfire in their purpose. Eventually. For what can be created can always be re-created in a different form, one which eliminates the original wave.”
“Oh...” Okay.
This week’s events on the world stage will be significant in several ways. Old ways of doing things will end, old ways of thinking will die. New ways of doing and thinking will begin. Some of these are direct gifts from the Divine and some of the new ideas offered and instituted are ugly in their design and purpose. To know the difference, check in with your Higher Self, and look to your heart. If your heart sings, if you dance within to the new resonance, to the new beat and the new way, that is the Divine’s gift to us all. If you feel compelled and driven toward what seems to be good, but it does not ‘sing’ within you, that is not from the Divine... beware of the intent and how this new way or idea will be used in the future.
Angelic blessings from Volcano & Sedona
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 
Leprechauns, do they show themselves in 2013 ~
WHEN A GOOD ANGEL FALLS
Where angels fear to tread, 2012 Earth ~
Is a stranger on a superspeed motorcycle her savior from the brutal endtimes?
Blurb: Winter Solstice, December 21, 2012 – The end of the Mayan Calendar
What happens when a world weary, worn out incarnated angel, Sedona, who believes she is merely human has three choices after her old van breaks down? ...more
~~~ NOW IN PRINT ~~~
Author Discovery by Lindsay Townsend, BookStrand author of FLAVIA’S SECRET and A SECRET TREASURE ~
http://sirenbookstrand.blogspot.com/2008/08/author-discovery-savanna-kougars-when.html ~
WHEN A GOOD ANGEL FALLS ~ adventure fantasy erotic romance ~ available from BookStrand ~
http://www.bookstrand.com/authors/savannakougar/wagaf.asp ~ http://www.bookstrand.com/ ~
Kiss from Savanna Kougar...
~ Run on the Wild Side of Romance
~~~~~~
Sunday, March 1, 2009
New Interview at EcataRomance!
I was recently interviewed by EcataRomance. Check out the result in its entirety here: http://sensual.ecataromance.com/index.php?p=1725
Just a reminder, if you buy Murphy's Law and can name the horse Katie is given to take Seth under her wing, you will be entered in a drawing to win ebooks of BOTH Turning Thirty-Twelve and the Murphy's Law sequel, Free Falling. Please send the answer along with a cut/paste of your purchase receipt to sj@sandy-james.com
I've had a couple of requests to extend the deadline from Monday, so I'm going to push it out to 6PM EST on Friday!!
Happy reading!
Sandy
http://www.sandy-james.com/
Turning Thirty-Twelve and Murphy's Law on sale at BookStrand.com!
Buy the ebooks at:
http://www.bookstrand.com/authors/sandyjames/
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