Showing posts with label holiday romance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label holiday romance. Show all posts

Sunday, December 29, 2013

Ever Wonder Why People Pucker up Under a Parasite?


By Arlene Webb
Norse mythology has a lot to do with the tradition of kissing beneath a plant that sucks the life from other plants. They say the god Baldur, a.k.a. Baldar, suddenly turned paranoid and alas, without shrinks and modern day meds, the poor guy became more and more unhinged. He was convinced all (yes, all. Not just bears and poison ivy) the plants and animals on Earth wished him dead, so his mother and wife negotiated with what they thought was every living thing to leave Baldur alone.

Unfortunately, mistletoe was the one plant the women in Baldar’s life overlooked, and the god was killed with an arrow made from the plant. Then, too late for Baldar, they figured out Mistletoe has a downfall and a sword made of gold will kill it.

Like all traditions that don’t need logic to start a trend, people began feeling obligated to kiss beneath a clump of Mistletoe. Perhaps to pay respect to deadly things that never should be left off the negotiating-good-will list or to sword-makers who like working with quality metals such as gold.

Available HERE
I had a lot of fun using this info to shape TakingDown Mistletoe, but, like all of the best romances, I twisted ‘facts’ to give my hero, Alek Baldar, a happy ending. I also introduced a love interest who has nothing to do with Norse myths and everything to do with vampire ones. Obviously when dealing with suckers, an expert related to Van Helsing (guy who dealt with Bram Stroker’s Dracula) gets a role.

Here’s the blub for Taking Down Mistletoe:

Parties everywhere, but Alek—security and all-around handy guy—is stuck at work in the department store taking down the holiday decorations. Just when he thinks he’ll escape in time for a little celebrating, fate takes a deadly turn. A thirsty leech doesn’t mind going down, as long as Alek joins him.

Tired of sucking on candy canes, Loki is sick of the tall security guard ignoring him. He’s determined, one way or another, that Alek will find himself lying flat. Unfortunately, a man dressed in black enters the scene and interrupts him.

When the parasite-exterminator, in the form of a dark, handsome hunk, arrives and latches onto Alex, things go from weird to downright bizarre. Did Alek really find love under the mistletoe, or has something beyond sinister taken hold of him?

Excerpt:
    Jesus Christ. With one look, I’ve gone psychotic? Alek knew his body was in a store, standing toe to toe with a strange man a decade older than him, but it sure felt like he lay, nude, on his back beside a forest stream. In a green world, fat emerald flakes of snow fell from a turquoise sky. Trees clustered with jade leaves with solid mosses blotched along their trunks grew alongside a bubbling stream of green waters.   Where oh where had reality gone? And, more important, should he care? Everything was so surreal, beautiful beyond imagination. And then, it got even better. The deepest green eyes came closer and closer. Pure joy would escape from Alex’s mouth, if only he could draw air.
    The man sighed. He snapped his fingers at Alek, stepped back, and lowered his gaze. Alek shook his head. The vision shattered. A zillion sparkling dots of emerald exploded into invisible dust around him.
    He’d never dropped acid, snorted coke, done any hallucinogenic drug, but Alek certainly felt like he was tripping now. In a two-second flash, the feel of the man dressed in black topping him, blanketing him from softly falling flakes of emerald snow, triggered in Alek the hardest and fastest erection any male could ever attempt to hide.
    Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. ’Tis the season, but what the hell had they put in the punch he hadn’t tasted?

There’s free e-copies of winner’s pick of my stories with Decadent going out to commentators chosen at random, so please leave your email address.

Best wishes for a wonderful 2014 to all,

Arlene

Saturday, December 21, 2013

Not Your Everyday Holiday Romance!


By Krystal Shannan

I’m so excited to be a guest on the Decadent Blog. Hi everyone! Christmas is my favorite time of year and I am a sucker for romance and action movies. Yippee-Ki-Aay...(whispering the rest…lol ) So it didn’t surprise me at all that when I set out to write a Christmas novella, I got a fabulous whirlwind romance wrapped up in the Russian mob, kidnapping, and a gunfight! Hehehehe.

What do you look for in a Christmas story???

A Very Russian Christmas is my little smok’n hot love story between Ksenia and Matt. She’s the daughter of a Russian mobster and he’s a retired Marine. Sparks are flying on this snow-covered mountain! Have a seat with a nice steamy cup of hot cocoa and settle in for a fun and a fabulous read.

   For most of her adult life, bodyguards have shadowed Ksenia Sharanov, daughter of a Russian mobster. Her one serious relationship left her broken-hearted when she learned he only sought her father’s power and money.
   A ski vacation with her college roommates ends on a terrifying note. Her father’s enemies have been following her more closely than anyone could have anticipated. The mistake will cost a life…but will it cost her heart? Or will she find love in the arms of a complete stranger?
   Matt O’Reilly, a retired Marine, generally keeps to himself. Working as a deputy in a small country sheriff’s office, provides just enough seclusion for him to cut himself off from his family’s pity and the heartache of losing his wife. He never thought love would be in the books for him again. Will the sudden arrival of a spunky dark-haired Russian beauty change his mind?

Krystal Shannan
Putting Magick in Romance One Soul mate at a Time
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Friday, December 20, 2013


By Cate Masters

Santa couldn’t have given me a better present than Decadent Publishing did this year – the release of my holiday novella, Blue Moon Over Bliss Lake!

I may have to croon Blue Christmas for days! But in a joyful rather than melancholy way. Blue moons bring luck! And to me, symbolize second chances. I couldn’t resist playing with that particular idea in this story. And if you love the movie Serendipity, you’re bound to love Blue Moon Over Bliss Lake, too – both have slight touches of magic only found during this season. Combine that with two hearts who’ve yearned for each other for a long time, and it only adds to the magic of the story.

Blue Moon Over Bliss Lake launches a new series, a bit different from most other series in that it’s linked by title. The characters don’t repeat, but they’re some of the best characters I’ve written so far, I think. They really pop off the page to life. I hope you’ll agree!

I hope Santa does too! He seems to be enjoying his copy, doesn’t he?

Do holiday stories help put you in the spirit? However you celebrate, I hope you’ll have a wonderful and joyous one.

Here’s a peek at Blue Moon Over Bliss Lake:

Can Fate give two people a second chance at love? Sierra O’Brien and Carter Grove are about to find out. After an accidental meeting near their hometown of Bliss, Pennsylvania, events from their past reoccur. Will they make the same mistakes and drift apart again?

In Bliss, the inexplicable is an everyday occurrence, and anything is possible—especially during a blue moon.


About Cate

   Cate Masters has made beautiful central Pennsylvania her home, but she’ll always be a Jersey girl at heart. When not spending time with her dear hubby, she can be found in her lair, concocting a magical brew of contemporary, historical, and fantasy/paranormal stories with her cat Chairman Maiow and dog Lily as company. Look for her at http://catemasters.blogspot.com and in strange nooks and far-flung corners of the web.
   Cate loves to hear from readers! Email her at: cate.masters@gmail.com

Catch up to Cate

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Wednesday, December 11, 2013

The Naughty North Pole—Book 4.5

~A Christmas Quickie with Pip & Erik~



**This blog contains mature content**

By Deanna Wadsworth

**scroll to the bottom to win free books & a Amazon gift card**

   Cheers exploded in the Lunch Hall as Lord Claus—better known around the world as Santa—rocketed into the starry night aboard his magic sleigh to commence his famous Christmas Eve ride. This year’s reindeer promised another record-breaking time. The cosmic trail disappeared and a swell of pride filled me, knowing that I had a hand in helping make Christmas bright for millions. I suppressed a shiver when the giant launch doors were closed behind the sleigh, sealing out the frigid air.
My name is Erik and I am the Lead Handler of Lord Claus’s reindeer. I see to the breeding, overall care and health of the reindeer, and I supervise the day-to-day maintenance of the large stable complex at the North Pole. I loved my job and the honor of working for the kindest demi-god in all the realms, but tonight the last thing I had on my mind were reindeer.
   What had kept me going as my team and I prepared the animals had been thoughts of spending the holiday with my partner and lover—Pip.
I spied him among the crowd, his laughter as he chatted with his friend, Lisa, music to my ears.
   After two years together, my desire for Pip had not waned. If anything, it kept growing stronger.
   I wove through the throngs of enthusiastic elves, impatient to be near Pip. Voices chattered, echoing around me, as my fellow workers anticipated the reading of Mrs. Claus’s List, all of us more than curious about who would be spending the night in her chambers. I thought about the candidates waiting in a room off the Great Hall and how two years ago I’d been one of them, nervous and anxious.
   But being picked from Ms. Claus’s List had changed everything for the better.
That night I’d met the love of my life.
   “Hi, baby.” Sidling up to my petite Light Elf, I leaned in and claimed his sweet lips in a kiss.
   After making a startled sound, Pip surrendered. Hot passion surged through my every nerve, and my body hardened in want. Never tiring of his delicious taste, I buried my tongue into his mouth. I drew his smaller body tight to mine, until I could feel his groin pressed against my thigh. I wound my fingers in his soft blond hair, always wanting, needing more of him.
   Before things got too heated, I withdrew.
   “Wow.” Eyes closed, Pip wore a delirious smile which melted my heart every time I witnessed it. “That was some kiss.”
   I brushed a lock of golden hair behind his ear. “Hi.”
   He rocked his hips into me. “Hi, back atchya.”
   “That’s my cue to motor,” Lisa declared with a laugh. She scurried off, calling out to a group of girls headed to the Great Hall. “Wait up!”
   “Bye,” Pip said offhandedly, his attention and hands still on me.
   “You ready to go?” Releasing the embrace, I took his small hand in mine, eager to get to the party, too.
   Every year since I could remember, Lady Frieda hosted a North Pole Christmas Eve bash while her twin brother, Lord Claus, delivered toys. The culmination of all our year’s hard work, the party offered a chance for us to let our hair down and give into our baser natures. A brilliant leader, Lord Claus worked us hard but fair, and he wasn’t keen on elves having sex during lunch breaks. Yet today we had an entire day to indulge in every erotic delight we could think of during the wildest party in the North.
   No wonder every elf in the Workshop was jittery with excitement!
   Pip gave me a sly grin. “What if we skip the reading of the List?”
   Suspecting he might be up to something, I arched one brow. “Are you sure?”
   “Yup.” My heart skipped when he grabbed my hand and dragged me after him.    “You’ll like my surprise a lot more than any ol’ party we see every year.”
   “Then lead the way, my secretive little lover.”
   Like two horny youths too excited to wait, we left the dull roar of the crowds behind and hurried to our personal quarters. Since we enjoyed each other’s company so much, we decided to move in together not long after our Boxing Day tryst. Being greeted by Pip’s beautiful face after a long day in the stables or cuddling with him every morning had become the highlights of my existence. Though we had ample opportunity to fool around on any normal day, I lived to satisfy his insatiable sexual appetites. Besides, the party was an all-day affair, so there would be plenty of time to hang out with friends.
   After I got my Light Elf naked, that is.
   “What’s the surprise?” I asked. “Do I get a hint?”
    “One hint. Something’s been missing from your life, and I’m finally ready to give it to you.”
   I stopped, tugging on his hand and forcing him to meet my eye. While intriguing, his words were more serious than the tone which delivered them. “What are you talking about, Pip? What do you think is missing from my life?”
   Shifting his feet, he lowered his gaze. “Well, it’s been just the two of us for a while, so I thought....” his voice trailed off and his cheeks pinkened.
   “You thought what?” Though he exuded confidence, Pip would always have an insecure side due to his troubled upbringing. But I sensed embarrassment coming from him, not insecurity.
   That piqued my curiosity.
He flashed me a wide smile before leading me to our chambers. “Come and see. You’ll like it. I promise.”
   We entered but when he opened our bedroom door, my jaw fell on the ground.
   There, sitting on our bed, was the most beautiful Dark Elf girl I had ever seen.
   “W-what?” I spluttered and my partner chuckled. I shot him a startled look before examining the girl.
   Tall and buxom, she had glorious jet-black hair which fell over her creamy shoulders in a cascade of ebony. She smiled, warm brown eyes beguiling me with a promise of sensual pleasure... pleasure I would surely discover beneath the big red bow covering her ample bosom.
   “What’s going on?” I asked.
Pip shrugged his slim shoulders, looking very much like the cat who caught the canary. “Your Christmas-slash-two-year anniversary present. Well, rather, our present.”
   “Are you joking?”
   He rocked up on his heels. “Nope. This is Tessa. She just enrolled in Santa’s Christmas Cookie Baking School. The moment we met, I knew she was perfect.”
   “Hi,” she purred with those luscious pink lips.
   Until meeting Pip, I’d preferred female lovers. Though I enjoyed women—and always would—I had never fallen in love with one. I’d never fallen in love period until peppermint-flavored Pip waltzed into my life and stole my heart.
Though my blood stirred at the prospect of the three of us getting down and dirty, I took my partner by the shoulders and turned him to face me. With a thumb, I tipped his chin so I could study his face. My cock might want this, but I wanted Pip’s happiness more.
   I would not do anything to threaten our bond.
   Even if it was his idea.
   “Are you sure?” I asked. “I don’t want you to feel....”
   I stopped trying to find the right words when Pip patted my chest.
   “Erik, I was your first guy, and if I have anything to say about it,” he raised one authoritative finger, “I will be your only guy. But, maybe we should spice things up.”
   “I don’t need any spice, except peppermint,” I assured him. “I don’t know why you think something is missing from my life, because there isn’t. I am the happiest elf in the North Pole. I can promise you, I’ll always have everything I want, as long as I have you.”
   A sigh escaped his lips. “Okay, so maybe this isn’t just for you.”
   I flinched. “It isn’t?”
   He placed confident, slender hands on my shoulders—a bit of a reach for someone of his petite stature. “Babe, I’m not as insecure as I used to be. There’s no doubt in my mind, or my cock, that you love me and only me. But since tonight is our anniversary, I wanted to do something special. You know? Like reenacting our first time together.” He chewed his bottom lip. “I thought you would be excited about it.”
I let out a disbelieving chuckle and glanced once more at the rubenesque beauty in our bed. “Oh, I am. I just need to be sure this is what you want. I don’t ever want you to think you aren’t enough to satisfy me, or that I want something you can’t give me.”
   Making a silly face, Pip gestured toward Tessa. “Well, if you haven’t noticed, I am the one giving her to you.” He leaned into whisper, “Why do you think I picked her? Not only is she nice, but she’s twice my size.”
   “What’s that got to do with anything?”
   He scoffed. “C’mon, do you think I’m going to let someone else be the cute, little one?”  
   Laughing heartily, I placed an arm around my ingenious lover. As one, we faced our new playmate. My blood warmed as I imagined all the naughty things the three of us could do, what we might taste like together.
   Knowing my little puppet-master, however, the evening’s activities were doubtless already planned. Which was a welcome relief for an elf like me. I spent all day barking orders and making decisions. At night, I loved nothing more than laying back and trusting Pip to make the decisions for us.
“So what was this about reenacting our first night together?” I prompted.
Leaning his back against my chest, Pip crossed his arms and I embraced him as we surveyed Tessa. She shifted her long voluptuous legs and smiled seductively. 
   “Do you remember when I was a Pip-sandwich between Ms. Claus and Lars?” he asked me and I nodded. “Well, it was ah-may-zing! Guess I figured you might enjoy being a sandwich, too.”
   I threw back my head and laughter rumbled out of my chest. Pip giggled—a sweet sound that never grew old—and I squeezed him tight. “It’s funny you brought up Lars, considering what he asked me in the stables today.”
   Pip craned his neck to look up at me. “What did he ask?”
   Spinning him to face me, I cupped his cheeks and pressed my lips to his forehead.    “He asked me if I was bored only being with you.”
   Pip scrunched up his nose. “What did you say?”
   “I told him the truth. Life with you is anything but boring.”
   “Well, I do try to keep things fresh.”
   “You succeed my hopes and expectations every day, Pip.” I lowered my voice and gazed into his eyes. “I love you so much. You mean everything to me.”
   As it did each time I told Pip how much I loved him, happiness radiated from my adorable Light Elf. “I love you, Erik,” he whispered, lips trembling and lashes sparkling with sudden, unshed tears. “Every day that I wake up with you beside me feels like a dream or a fairy tale. But it’s real. I don’t ever want the magic to end.”
A burst of emotion overcame me, too, as I gazed down at the elf I loved, the one I wanted to spend the rest of my life with.
   My soul mate. 
My heart.
   I had no doubts that the magic between us would never fade.
   Confident and bursting with gratitude and happiness, I brought our mouths together in a kiss which held the promise of forever. Everything about Pip roused my soul, and when his erection pressed against me, mine surged in answer. Eager hands glided up my back, stroking the muscles and causing my skin to flush with heat. When I drew back from the passionate kiss, breathless, my heart raced. I caressed his soft cheek with the back of my fingers, soaking in the wanton sensuality in his expression. “I love you.”
   He gave me an impish grin then pinched my bottom. “How could you not? I’m awesome.”
   I laughed.
   A throat cleared, drawing us out of our intimate moment and back to the woman in the room with us.
   Still embracing, we faced Tessa.
   She wore an amused smile. “Well, if you boys are finished, how about we get this party started?”

If you enjoyed this short story pleas share it with your friends and enter to win the first Three Naughty North Pole Books—Ms. Claus’s List, Pip’s Boxing Day Wish, and A Gift for Santa—and a $20 Amazon gift card! Just go to http://deannawadsworth.blogspot.com to enter.


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Check out the latest installment of those naughty elves in:

Fun & Games with Rudolph
Naughty North Pole Book Four
By Deanna Wadsworth

Now Available! 
Blurb:
   Lars is the sarcastic elf who runs Santa’s Mail Department and he follows the dating rule of “no repeats”. But lately he's been having a romantic textlationship with another elf, via the dating app Elf4Elf. When his cyber boyfriend goes AWOL after a misunderstanding, Lars realizes too late that there is more to life than sex, work, and cookies.
   On Christmas Eve, Santa asks Lars to personally deliver a gift to Rudolph—a former reindeer handler who left the North Pole because of a misunderstanding. Rudolph lives on the secluded Sugar Plum Ridge and the only way to get there is by sleigh. Lars just can’t get a break!
   When a sudden blizzard forces the two elves to hole up in Rudolph's cabin, will they find a way to make their own fun and games or will one surprise ruin it all?
   One thing is certain: after this night, they both will believe in the magic of the Naughty North Pole!

Deanna Wadsworth might be a bestselling erotica author, but she leads a pretty vanilla life in Ohio with her wonderful husband and a couple adorable cocker spaniels. She has been spinning tales and penning stories since childhood, and her first erotic novella was published in 2010. When she isn’t writing books or brainstorming with friends, you can find her making people gorgeous in a beauty salon. She loves music and dancing, and can often be seen hanging out on the sandbar in the muddy Maumee River or chilling with her hubby and a cocktail in their basement bar. In between all that fun, Deanna cherishes the quiet times when she can let her wildly active imagination have the full run of her mind. Her fascination with people and the interworkings of their relationships have always inspired her to write romance with spice and love without boundaries.


Buy Deanna’s books at Decadent Publishing or at any reputable eBook seller 


Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Merry Christmas to Me—Her Wish Before Christmas

By Kimberly Quinton

I love Christmas—as in I would stalk St. Nick and keep my tree and lights up all year—love Christmas. So it’s perfect that my first published book is a sweet holiday romance. I can’t think of a better Christmas present. I had the most fun writing Her Wish Before Christmas and now that we are in the holiday season I’m so thrilled to be able to share it.

When I was growing up, Christmas was always the best holiday around my house. It wasn’t a big family affair with lots of people, but it was the holiday my parents went all out for. Most of our traditions revolve around food--hey, we’re southern, everything revolves around food—but I remember the ornaments on the tree were the same ones every year, and putting them up became the ritual I cherished the most. We would cover the tree in decorations that my brothers and I made in elementary school, cross-stitched sayings, paper cut-outs, glass-beaded bells that looked like beautiful earrings, and whatever new style we just had to have for that year. They were packed away to be put back up the next year and it became a patchwork full of little snippets of our lives. 

Never was it the stylish, coordinated center piece that you’d see in magazines, but I think that’s what made it so special.

The other home decorations had to be the same too, from the tree skirt to the white porcelain tabletop Christmas tree to the stockings with bells on them so my parents could hear us checking them out in the middle of the night. Much of this has been passed to me to keep the tradition alive for my children and I still get all sentimental when I decorate every Christmas. Each piece that survived the years brings back memories from my childhood and the years between then and now, since I never miss a Christmas with my folks if I can help it.

Do you have a favorite holiday tradition? Leave a comment to be entered to win a $15 gift certificate to Amazon. For an extra chance to win, like my Facebook page here www.facebook.com/KimberlyQuintonAuthor. And if I get to 500 likes on my Facebook page by Christmas, I will do a drawing for a super fabulous surprise!


“Are you the one leaving bloody footprints in the store? Your grandmother’s going to have a heart attack.” The man stared down at her, holding the door open with one arm, the lamp base in the other. He rested the plastic appendage against the doorframe and took a step closer, his face clear in the light of the workroom.
“Connor?”
“Let me have a look.” He knelt and grabbed her foot and held on tight when she tried to tug it back.
“Ouch.” She pulled her foot away from his prodding.
“Sorry. Cut’s not too deep. A Band-Aid and some Neosporin is all you need.”
Connor O’Rourke? The Connor O’Rourke? Twelve years hadn’t changed him much. Except he turned into a man. And one fine man at that.
Jesus, did he grow after college? His arms and chest sure had.
Heat blazed a fire across her cheeks when her roaming gaze met his. Same cocky grin. Embarrassment couldn’t stop her from comparing this Connor with the then Connor. His hair was cut shorter, but the rich chestnut color hadn’t dulled. No hint of gray at the temples, no balding either. So that night of drunken cursing for him to grow fat and ugly didn’t take. Figures. What’s the use of gypsy blood if my curses don’t work?
“I didn’t know you were in town,” she asked, proud she had kept the hysterical out of her voice.
“I wasn’t until this week. I’m setting up a practice at the new clinic down the street.” He stood and helped her up from the floor.
Connor F’ing O’Rourke back in town and looking too delicious by half. She licked her lips and swallowed at the sudden dryness in her mouth. The hurt and anger returned with a swift jab to her heart rivaling the sting of glass in her foot. The feelings so fresh, like she was eighteen again and waiting for the proposal that never came. Don’t go there. You’re over him.