On the countdown to the launch of DECADENT, we’ve got 32 days to go! And because I love tormenting you (), here’s another little snippet of the book designed to make your mouth water. Should I make it worse and tell you all that my editor’s lovely assistant mailed me a copy yesterday and I’ve already held it in my hands? (See, you just didn’t know my cruel streak. You have been warned. )

Before we move onto the excerpt, the winner of last week’s Feature Friday is: Sue A. Email me so I can send you your PDF of the first chapter of DECADENT!

If you didn’t win and want to, play again. There will be more prizes in September! If you’re not a member of my newsletter, I’ll be posting exclusive excerpts there soon!

Are you ready? Sure? Really sure?

DECADENT
© Shayla Black (Shelley Bradley LLC)
If you are under 18, please navigate elsewhere

Excerpt

Here’s the deal,” he went on. “Come back to the house. Stay with us for two weeks. We’ll show you what you need to know.”

Relief slid through her. She’d won. It was tempting to tell Deke to shove it, but her pride wasn’t going to solve her issue with Jesse. He’d insisted she couldn’t be what he needed, was too innocent for his lifestyle. She was going to prove him wrong by learning everything. It was the only way to secure a future with the man she adored.

And despite the crappy way Deke had acted yesterday, she knew he was a man of his word. He would teach her everything necessary.

Still, she had questions about his plan…

“Stay with you? As in move in for two weeks?”

Deke nodded. “Part of learning to deal with a ménage is satisfying two horny men. Sex with two men at once isn’t easy. Some men also have individual demands they’ll want you to fulfill. Some guys are partial to morning sex. Others to midnight sex or anything inbetween. You’ll have to learn to deal with two sets of demands.”

His explanation made sense. Two men would definitely be more taxing than one. Odd to be thinking about having sex multiple times a day when she’d never had sex at all, but this was Jesse’s reality.

“Let me guess, Luc is a midnight man. Your favorite time for sex is in the morning.”

Deke shook his head. “Luc is a morning man. My favorite time for sex is every time Luc is in the mood and you’re willing. I won’t fuck you alone. Ever.”

Like before, he was totally serious. He wouldn’t have sex with her if Luc wasn’t there and participating. What was that about?

His face gave away nothing, but his expression was too empty, almost painfully blank.

Was he trying to hide something? With Deke, who knew?

“Anytime I say yes, you’ll want to…?”

Lust glowed bright and blue from his eyes. “If Luc is ready and you say yes to us both, I’ll be there.”

The suggestion of his words created a heady, melty feeling that swirled delicious heat through her and settled a dangerous ache right between her legs.

“So I’m not just another wet hole?

He grimaced. “No.”

“Okay, um… I just finished nursing school, so I’m free. I’ll need to study for my exams, but I can do that anywhere. Let me grab a bag tonight. I can leave a note for my dad that I’m visiting a…friend. He’s out of town right now, anyway. I can be back tomorrow and—”

“Wait. We have one rule.”

A rule? There were rules about a three-way? “Like…?”

“I don’t do virgins, so there won’t be any fucking your pussy.”

Kimber bristled. She didn’t like his blunt language, but was used to that. What bothered her more was his tone, as if virginity made her a lower life-form.

“I think I made it clear earlier that I wanted to save my virginity for Jesse. So that won’t be a problem.”

“I just want you to remember that when things get hot.” He grabbed her face in his hands and leaned his taut body closer. The intent glow of his eyes said that he was desperately resisting the urge to kiss her. “And Kimber, they will get hot.”

A sizzling shiver stole through her. “I won’t forget or change my mind.”

“I won’t give in when you beg.”

Kimber tore away from his grasp. “When I beg?”

My, someone thinks a lot of his prowess.

Deke’s grim smile went straight to her nerves. “One of the joys of a ménage. We can make you willing to do anything.”

Have a great weekend!!

As Tom Cruise said so eloquently in Risky Business, sometimes…you just have to say “what the *&%#”.

Today was one of those days for me. Early this morning, I received not 1 but 2 evil lures to read short but incredibly sexy books, the first by Charlene Teglia (Earth Girls Aren’t Easy – Ellora’s Cave), the second by Annmarie McKenna (The Strength of Three). Now, I was supposed to write today. A bunch. I didn’t write yesterday–didn’t feel well last night. Today I was supposed to catch up. Hmm, unless tonight is a barn burner, I don’t think it’s going to happen. But beating myself up over it isn’t going to help. So I’m adopting Tom Cruise’s motto and hoping tomorrow is better.

I think it also applies to another situation. I would love to drop a few pounds before the holidays. Lately, I’ve been pretty good about watching what I eat. Still looking for time to excercise and thinking it probably won’t happen until after my current deadline… But last weekend, RAH and I went grocery shopping and we found–gasp–my ever very favorite ice cream in the whole world: Blue Bell’s Caramel Sundae Crunch. Now this is a big deal because it’s only an occasional flavor. I hadn’t seen it in probably a year. I’d begun to believe that Blue Bell had simply stopped making it. Imagine my shock when RAH put 2 gallons in the cart. One for now and one for later. Isn’t he thoughtful? So, I’ve been trying to restrain myself to 2 spoons a night. Not heaping spoonfuls, not ice cream scoopers. Just regular table spoons. Roughly 3-4 bites. Is it good for my waistline? No, but life IS meant to be lived and…well, you all know what Tom said. Today, I happen to agree.

I’ll be back Friday with another excerpt and other recommended reads!

Happy Monday. Um, is there such a thing? I guess there is when I provide the weekly dose of no-cal eye candy, right?

This week’s Manly Monday came to me yesterday. I had something totally different planned (which I’ll get to you another time). But because I’m right in the middle of gathering images for my Doomsday Brethren 1 cover (yes, it’s still officially untitled), we’ve been batting around a lot of potential looks and different images.

As it happens, I went with the family to see Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix again. As I arrived and got a little popcorn and Diet Coke, I stumbled across a wall display–literally–of this.

Can you say WOW? I literally stopped and drooled. First, he’s hot. And second, it’s so brooding and dark and moody. Perfect, really. So when I got home, I looked this up and had to have it for my very own. I was looking forward to the movie before this but now? I’m so there…

Hope everyone had a happy weekend. Here’s the weekly round-up of info!

WRITING RELATED
I’ve got several new reviews to share. First, and hugely thrilling, Romantic Times Bookclub awarded DECADENT a Top Pick for October!

Here’s what they said:

“Hot sex scenes, a strong yet innocent heroine, two devastatingly sexy heroes and enough danger, intrigue and tragic pasts to keep the pages turning. What more could a reader ask for? Black even delivers a happy ending. The last few pages are sure to satisfy even the most romantically inclined fan. This book is a pleasure to read, and satisfying on every level.”

I also received another review for DECADENT, this one from Two Lips reviews, who said:

5 out of 5! “Shayla Black’s Decadent will leave you breathless and panting. She has written an excellent book with believable characters and some sizzling hot sex. This book has a great plot and is told magnificently. Ms Black definitely has a talent for deep emotional scenes with an underlying love story. Decadent is not a book to be missed and is one for the keep shelf.”

Lastly, I received another review from the Historical Romance Club for my May re-release of THE LADY AND THE DRAGON that said:

“Shelley Bradley weaves a suspenseful tale with a wonderfully complicated plot that kept me reading long after midnight. The characters were vividly real and their interaction with each other very entertaining. Rife with subplots and antagonists, this is a story that stays with the reader long after they have finished the book. Her story is passionately romantic and gripping. If you want to read a novel that picks you up and sweeps you away into another world as real as any, then The Lady and the Dragon is one not to be missed.”

This week’s page count: 25. Not setting world records, but getting the job done. That’s what’s important.

In other news, I’m trying to work on some bookbags to take to Lora Leigh’s Reader Appreciation Weekend, September 14-16 in Kentucky. I’m looking forward to going to Naughty Nikki Duncan to see good friends Lora Leigh, Sylvia Day and others. It should be a huge blast! Oh, and I may make a few extra tote bags to give away right here…

FAMILY
School starts here tomorrow, so Munchkin has a new haircut, a new backpack and new clothes. What Munchkin seems to be lacking is the ability to get back on anything that resembles a normal sleep schedule. I’m such a morning person. Who would have thought I would give birth to a night owl?

Munchkin’s room is also coming along. New valance, new shower curtain. We just need to repaint some shelves, hang the pictures and bring back the trinkets and we’ll be done with this project. Finally. Oh, and donate all the old stuff. Or have a garage sale. Something. I don’t need all this stuff cluttering my upstairs loft.

MISCELLANEOUS
The Photoshop class went well. I learned more this time than last. One issue is that I learned version CS3. I’m running CS. I’ll have to look into upgrading at some point, but for now, this will do. I was so happy to test out my new skills that I did a few things just for fun, like mock up a little something cool for DELICIOUS.

Have a great week, everyone! I’m off to go see Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Again.

Back by popular demand, I’ve got another NEW excerpt from my October 2 Berkley HEAT release, DECADENT. Enjoy!

Oh, leave comments and I’ll randomly draw to give away a PDF of the first chapter OR a signed copy of WICKED TIES, your choice!

DECADENT
© Shayla Black (Shelley Bradley LLC)
If you are under 18, please navigate elsewhere

Excerpt

As she reached the club’s door, the music started up again. Kimber found the biggest, meanest bouncer of the trio clustered around the door and smiled his way.

“Can you escort me to my car? I’m being followed.” She sent a nasty glare over her shoulder at Deke.

“Aw, honey,” Deke crooned and wrapped an arm around her. “Don’t be mad.”

Before she could tell him where to shove his comment and inform the bouncer that he was an annoying stranger, deranged stalker—something—Deke hauled her against him, dropped his head, and trapped every furious word on the tip of her tongue with a blistering kiss.

She struggled, but within moments, all she knew was Deke.

Warm male, ripe with persuasion, soaked in sin, invaded her senses. His mouth coaxed her. Kimber resisted. She really tried. Despite the fury swirling through her, Deke incited a familiar leap of pulse, a surge of want, that doused her protests. With a brush of his lips, a slow caress of tongue, the soft slide of his palm down her back, he enveloped her in desire—and not just hers. His own was so tangible, she tasted the tang of his arousal on her tongue.

His kiss melted her with the restrained urgency of his own need, softened into a tangle of lips, breaths, and tongues she would never have imagined Deke Trenton capable of. Timeless, weightless, thoughtless, Kimber let herself float away into the heart-racing, heat-pooling power of his kiss.

Until he nipped at her lip, soothed it with a tender lick, then slid a soft brush of his mouth over hers. Without thinking, she leaned into him, seeking more kisses, more contact, more him.

Deke grabbed her shoulders. “I’m sorry about yesterday. Come home with me, kitten.”

“Have a good night, y’all,” said the bouncer with a teasing smile.

While she tried to think of a good comeback, Deke took her hand and led her outside, into the humid summer night.

A car spilled into the parking lot, headlights bobbing up and down on the dirt road, and cruised to the far end. Somewhere near, a pair of frogs croaked to one another. Crickets sang and mosquitoes buzzed as the parking lot’s halogens combined with the full moon to rain silvery light down on them.

Now that Deke’s persuasive mouth wasn’t obliterating rational thought, Kimber rolled her eyes at her stupidity. Damn it, she hadn’t intended to heel after Deke kissed and stroked her. She may as well have been doing her own imitation of a bitch in heat.

Well, she’d wanted to leave, anyway. Now was her chance.

She fished into the hidden pocket of her skirt for her car keys. “Okay, I’m not staying with the Catrell brothers. You got your little way. Happy?”

A sly smile quirked up the side of his mouth. Before she could wonder what mischief he was up to, Deke snaked out a hand and snatched the keys from her fingers. They disappeared deep into the pocket of his jeans. The only way to get them back was to slide her hand into his pants. Lovely. Considering the erection bulging the front of his jeans, she didn’t think he’d be at all opposed to having her hands fishing around in his pockets—or anywhere else down there.

“No, now I’m getting my way,” he said, patting her denim-covered keys. “Now you’re not going anywhere until we finish this chat.”

Kimber sighed with frustration. “Look, you high-handed son of a—”

“Hang on before you start name-calling. I’ve come here to offer you my help. If you still want it.”

She paused. Did he mean what she thought he meant? “You came here to say that you’ll teach me about sex? You and Luc?”

He paused, not looking terribly happy. “Yeah.”

Relief or irritation—they ran a close race for her reaction. Relief eventually won, since she wasn’t going to win Jesse’s heart without an education.
Letting the Catrell brothers teach her, despite how willing they’d seemed, wasn’t something she wanted.

But she wasn’t about to let Deke know that.

“Maybe it’s too little, too late.”

“You didn’t look too comfortable with Adam and Burke.”

So uncomfortable that she’d blocked out the older brother’s name apparently. “Who cares? Not me, since you purposely tried to scare me off the other day.”

Deke chuckled. “Figured that out, huh?”

“I’d have to be a moron not to. You would never have talked to me like that when you worked for my dad.”

“No.”

Kimber snorted. “You would never even have thought about me in a sexual context if I hadn’t come knocking on your door.”

He stilled. “You’re naïve if you believe that.”

Who was he kidding? Kimber frowned. Big, bad special ops man turned bodyguard couldn’t have thought about her sexually before Luc had invited her into his kitchen.

“Oh, c’mon,” she scoffed. “Before yesterday, you never imagined doing the wild thing with me. I was what, eighteen? Nineteen?”

“Seventeen.” His lips twisted in a grim smile. “And a half. And everything that ran through my head back then was illegal in every state, Kimber. My thoughts haven’t changed. I’m just damn glad I won’t go to jail for acting on them now.”

Deke looked serious. Dead serious, with those dark blue eyes burning her.

“All those years ago, you wanted to…”

“Fuck you? Oh, yeah. And anything else you would have let me do. I wanted you. Bad.”

Kimber sucked in a shocked breath. Oh my God…

She sent a long stare toward the obvious erection about to burst out his zipper. “So you still want me?”

“Haven’t I already said that?”

She licked her bottom lip. As his hot gaze zeroed in on the action, her belly clenched, her nipples tightened. Fantasy flashed her a vision: Deke leaning over her, sliding into her with hard insistence. She’d come under her own fingers last night to that mental picture. Heat flooded her cheeks. It made no sense, being aroused by a guy who was nothing more than a tutor to her. Temporary insanity, she supposed. Stress after a hectic school year or lingering adolescent curiosity. It would pass.

But suddenly, a few things made sense.

“So you wanting me, that’s why you barely talked to me when you worked for Dad.”

“Yeah.”

“And the reason you’ve changed your mind about my…favor.”

“In part. The other part was Luc. He nearly tore the skin off my back with his sharp tongue.”

“Because he didn’t want you talking to me like that?”

He nodded. “And because he wants you as badly as I do.”

Happy Friday!

Oh, goodie! Today is my day to ramble. This, I can do. Easily. No thinking, no worrying. Just type. Well, okay, I guess I’d better come up with SOME theme. Don’t want to show off what a truly disjointed place my brain is, right? No comments from the peanut gallery, please.

I’ve actually been thinking about this for awhile, and I’ll give you a word of advice: If you’re planning on being a contestant on a reality TV competition, you’d better hope I don’t root for you. This past year on reality shows, I was 1-5. Not stunning odds. Apollo won Dancing With The Stars over Joey, Rock beat Bonnie in Hell’s Kitchen, Sabra triumphed over Danny in So You Think You Can Dance?, Max beat Austin in Grease: You’re the One That I Want. Okay, so Jordin won American Idol. There was my 1 winning favorite. Everyone else? Doomed to 2nd place. What the hell is that about?

In past seasons, I was at least 50/50. This year…who knows? I’ve been wondering if my barometer is off. When I first started reality TV, I was on fire. I picked nearly every winner of Survivor for years. The first time I saw Kelly Clarkson, I knew she’d be the American Idol. So it just seems to unreal to me that, this year, I was so wrong.

Next year, I’ll try harder. I briefly thought of giving up reality TV in favor of that CSI stuff everyone is so fond of. But when a show starts with the premise of murder and shows all the nitty gritty of the blood and guts…that’s not for me. I get a lot out of watching the people on reality TV. I think I’ll stick there…but I’d better improve my odds!

So sorry that I neglected to put Manly Monday up on time. But you see, said man needed to…ah, be put through his paces. I KNOW you all will keep him busy today, so I needed to know that he was, ahem, up to the challenge.

Lest you think, I haven’t put him to good use, I assure you otherwise. He’s now a hero named Cameron for my upcoming Ellora’s Cave ménage release, DANGEROUS BOYS AND THEIR TOY. As soon as I finish my first Brethren book, I’ll be writing about Cameron and his friend/enemy (depending on his mood when you ask) Thorn. They pack quite a punch. More on that later, but for now… Drool away!

Now that you’re all terribly befuddled, I wanted to let you know that I’ll be chatting tonight at 9pm at Coffee Time Romance. Please come by and join me!! I’ll be giving away first chapter sneak peeks of Decadent, along with othe prizes. Hope to see you there!

For you long-time Shelley-Shayla blog readers, this segment is back! Anything that’s new with me, you’ll find it here.

I’m behind on my writing page counts for the week, so I’m going to get right to the point:

WRITING RELATED –
The big news this week is sales–3 of them!

Here’s a snippet of the announcement for the first two sales, which appeared in Publisher’s Marketplace on Friday:

Fiction: Romance
Shayla Black’s DELICIOUS and an untitled work in a two-book deal to Abby Zidle at Pocket Books, by Deidre Knight at The Knight Agency (World).

So anyone who enjoyed Wicked Ties and wants more books in this world to follow Decadent, Delicious and the succeeding book will be for you! At this point, publication of Delicious looks to be April 2009. If that changes, I’ll keep you posted. The book following may be late 2009/early 2010. (Yes, I know it’s odd to be talking so far in the future…)

I also sold a fun little book to Samhain called A Perfect Match about a reporter out to make the big time, but first he has to expose a local matchmaking service and try to discredit its owner–by dating her. I actually wrote most of this book some years back, but could never think of the right home for it. Angie and the Samhain gang will do a great job with it! This book should be out next summer.

For me, these 3 new books sold will represent published works 19, 20 and 21, so I’m pretty darn thrilled!

I’ve also got a few new reviews to share:

“WATCH ME is a tale that sizzles from the beginning. …Readers will have a hard time putting this book down. Erotic encounters are vivid and intense. WATCH ME is a torrid story (make sure you have the fan on) that I highly recommend.” ~ Romance Reviews Today (Erotic)

AND

“Watch Me was an well-written novella with interesting characters. Their sexual encounters had me squirming in my chair. …I loved reading their story. Ms. Bradley has a wonderful facility for listening to her characters and taking them where they want to go. I highly recommend Watch Me…” ~ The Romance Studio

This week’s Page Count…24. I’m still writing on my first Doomsday Brethren book (which is still untitled) but I’m closer to The End than I was the week before!

Last, in other news, I’ve got new digs this week! FINALLY, RAH has my new laptop hooked up to its docking station, so I can use it upstairs with my fabo monitor and keyboard/mouse OR I can take it downstairs and surf/do my email while I’m watching TV. This is the set up I’ve wanted for a long time, and I’m hoping it will make me even more productive!

For those interested in my writing classes, I’m considering offering the Storyboarding for the Story Challenged class in November. I don’t have an exact date yet, but if you’re interested, please email me and I’ll add you to the list.

FAMILY
RAH is off his crutches and walking…okay, hobbling is a better description. Whatever you call it, he’s doing it on 2 feet, without the walking book or any other support. He’s not fast. He won’t be dancing or running any marathons anytime soon. But he’s making progress and feeling much closer to normal. Hard to believe it’s been nearly 3 months since he broke the ankle/dislocated the foot and had to have it all reconstructed.

The Munchkin’s bedroom will be painted this week. Growing up apparently means no more babyish stuff. Who would have thought it? So I’m buying new curtains, picking out paint color, etc. There’s also back to school shopping, which we did some of today. Which also reminds me, Munchkin needs a haircut. Adding this to my To Do list…

MISCELLANEOUS
Next Monday – Wednesday, I’ll be taking a Photoshop class…again. I didn’t catch on particularly well when I took it in May, so I’m going to try again. Hopefully, I’ll have some success. I’m not patient and I don’t have the greatest eye-hand coordination, so I’m never going to be a pro. But it’s a good skill to have. If I can focus long enough.

That’s what’s new in my world. Now back to your regularly scheduled programming…

Because I promised to return this segment to my blog and because people had asked me for more juicy excerpts from DECADENT (I swear), here’s a little something to light up your Friday. Ready?

Excerpt from DECADENT
© Shayla Black (Shelley Bradley LLC)
October 2, 2007
For adult audiences. If you are under 18, please navigate elsewhere

Kimber shook, despite Deke’s huge hands on her shoulders, steadying her. Burning her.

The idea of two men seemed wild, daring—something out of a sexy novel. Now about to become her reality. Could she handle it? Could she accept it as a permanent part of her life?

Luc strode slowly in her direction, wearing a shark’s smile and a hungry stare. Excitement and erotic fear sucked the air out of her lungs. Deke was right: Words couldn’t possibly prepare her for the reality of these two men. He had barely touched her; Luc was still two feet away. The testosterone oozing in the room was already overloading her senses, making her brain buzz. Her nerves sizzled so hot, she trembled.

Being a virgin, Kimber was a bit intimidated. But not scared. Nervous…yes, but it wasn’t going to stop her. She had to know if she could be the woman Jesse needed, if she could deal with the touch of two men at once. Her calm was probably the result of being raised by mission-minded men. Fear wasn’t an option. Just do it.

But curiosity…yes. Suddenly. What would it be like to have Deke’s raw power and Luc’s playful finesse devoted to her pleasure at the same time? She burned to know that answer. Want churned in her belly, along with curiosity and fascination, to create a potent brew.

Stop. She swallowed, remembering why she was here. The answer to her question was irrelevant. It didn’t matter how Deke and Luc made her feel. She was here to learn for Jesse, so he would see her as a woman. Someone he could make his woman when he held her and shared her with… Who did he share with? Band members? Other fans? Jesse had refused to give her details about the sex life the tabloids all called lurid and beyond shocking.

Then Luc touched her, his hands sliding onto her hips. The question dissipated under the slow burn of his fingers as he gripped her gently and turned her back to Deke. Over her shoulder, her gaze collided with Luc’s. With his hold on her, he eased her against him, her back to his chest—his very healthy erection nudging her.

She barely had time to react with hot shock and a blistering curl of desire in her belly before Deke’s fingers tangled in her hair and he dragged her gaze back to his blue eyes, the mesmerizing color of barely washed denim.

“Kimber,” Deke growled. “You’re playing with fire, little girl. Get ready to burn.”

His fists tightened. Without further warning, he descended.

With one touch of his mouth, he breached and invaded her lips, dazzling her senses as he slid his tongue inside and dominated everything he touched. A languorous sweep, a lingering slide.

She’d expected Deke’s kiss to be harsh, to the point, with no concession to her inexperience. Not so. Hungry and demanding, yes. But good. So good. A wild tangle of lips and breaths and hunger.

Kimber had been kissed, but never like this. Never without hesitation or an invitation. Deke didn’t bother with either.

Suddenly, he retreated, leaving behind an ache she already couldn’t fight. Oh, God. And his taste. Spicy and male. Addicting. Kimber craved more.

In a single kiss, he stripped her defenses, turned her body inside out, stole her control.

His lips brushed hers again, and Kimber opened to him a little more. He sank in, deeper than before. He tasted, teased, withdrew. No! She needed more, and pressed her palms up the solid slabs of his chest, where she felt his heart beating wildly under her palm.

Deke rewarded her with another flirty caress of his lips, which melted over hers into a firm taking, a wild possession. Though she’d been expecting him, the spiced slide of his tongue still blindsided her defenses. Her hands rose from his chest to his hair. She tried to grab the very short strands with her fists and pull him closer, but his hair, like the man himself, was elusive. She craved. She clawed. Barely breathing, dizzy, she reveled as heat curled in her belly. Her nipples tightened. Wild. So good…

A hot palm curled around her arm and slid upward in an unhurried caress. Luc. She’d almost forgotten… But when he moved closer, the heat of his chest blanketing her back, his hardness still pressed against her backside, he became impossible to ignore.

With a sweep of his hand, he brushed the hair off her neck. The gentle press of his warm mouth and hot breath fell there next, like soft rain on sensitive skin. Sensations exploded, tingles skittered. She shivered, but Luc continued. Her ferocious response stimulated her senses right in concert with the soft, ragged demands of Deke’s kiss.

Strong hands slid up her ribs. Luc again. Teasing fingers brushed the sides of her breasts. Unexpected sensations bolted straight to her nipples, making them beyond hard. She moaned—right into Deke’s next kiss. He took the sound into his greedy mouth, tilting his head, positioning his lips over hers perfectly and delving deep for a long, lingering stay.

Kimber melted, mewled. She burned, just like Deke warned. As desire swamped her, her blood heated to blistering temperatures. And she ached. More. More!

46 days until October 2, when the book releases. My mission in life is to see how much I can torment you between now and then. How am I doing so far?

A quick notice that I’m going to return to a few of the regular features I used to do and add a few more. Get out the cyber-bubbly and toss around the confetti, because I’m going to liven up this party!

I’ll definitely be returning to Feature Friday. If you’re not familiar with it, I’ll be featuring either my book or someone else’s each Friday with a cover, a blurb and a juicy excerpt! This will start tomorrow. Hmm, let’s see… Which book to feature???

On Sundays, I’ll be returning to Newsday, which is a weekly roundup of the news from my corner of the world, whether big or small…told from my very particular point of view.

I’m introducing two new segments. Manly Monday is the first. Every Monday, it’ll be short and sweet with a new piece of eye candy to dazzle. I realize I’ve been a little short on that lately. My humble apologies. I’ll do my best to rectify the situation.

Also look for Whatever Wednesday. Since I like to ramble (much as I’m doing now), I’ll pick a totally random topic and start blabbing about it each Wednesday. This could be about writing, TV, the news, family, obversations on the color or grass… Who knows? I’ll dream up something!

You may see some other things inbetween. I may pop in with big news, and of course, whatever monthly centerfolds I can wheedle and beg RAH into. But come back often. There will be something up more often than not.

And this is the part where I entice you to come back…and do a little reading from time to time. Oh, and show off my LIMITED Photoshop skills.

Is it working?