sexually explicit – Page 3 – Behind Closed Doors

Thrilled Beyond Belief! The Courtship of the Vampyre Is Running Up Amazon Rankings!

I am shocked. Literally shocked. I was working on a blog post for Sassy Vixen Publishing and getting a link for one of my guest authors when I decided to check on my books to be sure that all of them made it to my Amazon Author Page. For some reason two of the formats weren’t there last week. I rectified it as soon as I found that mistake and was determined to be sure that it didn’t happen this time with the second book of poetry…and my second self-published book.

What caught my eye right away was my sales ranking at below 130,000. I’ve NEVER been that low for any of my books and sure as heck not on the day it went live on Amazon. My eyes then went a little further to see at that moment in time, The Courtship of the Vampyre was ranked at #20 for epic poetry.

Number TWENTY!!!

Thank you all for supporting me in this and spreading the word. Without you, I would never move up the ranks this quickly. This has just solidified my decision to concentrate on The Kayne Legacy full time once I finish up The Surrender of Julia and get that off to Siren for consideration.

I’m still waiting for Smashwords to finish their review of the book to see if it’s included in the Premium Catalog. Once it’s there, you’ll be able to find it not only on Smashwords, but with Apple, Sony, Barnes and Noble and many other retail outlets. It’s available in print from Createspace AND Amazon as of today too.

Smile on my friends!

~Tammy

Gods, Angels, and Star Crossed Lovers Together on The Island…Oh MY!

The Island Cover — ebook available at Bookstrand.com

Welcome to Behind Closed Doors. Today it’s my turn to share a steamy excerpt for Oh MY! Monday. As luck would have it, this is the second week of my virtual book tour promoting The Island (Now and Forever 2). In just three short days, just 72 hours it will be LIVE and available to download from Bookstrand. Can’t wait that long? Well, you can still pre-order it today. It’s even being offered at an additional 10% off the list price until November 22nd. How great is that?

For those of you who’ve asked me if I really believe that there is a soul mate for everyone, the answer is a resounding YES! Have you ever met someone, not even said a word to them but just locked eyes with them and felt an overwhelming sense of deja vu? Then as you talk with each other, get to know one another a little more, that feeling grows exponentially to the point you are simply knocked for a loop? What about when you touch? Have you ever felt like you were struck by lightning and that you couldn’t pull away from the person if you tried? You my dear have experienced what one of my characters refers to as being “thunderstruck.” I even wrote about that in a poem with same title.

Thunderstruck

Dancing in the dark, bodies pressed tight against each other
The rhythm of the music takes me away
To another time, another place
Where laughter fills the air.
And the thunder of the drums calls out to you.

Spinning around the room, eyes closed,
Body swaying,
Keeping pace with the beat of the drums.
A chill runs down my spine.
Eyes fly open searching for the cause.
Thunder rolls through the room,
Leading the way to where I must go.

Feet suddenly rooted to the spot
A stranger’s eyes lock on mine, pulling me in
Reading my thoughts, my heart, my soul.
Can’t pull away even if I wanted to
And I don’t.
The thunder roars in my ears.

The lightning bolt zips through me
Head to toe tingling,
Breath catching in my chest.
Longing to touch, to caress
To never let go…not ever again.
The thunder explodes inside my mind
Telling me this is it.
We have found each other once again.

Heart pounding wildly out of control.
How can a stranger be so familiar?
Looking deeper into my heart, I know.
He’s not a stranger, he’s always been there.
He’s the one I’ve been searching for
The part that was missing from my heart
And from my soul.

Smiles slowly form as recognition dawns.
Could it be? Is it true?
After all this time?
Hands reach for each other,
Fingertips barely touching
The electricity nearly knocking us off of our feet
As we are thunderstruck.
But this time I know he feels it too.

Lost in each other’s eyes,
Holding each other tight
Thoughts of losing each other again melt away.
Not this time. Not ever again.
No longer will we fight it.
We will embrace it
And be thunderstruck
Together once again.

©Tammy Denninngs Maggy 9/16/2010

It’s that instant recognition that takes your breath away. You can try to deny it all you want, but your heart and soul will continue to cry out for the one who will make them whole. This is what it was like for Quinn and Jacob. The twist to their story is that they actually did find each other long before the locked eyes with each other that fateful night in Las Vegas. The Island tells that part of their story. I hope you get lost in this couple as much as I did writing their tale.

Blurb

After losing her brother in a fatal motorcycle accident, Quinn’s life spins out of control. Shutting herself off from friends and family in Michigan, she buries herself in her work, wishing for the pain to end. In her dreams she’s finally able to find the peace her heart craves on The Island.
Driven to recklessness over a heartbreaking betrayal, Jacob races his motorcycle on a rain slick California freeway. Near death in the hospital, he’s given a choice. Stay on The Island or go back for a second chance at love.
Destined to be together, but repeatedly torn apart, these two lost and melancholy people draw the attention of the Goddess Fate. As Quinn and Jacob’s lives hang in limbo, the soul mates are given a very special gift from the Gods, and the chance to finally have their love of a lifetime.

Adult Excerpt

His eyes found hers once again and she began to fall. She didn’t care. Thoughts of going back or staying there on The Island disappeared. All she wanted to think about, to feel, and taste was Jacob. Quinn pulled his mouth back to hers. The sweet taste of the berries, mango, and papaya dazzled her taste buds as their tongues teased and danced with each other, fighting for control one moment and surrendering to each other the next.

Jacob finally freed her tits from the laces of her bodice. Watching him tug at the strings with his teeth made her heart beat faster and she giggled before she could stop. He winked and kept up the slow pace. Quinn giggled even more. “I stand by my first assessment. You’re a tease, Jake.”

“Baby doll, you haven’t seen anything yet.” He pushed her dress down to her waist and simply stared. “I’m not the only tease here.”

“What are you talking about?” Quinn slid her fingertips up and down his arms. His muscles twitched and pulsed at her touch. She wanted those arms wrapped around her and to never let go.

“You are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met. You don’t flaunt it, but every move and noise you make turns me on. I wanted to take this slow, but I can’t.”

“Stop thinking so much and kiss me.” She pushed herself up to meet his mouth once again as they moved on the bed so she was now on top of him. Jacob’s hands slid up her thighs, leaving hot trails with his fingertips. Her body quaked and her pussy clenched as a rush of fluid soaked her panties completely.

Jacob hooked his thumbs in the band of her underwear, snapped them off, and tossed them onto the floor. His hands slid up her body, pulling the dress up and over her head in a flash. He sat up, holding her in his lap, nuzzling first one breast and then the other with his stubbly chin and cheeks. The roughness of his skin against her rock-hard nipples sent her rolling toward another orgasm. She clung to him as he suckled harder on her right nipple while kneading her left breast with his hand. Quinn arched her back and bit her lip before crying out. “Jake, please don’t—”

He pulled back quickly, moving his hands to cradle her face. Concern filled his eyes. “Did I hurt you?”

Her eyes glistened with tears. “No. Please don’t stop.”

* * * *

The catch in her voice nearly broke his heart. The raw passion was there. Her body given freely to him, and yet she still questioned his desire for her. He knew that pain all too well. Here with Quinn though, it all faded away. She did that for him and he wanted so badly to do the same for her. He wiped away the tears that spilled onto her flushed face. He kissed her softly and held her close. “I want you, now and for however long we can be together. I need to be with you. I won’t stop as long as you want the same.”

Quinn slid off his lap and knelt up on the bed, pulling him up with her. She held his gaze as her fingers unfastened his shorts and then slid them down over his hips. Jacob quickly took off his tank top before crushing Quinn’s chest against his. She smiled and his heart beat quickened. “I need you, too. Make love with me, Jake.”

He slid out of his shorts as Quinn eased back onto the pillows. Jacob took in her entire sun-kissed body, naked before him. God, she’s so beautiful. Quinn welcomed him into her arms as he joined her on the pillows, his mouth finding her left nipple this time as his right hand trailed down her stomach.

She arched her back and moaned as soon as his fingers found her throbbing clit. Another wave of fluid gushed out of her and over his fingers. Jacob brought them up to his mouth to taste her. “Mmmm. You taste fucking fantastic. Your sister was right. Wanna try?”

Quinn giggled and licked his fingers clean. That move sent his body over the edge. His cock was bouncing with his need for her, a fact that didn’t go unnoticed by his lover. She reached inside the nightstand for the box of condoms, spilling several over the bed. Jacob smiled as he placed one in her open palm. Quinn slid her hands down his abs to his pulsing member. She wrapped her fingers around his shaft and squeezed a little, eliciting a gasp from him. Carefully she tore open the wrapper with her teeth and quickly covered his cock with the ribbed latex sheath. He thrust his hips forward, causing her hand to slide up and down his shaft. “Oh, now who’s teasing?” Jacob moaned.

He eased Quinn all the way back onto the pillows, and slid down her body toward his prize. He wanted more than just a taste. He wanted to feast on her cunt until she begged for him to take her. He positioned himself between her thighs and looked up to see her watching him, her chest rising and falling rapidly. He winked before popping her clit into his mouth and sucking hard. Quinn nearly bucked him off but he held her hips in place, enjoying her squirming and sighs. It wasn’t long at all before he was rewarded once again with her sweet nectar.

He teased her a bit more with his tongue and then slipped one, two and then three fingers inside of her hot folds. Her pussy clenched repeatedly over his fingers and her body convulsed over and over again. Quinn’s skin flushed from her tits to her toes, because of him, because of what he was doing to her. He wanted more, so much more. He couldn’t wait any longer. He wanted to bury his cock deep inside her, go over the edge, and never come back.

Where to find me and my work

Siren Bookstrand Author Page

Amazon Author Page

Not Enough Time In the Day Blog

Sassy Vixen Publishing Blog

Goodreads Author Page

Pinterest Page

Follow Me on Twitter

Facebook Author Page

YouTube Video Book Trailers

Loving Leonardo Author @RoseAnderson_ Shares Her Thursday Thirteen

I’m thrilled to welcome back to my blogs an “old” friend. Rose Anderson was one of the very first authors to befriend me when I joined Siren a little over a year ago. She was the one who inspired me to make my own video trailers too. After a bit of an absence, she’s now back again with a brand new book. Loving Leonardo is set in the late 1800’s and is centered around three individuals discovering their true sexuality and maybe even love? You’ll have to read it for yourself to find out all the juicy details.

I’ve decided to change the guidelines a bit after reading Rose’s Thursday Thirteen. Now Behind Closed Doors and all of my blogs will feature any thirteen sentences you wish to share from the book you would like to feature. Rose was kind enough to not only send the first thirteen lines from her book, but also an additional set from later in the story.

So sit back, relax and enjoy the little snippets from Rose’s Loving Leonardo.

Happy Reading and Blessed Be!

~Tammy

Blurb

Bound by limits dictated by society, Art Historian Nicolas Halstead lived a guarded life until a tempest in the form of Elenora Schwaab blew into his world. At first Nicolas can’t decide if the audacious American is simply mad or plotting blackmail for not only does she declare knowledge of his homosexuality, she offers him a marriage proposal.

After Ellie tells him of a previously unknown work of Leonardo da Vinci, a book of erotic love poems and sketches dedicated to the artist’s long-time lover Salai, Nicolas joins her in a race to save the book from destruction. Along the way they encounter Historian Luca Franco and discover a comfortable compatibility that comes to redefine their long-held notions of love.

The trio embarks on an adventure of sensual discovery, intrigue, and danger. Little do they know Leonardo da Vinci’s book is far more than meets the eye.

First Thirteen Sentences of Loving Leonardo

Carlo Posateri shrugged his cloak back on his shoulders, the thin wool gone heavy from absorbing the September fog. He peered into the night then checked his pocket watch under the misty gaslight. Few people would be out in an evening fog like this and there was a word to describe many who were — Ladro. It was a perfect night to make deals with a thief.
The acquisition ritual played in his mind. To start: a warm bath and a brandy, followed by an excursion into the most brilliant and salacious mind ever produced by the Renaissance. He envisioned the sinful eroticism the book was certain to contain; the impression settled heavy in his loins. Salivating in anticipation, he swallowed. He wasn’t a sinner. His disdain for the sodomite artists didn’t mean he couldn’t enjoy their unique and compelling art. But he wasn’t one of them. He simply appreciated their artistic technique.
Born and raised in Rome, he’d planned to return after his Silvia died. But her older brother Pietro encouraged him to stay because without other family, they were all each of them had in the world.

Bonus Thirteen!

He set his glass aside to rest his hand beside mine on the settee. “She seems an open-minded woman. I confess other than with my sisters, I’ve never found myself so comfortable in the presence of the fairer sex. She makes this easy.”
My little finger stretched slightly, I swear by its own accord. “She does, at that. She declares herself a progressive in her world view. Ellie is extremely open-minded, and this is a truer fact than many know.”
He raised his hand to the side of my face, and there his thumb traced along my bottom lip. My heart started to pound and my cock swelled. The hand slid around to the back of my skull and pulled me close for a kiss. A kiss I very much wanted.
I could taste him under the sweet tang of grapes and wine.

A Message from Rose…

I’ve been happily married to my soul mate for the past 35 years and together raised our two children on one of the prettiest places on earth in America’s upper Midwest. We share our lives with five feathered and furred loved ones, and a loving and supportive extended family as well – family we were born into, and family built with dear friends. I’ve been writing for at least twenty years but kept it all to myself after several unsuccessful attempts to send manuscripts to New York knocked the wind from my sails. In the summer of 2010 all roads converged and before I knew it I became a published author. My goal is to learn all I can about this business through five romance novels, then take that knowledge and apply it to the series I’ve been working on for the past six years. Three romance novels are in print now and two to go! After that – love stories of a different sort.

Where to find Rose and her books

Website/Blog

Amazon Author/Book Page

Oh My! Monday November 12th at The House of Taboo

Saturday Spotlight November 17th at Sassy Vixen Publishing

Quinn and Jacob join the #WickedAfterDark Celebration

Welcome to Behind Closed Doors and the Wicked After Dark Halloween Blog Hop. For those of you who’ve visited every day since October 24th, thank you! If this is your first time here, I hope you enjoy what you see and visit the last posts as well as the next few days. You have several opportunities to win the naughty prize package I’ve put together. If you are the lucky winner, you’ll want to be sure you have someone to share the toys with. Sure they can be fun if used alone, but they are SIZZLING if shared. In case you’re wondering…yes, the package does include batteries! 😉

I’ve had a marvelous time chiming in on the blogs and letting my characters take over too. Well, letting Steve take over may not have been the smartest move on my part, but all in all I still had a nice time with him. I just wish he’d stop telling folks about our past. Sheesh!

Today I have a special treat. We’re headed over to the Island to visit with Quinn and Jake. They’ve spent a bit of time together in paradise. I want to check in with them and see how their doing. Maybe they’ve decided what they’re going to do. For those of you who don’t know their story, let me bring you up to speed.

These two people have been fated to be together for several lifetimes. Instead of being able to have their happily ever after, both of them have made choices that lead them away from each other. Their hearts continued to long for each other and their souls cried out to The Three to have mercy on them. The Goddess Fate listened and championed their cause to her brothers, Yeshua and Lucius. Together they agreed it was time these two star-crossed lovers got their happy ending. More importantly to the gods, Quinn and Jacob’s life paths crossed many others. If they didn’t find each other in this lifetime, the paths of the others would be altered as well. There was too much at stake for too many people in this life cycle and the next.

In order for us to travel to the Island, we have to go into a dream state. All you have to do is sit back, relax and let your mind settle. Clear your mind and leave this world behind. Don’t worry about your bodies. The Guardians will watch over them for us while we visit our heroine and hero. Go on. Let yourself go. Listen to the waves hitting the beach. The tide is coming in as the sun is setting. Open your eyes.

We’re here.

Look up the beach. There’s someone waving us over. Is it? Yes! It’s Jake. I hope you all don’t mind. I did send word to them we were coming. I didn’t want to show up to find them…well, you know! 😉

Come on over folks. Quinn and I have a whole barbecue planned for you. She’s inside working on some of the dishes and told me to keep you all entertained for a bit. My pop was here with Quinn’s brother Danny earlier. He said you had some questions you’d like to ask. Why don’t we start there?

Thank you for agreeing to see us today, Jake. You guys didn’t have to do all of this for us, but to be honest, I’m a bit hungry. Dream walking takes a lot of energy!

LOL! So I’m told. I haven’t tried it yet myself. Quinn will be happy to fill you in on her experience when she joins us. Come sit by me, Tammy. You and I have a lot of catching up to do.

What do you mean, Mr. Hartley?

Oh, don’t be coy with me. You are the one person who can tell me why I didn’t see the signs sooner about Julia.

You did see them. You just chose to ignore it. I think your heart was yearning so badly for Quinn, that you mistook what you had with Julia for what is destined to be with Quinn. You shouldn’t beat yourself up over it. You only wanted what your parents had, that once in a lifetime love that will never fade. You can have that.

I’m starting to believe it. This place has powerful magic. (his face lights up as Quinn walks through the sliding glass doors holding two large bowls of fruit.) And here’s the most powerful magic around.

What have you been saying about me out here, Mr. Hartley? (Quinn’s smile lights up her face and her eyes sparkle. I can definitely see why Jacob’s in love with her. She’s stunning!)

He’s just saying the Island has powerful magic. As a Wiccan, I have to agree. You can feel the energy here course through your veins. My skin has been tingling since we arrived. Can you feel it, Quinn?

(she stares into my eyes a moment before slowly nodding.) Yes. It was just a tingle when I first woke up here, but now after spending this time with Jake, it’s like something has reawakened inside of me. I don’t understand it.

I do. You’ve found your faith again. More importantly, you’ve found your faith in yourself and in your destiny. By the look on both of your faces, It seems we’ve come at the right time. You’ve made your decision haven’t you?

(Quinn places the bowls out on the banquet table and gestures to everyone to dig in. As we start to fill up our plates, she takes Jacob’s hand and holds it to her heart.) Yes we have. The sunrise this morning gave us both the sign we were waiting for. (Jake kisses her lips softly and smiles along with her.)

And?

Now and forever, Tammy. Now and Forever.

Well, how about we leave it at that for today. Join us back here tomorrow when I bring back a very special character from For the Love of Quinn to give his opinion of what has happened for our couple. Don’t forget to visit the other folks in the hop. You still have time to visit the over 200 blogs and get entered in their contests. Make sure you head over to my sister blog Sassy Vixen Publishing. There’s another prize package up for grabs there too. My alter ego, Lia Michael’s takes over the interrogation duties today. You don’t want to miss her guest!

Click on the froggy icon to take you to the linky list but before you go, make sure you get your entries for my contest here by following the instructions in the Rafflecopter. Good luck and happy reading!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Island’s Steve Reveals More for #WickedAfterDark

I was debating coming back here today with Steve. After he spilled the beans about how we met so many years ago, I’m not sure I want to be around when he lets more secrets out of the bag. Not that I’m worried my husband will find out about anything. I told him long ago about Steve and what we had together. I had to. Liam is my biggest cheerleader and I bounce ideas off of him. How would you think he would take it if I didn’t tell him about Mr. Vegas? Honestly, it was Liam who convinced me to come back today and finish the interview with Steve. When the love of your life says you should do something, it’s probably best to do it, no?

So here we are once again for another day of the Wicked After Dark Halloween Blog Hop. Many of you have taken advantage of the Rafflecopter and accumulated tons of entries in my contest for that naught prize package. Not sure what the prize looks like? Well, click HERE and it will take you back to the first post of the hop where I posted a picture of the items. Go on. I’ll wait for you.

Well, don’t wait too long. We’ve got a lot of ground to cover today. As for spilling the beans, I’m sure more than a few of your fans have already figured out that you and I have a past, darlin’. Instead of trying to ignore it, why don’t you just go with it. 😉

(there he goes again! It’s going to be another long interview!) As far as I knew, I was going with it and keeping you in the series. There was a time I was going to write you out. I was going to make you a tragic hero.

You were going to bump me off? Are you still upset with me that I didn’t tell Quinn about my illness sooner? You know it was the right decision at the time. I wasn’t sick and had been in remission for over ten years at that point.

I know. You were going to have a bad car accident and die of your injuries. Quinn was going to show up with Jacob and the gang and sing to you as you passed on. Unbeknownst to her, you had left your entire empire to her because—

But she did know. I told her about the change of my will. She didn’t like it one bit. She didn’t want to talk about me leaving her any time soon. That should have told you right there I made the right decision not to tell her about the Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.

Okay, I’ll give you that but you had to come clean about it when you got sick again. For a minute there, I thought you were going to go ahead and try to die on us anyway. You knew you couldn’t do that. Romance novels are required to have a happily ever after and my publisher would never allow me to kill you off anyway. What were you thinking skipping out on your doctor’s appointments like that?

As you recall, there was a lot going on around that time. I had a lot invested in getting Quinn and Jacob together. I guess I just got caught up in all the fun. I didn’t notice how run down I was getting until it was nearly too late. Lucky for me, the rest of the gang all had their blood tested to see if they could donate bone marrow. No one was more surprised than I was who matched.

I thought it would be a fun twist to have Jacob or Eric as donors, but that would make your relationship with Quinn even more complicated. Instead we were all surprised that Derek Quartermarsh matched you close enough he could be your sibling. Are you holding out on me here, Mr. Eischer?

Let’s just say I’m looking in to it. Derek was in foster care for all of his childhood. He was adopted by the Quartermarshs as an adult. It’s possible we could be related. There’s a lot about my parents I don’t know. My father kept many things from my older brother and me after my mother died. So how was it for you to write those scenes? Your dad passed away like Quinn’s because of Non-Hodgkin’s, didn’t he?

Yeah. He took eighteen rounds of chemo and still it thumbed it’s nose up at him. He left us ten months after he was diagnosed.

(Steve took both of my hands into his and squeezed tightly.) Just like Quinn’s dad?

Uh huh. Having to write the scenes where she is mourning Daniel’s death in The Island were hard enough, but having her talk about her dad’s death in the first book was difficult. Daniel talks about it again in The Island. He knows that his father is going to be taken away from their family. He’s torn because he can’t do anything to stop it. He is given the job of watching over you and Derek to be sure you both will be there for Quinn when she needs you the most.

Did you have anyone like me or Derek to turn to when your dad died? Besides your family I mean.

Here’s where you’re going to say Quinn and I are the same person. I did what she did. I buried all that pain and threw myself into my work. I shut myself off. I was in a marriage to a person who was more like a friendly roommate than a husband. It’s not his fault. We just didn’t mesh that way I guess. Living 2500 miles away from my family didn’t help. Can we talk more about Quinn and Jake, please?

You mentioned yesterday that you liked the way I enjoy fulfilling the dreams and fantasies of others. I wanted to thank you for giving me the chance to do that with the others in the Now and Forever series. Without Quinn and her sister Miranda walking into Saints and Sinners that night, I never would have met so many people I wanted to have in my life. Not only did I finally learn to take time away from work and enjoy all that my empire has given me, I get to share it with so many people.

And just what are you planning on doing next? You’ve started the ball rolling with Jacob’s ex-girlfriend Julia Santos. You’ve given her a chance to showcase her erotic art in Vegas and at the same time give her the opportunity to try to make amends with Jacob. That story will be told in The Surrender of Julia (Now and Forever 3). Who else will you be working your magic on?

(Steve’s chest rumbled with soft laughter.) Oh you know me. I’ll have my hands in everything, but I hear that Quinn’s cousin Samantha is not only a veterinarian, but she’s looking to publish her first novel. I just may have to introduce her to my first wife. She’s the acquisitions editor over at Sassy Vixen Publishing. 😉

There you go again. Making sure you end up in books 4 and 5. Well, no matter. I’ve got a surprise for you in book 4.

Are you going to introduce me to my always and forever? You know I only have eyes for you, darlin’. No point trying to hook me up with anyone else.

Didn’t you learn anything from the visit from Lady Fate and the Guardians? You will be with your heart and soul very soon, Steve. You know the feeling that hits you when you lock eyes with your soul mate?

I’ve heard it described, but never had it happen to me that way. Jake’s brother Eric called it being thunderstruck. That’s how he described what he saw between Quinn and Jake on the dance floor. I saw it again between Eric and Quinn’s friend Jillian. It’s powerful enough that everyone around them can feel the attraction between them.

Well, hold onto your britches, Mr. Eischer. You are about to be thunderstruck very soon. And yes, you will meet her because of Quinn’s family. I should say because of your family. Didn’t both the Quartermarsh and Hartley clans unofficially adopt you?

Let’s say it was more I adopted them first and they had very little choice but to go with it!

Well, thank you so much for sharing more with me today. I have to admit it wasn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be after yesterday. I’ll let you get back to running your empire now, but the invitation is open for you to come back any time.

Well, if things go as you say they will I’ll just have to take you up on that. I’ll bring my lady love with me next time.

For the rest of you, don’t forget to get your entries in the Rafflecopter and check out a few more of the other participants in this hop. As mentioned in other posts, my sister blog Sassy Vixen Publishing is also participating. Stop in there and talk more with the Guardian Michael Hartley.

Tomorrow Quinn and Jacob make an appearance. You don’t want to miss that!

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#WickedAfterDark with the Wiccan Priestess from The Island

I’d like to welcome everyone here today. It’s the first day of the Wicked After Dark Halloween Blog Hop. Over 220 authors and bloggers are participating in this hop giving you many opportunities to visit with authors you already know and discover new ones…maybe even try out a new genre or two. Who knows?

On each blog you will have a change to enter a contest to win prizes ranging from ebooks and gift cards to something wicked or naughty to go along with the Halloween theme. Here on Behind Closed Doors, I’ll be offering a fun prize package that includes some adult toys for a fun night of role playing and maybe a little BDSM with the one you love…or just the one you lust over! 😉

I‘ll be putting up posts during the entire week of the hop starting tomorrow when Wiccan Priestess Brigid Moon takes over the blog. She’s one of the characters from the second novel in my Now and Forever series. The Island is to be released on November 15th and I couldn’t be more excited! Even though it’s the second book in the series, it’s actually a prequel of sorts explaining how it is Quinn and Jacob have been destined to be together through every lifetime.

Before I go any further, I’d like to give you a peek at the prize package I put together for one lucky visitor. All you have to do to win it is make sure you leave a comment on any of the days of the hop. You can do it every day if you wish to get more entries. The Rafflecopter link will be posted at the bottom of each day so you can check it to be sure you’ve collected every entry possible. Some are worth more entries than others so for your best chances, collect all entries available. Here’s a picture of the items in the package…

There is a feather boa, mask and of course a tickler/whip to play with. There is a battery operated “friend” in there along with a package of lubes and oils to make your play time special. As you can see, this is definitely and ADULTS ONLY prize. This is an ADULTS ONLY blog too. So if you are under 18 years of age, you should leave now.

On to today’s post…

I decided to give a basic overview of what to expect this week. Tomorrow will be Brigid giving us her insights and maybe even a guest appearance by two of the Gods I call The Three. Since Brigid can see them, she should be able to interview them, right? 😉 Since these two siblings tend to be at odds frequently, I’m sure Brigid will have her hands full keeping the interview on course. Just in case, I’ve given her two days at the helm. I’m sure she will handle it all with ease. Not much phases her!

After Brigid, we’ll get another special treat. Steve Eischer has agreed to stop in and fill us in on the stuff that went on behind the scenes in Las Vegas. Besides The Three, Steve knows the most about Quinn and Jacob and their journey to be together. Hell, he even took matters into his own hands when it looked like things were going awry in For the Love of Quinn. Not too much goes on without Steve knowing about it. Ahhh..the perks of being a billionaire!

My sister blog Sassy Vixen Publishing is also participating. Over there you will be able to see Quinn and Jacob’s story through the eyes of their Guardian Angels Michael and Daniel. Make sure you stop in and see what they have to say. You will be seeing a lot more of these two in the future books of this series!

Okay, so now you have a basic idea of how I’m going to run my part of the blog hop and contest. Make sure you come back tomorrow for the start of Brigid’s posts, start gathering your entries through the Rafflecopter link below, and make sure you take the time each day to check out the rest of the participants in the hop. All you have to do is click on the graphic at the start of the post and you will be taken to the list of the other blogs. Or you can click on the little Linky Icon below the Rafflecopter link to take you to your next stop. Have fun!

~Tammy

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Video Trailer for The Island (Now and Forever 2)

I’m in the planning stages for a virtual book tour to promote The Island, coming up with a variety of posts, a media kit with all my links, bio, covers and of course the video trailer. Recently I did a blog post for Writer’s Words of Wisdom about creating video trailers. I used the techniques described in it to create my latest video. Even though it took me a while to put it all together the way I wanted it, it really wasn’t hard to do.

Once I collected and purchased all the photos I wanted to use, I listened to the variety of royalty free music I had on my computer from iTunes and from Incompetech.com. The latter is a site put together by Kevin MacLeod. He has hundreds of pieces all for free to use in projects. All you have to do is give him credit somewhere in your work and you are all set. If you can’t or don’t want to give the attribution, you can purchase the music as well. Kevin also offers a service where he will create an original composition for you if you desire.

Well, being on a very tight budget, I of course went for the free music for now. One day I may have to hire Mr. MacLeod to compose something for me, but for now I’ll just enjoy the beautiful pieces he has on his site. The budget this time around was used to purchase a few more pictures from Shutterstock.com. I found several that just caught my eye immediately. The photos of the Goddess Fate, Michael Hartley, and Daniel Quartermarsh were the most striking. They captured my vision of these characters perfectly! I couldn’t be happier.

For my hero and heroine, I had to try to not get photos that were steamy, but not too risque. I also wanted to give an idea of how I pictured Quinn and Jacob, but didn’t want to make those the only images in the reader’s mind. The fun part is coming up with your own interpretation of the characters as you read their story, and maybe even put yourself in as one of them. During the upcoming Wicked After Dark Blog Hop, I’ll be doing character interviews and posting pictures of the actors who I used as inspiration. There is no right or wrong answer to how someone pictures my characters. I hope the posts generate a lot of discussion. It will be fun for me to see what folks think of my vision versus how they see the characters.

Enough chit chat! Here’s the video you all came here to see. Let me know what you think, and if you have a few moments, please stop by YouTube and view the trailer from there so the view count will go up. And if you can give it a like, I would really appreciate it!

Saturday Spotlight Shines on Author Jennifer Denys

Once again I’m thrilled to welcome another fellow Siren author. Jennifer Denys is here today to share a bit about herself and her latest release Chasing Emily. Jennifer has created an entire world where women are a rare commodity, dwindling in numbers with every childbirth. This is actually the second book in her Duoterra series and looks to be just as sizzling as the first.

Before we go any further into talking about the her books, let’s bring Jennifer out to join us here by the pool. The food and drinks are all ready, so grab some of your favorites and and one of the lounge chairs and let’s get started!

Are there recurring core issues in your stories?

Oh yes indeed and they go back to me as a reader. The ‘friends who fall in love’ theme is one of my favorites and all six women in the ‘Friends’ and in the ‘Doms’ series fall in love with someone they already know and love.

Why do you think you are drawn to these types of characters/plots again and again?

I have no idea why I love that so much?! As for characters – the heroine is often based on me, my feelings, my needs, my desires. I can then empathize with her. I try to make myself write about someone who is totally out of character for me – and it is hard! The heroine in Chasing Emily is a middle aged woman (like me) with middle aged body issues (like me) who much prefers younger men (like me!).

You and I are very much alike. I’m a middle aged woman with those same body issues and I simply ADORE younger men. Yep. I am a cougar! Fortunately for me, My husband fits the bill. 😉 What are your favorite fiction genres to read from?

I’ve changed over the years. I used to love historical romance but it kinda went out of fashion (at least here in the UK). I then moved onto the Mills & Boon type romantic fiction but after a few years got bored with it and then I discovered erotic romance! Throughout I’ve always love sci-fi (preferably with romance in it).

What are your favorite non-fiction genres to read from?

History! And the reason I haven’t attempted any historical novels so far is I know how much research you need to do to get it right!

I love history too. I’m partial to the US Civil War era but I don’t think I could tackle a historical set in that time period. I would love to read more of them though! Besides reading and writing, what activities do you enjoy in your leisure time?

For many years my passion was genealogy – my own, other people’s (I researched and wrote up Family Histories on commission), giving workshops in genealogy. These days I don’t have time for it as writing takes up so much of my time (writing, editing, promoting, checking figures/reviews/emails etc etc. A writer’s life is never done). I have plans for a series that will cover 80 years within one family drawing on my expertise in this field – but don’t know when I will get around to that

Now let’s get back to Chasing Emily. In one or two sentences, give the core premise behind your story.

The second in the Duoterra futuristic sci-fi series is set on a planet some sixty years after it has been colonized. The entire series deals with what happens to that society when women start to die because of childbirth, death and disease and become something of a commodity in an increasingly patriarchal society.

What’s your heroine running away from (literally or figuratively)?

Haha! Had to laugh at this question since in the book Emily is always running away! In Chasing Emily she is a middle aged woman used to freedom and when she is forced into a marriage she runs away only to be chased by her two lovers – who are at odds with each other.

What obstacles will she encounter in this story? From what I hear, the obstacles abound!

Obstacles include one lover who is jealous of the other, an infuriating judge determined to marry her off to keep her out of trouble, trying to avoid being sent to the state brothel, wolf-cats, spankings, and a dunking in the horse trough!

How many books to you anticipate will be in this series?

I am not entirely sure how many stories will be in the series but I will say the wolf-cats make an increasing appearance, the illness (only briefly mentioned in Chasing Emily) will make a recurrence, and men will get their comeuppance by the end!

What are you working on now?

I’m writing a werewolf BDSM story about an alpha wolf, three betas and a human woman. I am also working on a follow up story to bring together both the Friends & Doms series into one book as they had cross over characters. This one is set ten years on and life didn’t go the way they all expected. Oh and I have a comedy sci-fi in the works, using one of the common themes of an alien abducting a human woman to be their mate I am a sucker for those types of story, but in this one the alien has ended up with a middle aged woman who is not playing ball and refuses to comply to his demands to take her clothes off – let alone have sex with him!

LOL! That last one in particular sounds like a hoot to write. I can’t wait to read the situations you put the alien and the woman in and their reactions to each other. Can you imagine what the poor alien is thinking when he gets such an uncooperative abductee? What’s coming soon for you? Is it one of those you’ve mentioned here today?

The next book out is my first collaboration. This is with lovely Finnish writer, Susan Laine, and it is an MMF werewolf story set in England and Finland (mostly the latter). We liked the idea of drawing on our mutual European roots for this story. It is due out mid-October through Evernight Publishing.

Fantastic! I’ll keep my eyes out for that one. Make sure you come back and visit with us again…especially when you release the alien abduction novel. 😉 I’m giggling already just picturing the possible situations you will come up for them.

Thank you for sharing with us today, Jennifer! For those of you who wish to find out more about Chasing Emily, Jennifer will be my guest on Sassy Vixen Publishing blog on October 1st.

Where to find more about Jennifer and her books

Website

Bookstrand Author Page

Twitter

Facebook

First Round of Edits for The Island…

I was really looking forward to the first round of edits for The Island. Not only did I run through that manuscript multiple times with a critical eye, I wanted to be sure the lessons I learned from editing For the Love of Quinn came through. I didn’t want to see anymore of those little comment balloons pointing out the ever dreaded head hopping. Oh and don’t get me started with my overuse of the ellipses…

See what I mean?

So imagine my surprise when I opened up the file sent back from my publisher and editor to find very few corrections done to the entire thing! Not only that, but the editor gave me such wonderful words of encouragement stating that I handled the shifts between the characters points of view and also the flashbacks “deftly.” She said my story was “seamless.” Yep. SEAMLESS! I can tell you there was a lot of celebrating around our household that evening.

Today I made the few corrections needed and chose and adult and story excerpt to send back to my publisher. The last time they ended up going with a different adult excerpt, but it’s all good. I had trouble picking the story excerpt this time. I wanted to give a teaser without giving too much away right off the bat. Hopefully it will be the one they like too. I’ll let you know when they put the excerpts up on my Siren author page.

There should be one more round of edits, cover art approval and then the final copy approval all within the next few weeks. November is just around the corner!

I’ve been busy working on The Surrender of Julia throughout all of this too. Since that one has scenes that are also in The Island I have to be sure they flow well and that I don’t change anything other than it’s all going to be through Julia’s eyes now.

Watch for updates and teasers from both books over the next few weeks. Once I get the cover, I’ll get started on the video trailer. I have a rough idea of what I want to have in the video, but it has to go along with the cover. I’ve chosen the music. Now to find the “perfect” images to tell Jake and Quinn’s story.

Until next time, my friends. Brightest Blessings!

A Sexy Marine Looks for an Escape and finds Love…Oh MY!

Welcome everyone! I have a fantastic treat for you today. Author Kendall McKenna is my guest today sharing her book Waves Break My Fall. Not only did she bring an excerpt that will melt your panties off, she’s agreed to answer questions about her heroes Kage and Zach. Trust me, once you here about them, you will be begging to learn more!

Oh! I nearly forgot. Kendall has one more surprise for one lucky visitor: a free ebook copy of Waves Break My Fall. All you have to do is follow the directions on at the end of today’s post. It’s easy!

So let’s bring out Kendall and grill her a bit about her two hotties! Welcome to Behind Closed Doors, Kendall. Why don’t you tell us a bit about yourself?

My name is Kendall McKenna and I write M/M Erotic Romance novels. I’m very partial to U.S. Marines and law enforcement officers so they make up the majority of my characters. Today, I’m going to talk about my second title, Waves Break My Fall.

In one or two sentences, give the core premise behind your story.

A U.S. Marine is home from Afghanistan and he’s not settling back into his life well, so he flees to Puerto Vallarta for a time. While he’s there, he encounters a young man who seems to get what he’s going through and just how to handle it.

When and where does your book take place?

Present day, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

How does the time and setting weave into the plot and persona of the characters?

This story is part of Silver Publishing’s Summer Heat series, so the setting is a huge part of the story. That was part of the submission requirement. The ocean acts almost as a matchmaker for the two heroes, pulling them to the beach so it can push them together. There is even one scene that takes place in the water, and it’s a huge character moment for one hero, and lays the groundwork for the ‘rightness’ of the relationship.

Who is hero #1?

That is Kage. He’s a Gunnery Sergeant in the Marine Corps and less than two weeks out of Afghanistan.

What drives him?

Overall, Kage is driven by duty and honor. He’s good at being a Marine so he’s proud of being a Marine. More immediately, he’s suffering from PTSD, but has only just become symptomatic. He doesn’t feel at home in his own skin, so he can’t settle in at home, and it drives him to flee to Mexico.

What is he running away from (literally or figuratively)?

Kage is running from himself, the well-meaning and loving smothering attention of friends and family, memories, and nightmares.

What obstacles will he encounter in this story?

Kage’s PTSD symptoms are so powerful, and so new, they’re a constant burden for him. He’s also very aware that, while he’s proud to be a Marine and is not ashamed to have done his duty, he’s done some things in combat that would make civilians uncomfortable if they knew. As a result, he holds himself back to an extreme.

What draws him to the hero #2 in this story? What gives him that push away from him?

Immediately, Kage is drawn by simple, basic, primal, sexual attraction. His PTSD and his own insecurities have him pushing away.

What does he need to learn to make the happy ending possible?

Kage needs to learn that he’s worthy of being loved. That the man he’s falling in love with understands him, what he’s had to do, and isn’t horrified by any of it.

That can be a hard thing for anyone to overcome, especially someone who’s had to put his life on the line every moment of every day while in a war zone. What about Kage will make readers sympathetic to him?

He’s aware that he’s damaged, and he very much wants to overcome it, not succumb to it. He is also determined to conquer his issues because these issues stand between him and this wonderful man he’s just met.

So who is this wonderful hero #2?

That would Zach.

What drives him?

Ambition. Zach is a recent college graduate and he has goals and things he wants to achieve. He’s on the cusp of setting his plans into motion.

What is Zach running away from (literally or figuratively)?

He’s running from adulthood. He knows he has to go back at the end of summer and get is life started, but he’s really trying to prolong this period of his life.

Man, I remember that time in my life when it was finally time to stop being a student, put my big girl panties on and join the real world. What obstacles will Zach encounter in this story?

Zach keeps bumping into Kage’s issues! Kage’s PTSD and the emotional barriers he’s thrown up are difficult for Zach to overcome. He’s also got his own issues with past relationships and he’s struggling not to repeat his own mistakes.

What draws him to Kage? What gives him that push away from him?

Zach has the same primal sexual attraction to Kage that Kage has to him. It’s lust at first sight for them both. The push comes from Zach being a physically strong, intelligent, competent, capable, grown man, who likes his partners to be the same. He likes to be dominated in bed, but treated as an equal in life. His past partners haven’t respected that, and Zach is a little gun shy. Kage is about as big an alpha male as you can get, so you can imagine how nervous this makes Zach.

What does he need to learn to make the happy ending possible?

Zach needs to learn that Kage is the man who can dominate him in bed, but has no desire to dominate him in life. Zach has to realize that Kage doesn’t view him as weak because he likes a powerful lover. He also needs to learn that Kage is damaged and is going to be slow to heal, but Kage wants to heal.

What makes Kage infuriating to Zach, if anything?

Nothing. Kage frustrates Zach, because he’s emotionally reserved and a little insecure. Zach doesn’t understand why Kage doesn’t get just how awesome Zach thinks he is.

What makes this hero hot and lovable?

Zach is smart and sensitive and intuitive. He’s a tall, handsome man in a more traditional way, maybe a softer way than Kage is.

What about him will make readers sympathetic to him?

He’s a little bit embarrassed by his own sexual desires and it makes him endearing. He’s just so sensitive toward, and accommodating of, Kage’s issues, it’s hard not to love him.

Is the oppositional force in this story more external or internal or a little of both?

It’s all internal for them both. The ocean and Zach’s friends are all pushing these two together, but their own issues are the only real oppositional forces.

What is the theme at the heart of your story?

It’s about progress, not perfection. The right person will make you want to be a better person.

What message do you hope readers take away from this story?

Love yourself, warts and all, and others will love you, too.

That’s a lesson we all need to take to heart. It sounds like it would be the simplest thing in the world, but it is so much easier said than done. Is this book a part of a series?

Nope. It’s a one-off. And that’s a complete lie! A lot of reviews have asked to find out what happens when Kage and Zach get home, and that’s a story I can tell. Zach’s new job and Kage dealing with PTSD is truly an entire story itself. Now, ask me if I have time to write it!

Oh I know all too well having way too many things to do and not enough time to do them in. I’m sure you will find the time at some point. Something tells me that Kage and Zach won’t let you keep them on the back burner for too long. What is the theme of the overall series and how does this story fit into that?

Relationships are hard. You have to want to do the work, you have to compromise, and you have to give more than you take.

Will these characters show up in other books in this series?

If I write it, yes, it will be all Zach and Kage Part II.

How many books do you anticipate will be in this series?

That depends on how much of their story these two tell me at any given time. It’s up to them.

What are you working on now?

I’m winding up the sequel to Brothers In Arms, and I’m about to start work on a special submission call I was asked to provide to MLR Press. It’s got a newly awakened Ancient Vampire and a newly re-born Ancient Warrior. They’re thrown together in the middle of combat in Afghanistan and for some reason, would rather make love than war. 😉

What’s coming soon?

Marine Corps Werewolves, a story called The Strength of the Pack. Also, the Ancient Vampire battling it out with the Ancient Warrior.

Wow! Paranormal Marines? Count me in! For those who want to pick up their own copy of Waves Break My Fall, where can they find it?

It’s available from Silver Publishing, but is also carried at Amazon, B&N, and ARe. Just click on the book cover at the beginning of the post, and you will be taken right to Silver Publishing’s website.

Let’s not forget. One lucky person will win a free copy of the book by following the directions in the Rafflecopter widget at the end of this post. A winner will be chosen randomly on September 14th and Kendall will contact you with your prize! But before we get there, Kendall has one more treat for us. I know you’ve all been patiently waiting, so without further adieu…

Adult Excerpt

“I’m going to get you ready,” he whispered.

“I don’t need much.” Zach lifted his hips.

Kage shushed him, placing open-mouthed kisses along Zach’s jaw. Zach tilted his head back, seeking Kage’s lips. Kage kissed Zach, licking deep into his mouth. They were both breathing heavily now and the sound was loud in the otherwise quiet room.

Reaching into the drawer of the bedside table, Kage withdrew a small lube bottle and a condom. He steadied Zach with a hand on his hip and slid his fingers into Zach’s ass. If it was possible, Zach was even hotter than he had been earlier. His body opened easily for Kage’s fingers.

Twisting his wrist, Kage spread the slick inside of Zach’s tight channel. He slid his fingers out and pushed them back in to the last knuckles. Zach pushed back against him and groaned. Picking up the lube bottle again, Kage eased his fingers out of Zach’s hole.

“I’m good, I’m ready.” Zach gasped, looking over his shoulder as Kage added lube to his fingers.

“Not as ready as I want you to be,” replied Kage, pushing two slick fingers back into Zach’s ass.
Zach groaned like he was in pain and Kage almost stopped moving. “You’re gonna fucking kill me.”
Kage laughed softly. He worked his fingers in and out of Zach’s hole, ensuring a slick glide for his cock. This time, he pressed his fingertips downward into that firm gland he could find easily now.

“Oh, fuck,” Zach cried. He clutched at the pillow beneath him. “Kage.” His harsh whisper sounded like a plea.
Kage kissed the base of Zach’s spine. “I’ve got you.”

Withdrawing his fingers again, Kage lubed three of them this time. He pushed his fingers into Zach’s clenching hole, and it was like Zach’s body was drawing him in. He twisted his fingers and massaged Zach’s gland. This time, Zach shuddered violently.

“Oh, god!” Zach pleaded, “Now, please, Kage. I need you.”

Zach’s desperation hit Kage like a body blow. Blood surged into his own cock, and he was overwhelmed with the need to be inside of Zach. He eased his fingers from Zach’s hole and reached for the condom.

Struggling with trembling fingers, Kage rolled the condom onto his own hard cock. “Hold yourself open for me,” he said, trying to remember to breathe.

Zach pushed the pillow aside and drew up one knee. He hooked his arm behind his knee and pulled his leg higher, spreading his ass wide. Kage lay himself down on top of Zach, wanting to feel his heat.

“You’re so fucking gorgeous.” Kage breathed against the back of Zach’s neck. His cock ached, and he was desperate to push himself into Zach’s heat.

Reaching between their bodies, Kage lined himself up with Zach’s hole and flexed his hips. He pushed inward, slipping into Zach’s body. He groaned at the feel of Zach surrounding him and taking him in.

Zach fisted his free hand in the bedclothes. He moaned loudly, lifting his hips as if to get more of Kage’s cock inside. Kage braced his hands on either side of Zach and gave a hard thrust of his hips. He slid deep into Zach’s ass.

“Kage!” Zach’s cry was a desperate plea.

Once again, thank you for coming and sharing your writing and yummy heroes with us today, Kendall. I hope you will come back very soon and share your next release with us! Now for the contest. Some browsers will not show the full contest widget. Don’t worry! If you click on the link, it will take you directly to another page so you can get your entries. The only part of the Rafflecopter you have to do is leave a comment. Make sure you leave your comment BEFORE you leave the page, just in case. 😉 The other ways to get entries are totally optional. At the end of the contest period, one winner will be chosen randomly from all the entries. I will post the winner here and Kendall will contact you will your prize!

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Where to find out more about Kendall

Saturday Spotlight at the House of Taboo

Facebook

Webpage

Email: Kendall.mckenna3@gmail.com