Spotlight: To Catch A Spirit by Carrie Pulkinen

Posted on May 23, 2013 by S. J. Maylee

Title: To Catch A Spirit

Author: Carrie Pulkinen

Genre: Paranormal

Heat Rating: 2

Publisher: Breathless Press

Formats Available In: Print

Word Count: 93,868

BLURB:

A psychic who’s afraid of ghosts and a millionaire with a haunted past and a hidden power find that only love can catch a spirit. With love, all things are possible—especially if you need to catch a Spirit.

Psychic Allison Dupuis has a soft spot for Logan Mitchell, even though she’s never met him. All it takes is one encounter for the millionaire’s true emotions to slip through Allison’s shields, and she is intrigued. He needs her help, but Allison soon discovers that the kind of help Logan needs is the kind she isn’t willing to give. Logan has a ghost, and Allison doesn’t work with spirits anymore.

But the ghost is the least of Logan’s problems. Born an empath, Logan is constantly barraged with human emotions. And while his talent has come in handy in the business world, it’s about to drive him insane. Literally. Logan has OCD, and his ability triggers unbearable attacks that have him counting and cleaning until he collapses from exhaustion.

Sex and money. That’s all anyone wants from him. Even worse, he’s plagued with recurring visions of his future wife’s death, so Logan has spent his entire life avoiding love. He’s given up hope of ever having a normal life, until he meets Allison. She’s everything he’s ever dreamed of, and now he has to decide if loving her is worth risking her life.

If she’ll even have him. Allison’s lost too much already — her mother to cancer, her father to suicide. But, Logan is so charming and so real, she can’t help but fall for him. Now she has to overcome her fear of commitment…and ghosts…or face spending the rest of her life alone.

Book Links:

Breathless Press | All Romance eBooks | Amazon | Bookstrand

There is a GIVEAWAY associated with this tour!! Carrie is giving away an autographed print copy and a $10 amazon card

a Rafflecopter giveaway

EXCERPT:

She sensed them as they drew closer to her—many different spirits, their energy buzzing on varying frequencies.

“One at a time, guys. Please.” she said. But they didn’t listen. These were the spirits of the mentally ill, after all. Taking turns wasn’t their concern, and they all rushed her. She felt their presence closing in on her like an avalanche, and she was consumed. Every mental illness imaginable was thrown into her psyche as she tightened her grip on Gage’s hand and slumped down in her chair.

“Allison! Allison, are you okay?” Gage’s voice was a distant echo as she fought to hold on to herself. She was slipping. Sliding into the depths of despair and the spirits were pulling her down.

“It’s… No… There’s a light… You need to… You need to go to it.” She tried to help the spirits cross over, but they wouldn’t listen. There were too many. Twenty at least, and they were so consumed by their own illnesses they thought of nothing else. Paranoia, depression, anxiety. Allison felt it all, and it was going to kill her. The pressure. So hard to breath. Her hands cradled her head as the migraine overtook her. Sharp, pounding pain had her crumpled on the floor as she drew her knees into her chest and rocked back and forth.

“Make it stop. Please, just make it stop.” She was paralyzed. Frozen by the anguish of the tortured souls that forced themselves upon her. Hot tears streamed down her face and blood trickled from her nose. She gasped for air as she heard a faint voice call, “Get her out of here!”

BIO:

Carrie Pulkinen has always been fascinated with the paranormal. Of course, when you grow up next door to a cemetery, the dead (and the undead) are hard to ignore. Pair that with her passion for writing and her father’s insatiable love for monster movies, and you’ve got the perfect recipe for an exciting storyteller.

When she’s not writing stories of amazing sex with devilishly handsome men, Carrie likes to read, take pictures, and play with her kids. She also enjoys hearing from her readers, who can write to her at carrie.pulkinen@hotmail.com.

If you enjoyed this story, Sweet Release, her first published work is also available from Breathless Press.

An Interview and then some with Elodie Parkes author of The Last Time

Posted on May 22, 2013 by S. J. Maylee

I have a special guest in the Maylee ehouse today. Elodie Parkes is here to tell us a little bit about herself and her latest release. She’s brought the trailer and a giveaway. Plus, she’s brought one of the character’s with her. Please give her a warm welcome. Take it away, Elodie.

Thank you for inviting me to the blog for the release of The Last Time, my latest contemporary, erotic romance.

The Last Time

by Elodie Parkes

Release Date: May 1, 2013

Length: 44000 words

Publisher: Eternal Press

Genre: Erotic Romance

Just a little about me to let your readers know who I am.

I live in rural England, United Kingdom and I work in an antiques shop as well as writing. I have two dogs that keep me fit with their need for walks. Love the countryside and the coast.

I write romance, contemporary, and erotic with a twist of mystery, suspense, or the paranormal, now and then. I like to make the story unusual in some way, by a quirk in the tale.

I started writing when I was seventeen. Life intervened in my writing time and I stopped serious writing for some time. I started writing again seriously a couple of years ago, because I had so many stories in my head.

Blurb:

Actor Seth Carbery swears he will never fall in love again, that is until he meets private detective Bethany Snow.

Something strange is going on. Seth and other members of the movie cast and crew are receiving threatening letters, but no threat has ever been carried out… yet. Bethany Snow is sent on location by the Black Agency to investigate, and guard Seth Carbery against danger.

The case is not what it first seems and even when Bethany thinks it could be over, a new twist means she becomes a target.

Seth and Bethany find they can’t keep their hands off each other.

Who is sending the letters and why? Does Seth have a secret admirer or stalker?

With steamy romance, graphic love scenes, and a quirky story of what people do for love this erotic romance is for adults only.

Thanks, Elodie. Now for some inside scoop, I’d like to welcome Bethany, the heroine from The Last Time.

Tell us about yourself and the book you star in.

The book is ‘The Last Time’ and it’s probably the last time you’ll read anything with me in it. It’s a romance and set on a movie location. I get to have lots of yummy sex with someone who shall remain nameless, as that might be a spoiler. It’s a fun book although a little thread of suspense and mystery run through it.

Why will we not read anything else with you starring in there Bethany, that sounds intriguing?

I can’t say without giving away the end of the book, but let’s just say it’s a happy reason.

Most of us want to be different, so what is the one thing you wish the author had done differently with you?

I would have liked to give my point of view a little more often, in the love scenes, just because sex is different for a woman. I think that the author wanted to show the great relationship that the three central characters developed, me being one of them, but I didn’t have much influence over that either.

If you could have added something to the story, and the author would have let you, what would that have been?

I would have liked more physical action perhaps, to show off my martial arts abilities.

What do you think of the author?

I think she tries to give everyone a fair chance in the limelight. She gives characters their dignity too. She tries to make the sex scenes about the love people feel for each other. She’s okay. I guess she’ll be reading this interview.

You get the chance to have the author change your name what will it be?

I actually like my name although that would have been a hoot if suddenly someone had shortened my name, and I’d been with Seth, another main character, because it would have been Seth and Beth.

Give up three of your deepest, darkest secrets.

You’re kidding. Why would I do that? They’re secrets. Okay I’ll tell you a couple of things. I hate thong underwear, will not wear it, detest it, so when the author tried to get me in some I had a meltdown.

I’m a coffee addict…drink it almost nonstop, but then doesn’t everybody? All the authors I know do, well except my author, she drinks tea.

What else? I don’t really have secrets you know…they’re not healthy. I sort of spill my guts about sex and men in the book so there’s not much to say here.

What do you love best about yourself?

My hair if it’s a physical thing, and if not, then my compassionate nature.

What do you like least?

The author gave me smaller breasts than I would have liked. No really, I don’t mind that. (laughing) I suppose I quite like myself the way she’s written me.

How do you feel about the book you’re in?

It’s fun, sexy. It’s supposed to show a little of what people do for love and when they think they are losing love, or are in love and it’s the most important thing to them. We can be vulnerable and stupid, but if it’s right then it’s the best thing ever.

Can you share one of your favorite parts of the book without giving too much away and tell us why you chose it?

Okay it’s probably not what you expect given the amount of sex in the book, but here you go,

Seth was still sleeping. He looked gorgeous and Bethany stood in the doorway watching him for a moment or two. Suddenly his cell phone, which was on his bedside unit, began chirping. Like a flock of birds, the chirping filled the bedroom, and Seth sat up and looked around as if startled.

Bethany watched him suddenly realize it was his cell phone, reach for it, and shut off the alarm call.

He looked at her and smiled.

“Bethany you made me sleep properly for the first time in months.”

I chose it because that’s so cool to have helped someone like that. Have you ever been unable to sleep? It’s horrible.

How do you see your future? Without giving anything away.

Like I said in the beginning, you’ll not see any more of me. The other characters…well that could be a different story. Mine ends with this book.

Let’s say they make a movie about this book. Who do you want to play you, and why?

I truly hope there’s no movie of this book because I have no idea who I’d want to play me, and they more than likely would want Seth to play himself since he’s an actor. I think that would be horrible, watching him on the big screen getting naked with someone else.

Anything else you would like to tell us?

It’s been fun being here and not having the author, editor, cover artist, proof reader, beta readers watching everything I do. Thank you for inviting me and try not to let the author read this.

GIVEAWAY

Enter the rafflecopter draw to win $25 US, or £25 GB Amazon gift card and an ebook basket, of all five of Elodie’s erotic romance books released to date.

Millie Reinvented, Two of them,The Horoscope Writer, A Celtic Tapestry in which Elodie has a short, The Picnic, and The Last Time.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Find Elodie online:

http://elodieparkes.blogspot.com <~~ where you can read lots of snippets from my erotic romance novels, meet other authors and read snippets from their books.
http://www.facebook.com/ElodieParkes
http://www.goodreads.com/elodieparkes
https://twitter.com/ElodieParkes
http://www.manicreaders.com/ElodieParkes/
http://www.theromancereviews.com/EllieP
https://plus.google.com/u/0/114681167004175190514/posts

Find Elodie’s books:
http://www.amazon.com/Millie-Reinvented-ebook/dp/B008H5IF7U
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Millie-Reinvented-ebook/dp/B008H5IF7U

http://www.amazon.com/Two-of-Them-ebook/dp/B008RBJXOI
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Two-of-Them-ebook/dp/B008RBJXOI

http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Horoscope-Writer-ebook/dp/B0094JIIVQ
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0094JIIVQ

http://www.amazon.com/A-Celtic-Tapestry-ebook/dp/B00BXPHSA6
http://www.amazon.co.uk/A-Celtic-Tapestry-ebook/dp/B00BXPHSA6
http://www.amazon.ca/A-Celtic-Tapestry-ebook/dp/B00BXPHSA6
http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/A-Celtic-Tapestry/book-BJ_406GiXEebWjWdV6dWag/page1.html

Amazon | Bookiejar | Smashwords | Barnes and Noble | KOBO

Spotlight: Bella Key by Scarlet Chastain

Posted on May 20, 2013 by S. J. Maylee

Bella Key

by Scarlet Chastain

Length: ebook, 75 pages
Released: April 30, 2013
Publisher: Evernight Publishing
Genre: sensual f/f erotic romance

BLURB:

Maddie Jacobs must be crazy. At least that’s what her mother thinks. Professionally, she’s confident and secure; personally, she’s a hot mess. Not even a marriage proposal from a man who adores her can quell her search for something more.

In need of an escape, Maddie flees to Key West’s most southern island, Bella Key, to rest and recharge at Casa Bonita. She almost gives up on weekend retreat when the Bed & Breakfast is closed for repairs until Sunny Rojas, the inn owner, extends an offer of friendship, sweet tea and a room. Still reeling from a breakup with her longtime partner, Sunny is thankful for the diversion from her own broken heart.

The arrival of a fierce storm forces the women’s emotional journey to a head and leads them into each other’s arms. But can Maddie throw her hangups to the wind and go with her heart? The magic of Bella Key teaches her that passion cannot be placed neatly into boxes labeled right and wrong, because love knows no boundaries.

BUY LINK

Amazon

BIO:

Scarlet Chastain is the semi-secret pseudonym of a multi-published, best selling author of sensual erotic romance. Scarlet’s focus is female-centric sizzling stories written about women, for women.

She lives in the suburban shadows of New York City but her heart belongs to the beaches of Key West. Scarlet can usually be found in her favorite chair of her newly acquired writing cave.

If you ask her nicely, she will usually tell you her other pen name. She’s sweet that way.

“It takes courage to grow up and turn out to be who you really are.”

Where you can find her:

Website | Twitter | Goodreads | Facebook

@ScarletChastain

*****

SJ’s Review of Bella Key ~~> 5 Stars “It’s a fun and sexy read. Not to be missed.”

*****

Weekend Writing Warriors – Mistakes

Posted on May 19, 2013 by S. J. Maylee

Click here to go to the Weekend Writing Warriors blog

Click the logo to go to the Weekend Writing Warriors blog

Okay. okay. I give, lol. I’ll give you a couple more weeks of In the Blind, but then you’re cut off, until it’s published.

In the Blind (working title), and you can see the past posts from this WIP here. The Logline: When a head hunter finds her dream lover in a night of pitch black unrestrained passion, she fears she’ll never find him again. Fate steps in and throws the two together, but they might never discover the truth and stay in the blind.

Over the past many weeks I’ve shared Jane’s experience at Club Blind and her business opportunity that put her back in touch with Rob after they met last month. Rob isn’t keen on Jane’s job opportunity. It’s for the company his ex-wife works for and Jane doesn’t know that, yet. Last Post Rob decided he needed to tell Jane about his wife. He doesn’t want to lose Jane before he takes her out for the first time. In this week’s post, I’ve skipped two sentences. Rob mentioned his old wedding ring and Jane stated she remembered it from when they first met.

She looked down at his naked finger.

“You noticed?” A flash of joy lit him, he chuckled and took hold of her hands. “Wearing that ring had nothing to do with my ex.” He shook his head and pulled her a little closer. “That ring represented my commitment, a commitment I had to let go.” He captured her sight once more. “I can’t explain it, but keeping it on reminded me of the mistakes I made, mistakes I never want to make again.”

Healing and learning from a lost love, he’s pretty awesome. Jane better say yes if he gets around to asking her out, but Rob has more to share. Will his honesty bring her closer or scare her away? <If you want, you can Tweet That>

Hope you enjoyed my eight today. Thank you so much for visiting me, it means a lot to me that you took the time to visit my little place on the web. Don’t forget to check out the other Weekend Warriors, and Saturday Spankings too.

ROW80 Check-in #61 May brings Words and Flowers

Posted on May 19, 2013 by S. J. Maylee

The writing challenge that knows you have a life.

Last week I took on a challenge, to write and polish a 10k novelette by the middle of June. Of course, this is when the evil day job decides to roar, but I was on a deadline, self-imposed, but a deadline. A decision needed to be made. I could either walk away from my challenge or I could postpone other items on my to-do list.

I decided to postpone. I wrote everyday.

Everyday.

The novelette isn’t done yet, and my week-6 results might be kind of sad, but I have less than 2k to go before I start my first read through. Wahoo! I need to give a shout-out to Julie Glover. She kept me going this week. Thank you, Julie. You rock.

The Goals - week-6 results

Spend at least 1-hour a day with my characters - done.
Daily progress in writing craft, word count, editing, and/or plotting – done. I wrote everyday. Yes, I’m pretty happy about that. I added over 4k this week to my challenge WIP.
Workout a minimum of three times a week and round it out with plenty of water, sleep, and my calorie limit - not done. WEEK 7 PRIORITY
Weekly Nia study (i.e. studying the song/movement structure) – not done. WEEK 7 PRIORITY
Stay on top of my co-op preschool Treasurer responsibilities - done. I prepared for/attended the last parent meeting and scheduled the budget meeting for the next fiscal year.
Organize something in the house each week - not done. WEEK 7 PRIORITY
Spend time in the Garden – not done. I didn’t make any progress, but I took time to admire the new blooms. There is a wall of Lilac bushes at the back of our yard. So pretty. Wish I could share the fragrance with you and the Lily of the Valley. Their quiet beauty always makes me happy. WEEK 7 PRIORITY

What you might have missed here this week:

Cover Reveal: Pieces of You by Kharisma Rhayne

Spotlight: Make Me Stay by Ella Jade

Spotlight: Destiny’s Chance by Cara Bristol

Posted on May 17, 2013 by S. J. Maylee

It’s a double release week for one my favorite must read authors. Of course I jumped at the chance to highlight one of them. I have all the details on Cara Bristol’s Destiny’s Chance. Squee. I know what I’ll be reading this weekend.

Destiny’s Chance

by Cara Bristol

Genre: contemporary paranormal/fantasy
Length: 115 pgs
Released: May 14, 2013
Publisher: Loose Id

Blurb:

Destiny Grable can’t help that she’s fallen in with love Chance Everett, her best friend’s boyfriend, but she’s never, ever acted on her feelings — until she and Zoe are in a car accident, her friend is killed, and she is reincarnated in her body. She never wished for something like this to happen, but perhaps now she’ll be free to love Chance the way she always wanted to.

Chance might have had pursued Destiny, but he has a kinky side and she was a nice girl. But now she’s dead, and the accident has forced him to take in his ex-girlfriend. As soon as she recovers and moves out, he’ll get on with his life.

Can two star-crossed lovers ever find happiness?

Excerpt:

A bleeping permeated her brain, steady, repetitive, as annoying as a dripping faucet. She tried to turn away from the sound but couldn’t and found herself waiting for the blips, clinging to the respite of silence in between. Nor could she escape the smell. Rusty. Antiseptic. Invasive. She wrinkled her nose, but the odor crept into her sinuses, stuck to her skin, seeped into her bones.

Her cold bones. Her hands and feet had frozen to ice, and she curled into a fetal ball to conserve her heat, ward off the pain. She hurt all over. Why?

Warmth arrived out of cold and darkness to settle on her shoulder with light pressure, like the soothing caress of a man’s hand. Destiny moved against it, seeking comfort. So real. So solid she could almost imagine fingers curling over…She peeled open her eyelids.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to wake you.” Chance Everett leaned close.

Though she ached everywhere, she found relief in his presence. Chance often had visited her fantasies looking like this: broad-shouldered, his body-molding T-shirt showing off serious pecs, his dark hair finger tousled, his worn blue jeans more faded over the parts she shouldn’t gawk at.

But since she only dreamed him, her conscience allowed her to feast her eyes on every inch of his six-foot frame.

To smell him too. Destiny inhaled to capture soap, masculine comfort, and…automotive grease?

She glanced at the hand warming her shoulder. Roughened by work, it bore a line of grime under the fingernails, the result of a cursory washing. She creased her forehead into a tiny frown and lifted her gaze to his face.

Tension bracketed his sexy, full mouth; the usual twinkle in his rich brown eyes had dulled to flatness.

This wasn’t the way her dreams went. Far from it—by now their clothing should have mysteriously disappeared, and he should be kissing her while whispering the naughty things he planned to do to her. Nor had he ever seemed quite this solid, had the sensation of being touched felt so real. And what is that irritating blip? She grimaced.

“Can you speak?” he asked.

“Uh, um. Yeah.” Or maybe not. The husky, quavering voice didn’t sound like hers. And her throat hurt.

Destiny rolled her head to the side, noting institutional green walls, medical machines and monitors, and that the bed on which she lay had rails. Like a hospital bed. Hospital!

“Do you remember what happened?” he asked.

Memories flooded in. Sheeting rain. Malfunctioning windshield wipers. A massive truck. Skidding. Crashing. Screaming. Grabbing for her friend Zoe, who was driving the car.

Please, be a nightmare.

Voicing her fear would solidify it. But Chance waited. “The accident.” She swallowed. “It was real, wasn’t it?”

He nodded. “Yes. The police called me at the body shop.”

That accounted for the grease under his fingernails. He’d been working, hadn’t taken the time to fully clean up. It also explained his presence at the hospital. Although he and Zoe had split up recently, they had remained on good terms, and since she had no close relations, authorities would have notified him. So why was Chance with her and not Zoe?

Unless…unless…

She would have bolted upright, except for Chance’s hand on her shoulder. “Oh my God!

She’s…she’s all right, isn’t she?”

Buy Link:

Amazon buy link

Where you can Find Cara:

Website/blog | Twitter | Facebook

Be sure to visit Cara to find out what she released this week and what she has coming next week.

Spotlight: Make Me Stay by Ella Jade

Posted on May 15, 2013 by S. J. Maylee

It’s special treat day. I have the details on not one, but two Ella Jade books. Take a look. I’m guessing you’ll fall in love with Ella’s writing just like I have. Click the covers below to see them at Goodreads. There’s also links below to see these books at Beachwalk Press and links to find Ella as well. Enjoy.

The sequel to Make Me Stay releases on June 17, 2013.

What happens when a Dominant falls for his not-so-submissive attorney?

Martin Abrams, owner of Master M’s BDSM club, has become unfulfilled with his lifestyle. Ever since his sub, Gracie, left to marry her true love, Martin has lost his way. Living the life of the head Dominant in his circle isn’t as appealing as it once was. Something seems to be missing.

Sassy lawyer Arianna Covington relocates to New York City after a humiliating divorce. She’s looking for a fresh start when she agrees to become Martin’s exclusive attorney. She’s intrigued by his domineering personality and wants to know why women kneel at his feet.

Their attraction is undeniable despite Ari’s initial beliefs that she will never submit to Martin’s desires. But Martin is up for the challenge. Arianna is more than he ever imagined in a woman. He vows to claim her heart, with or without the games. Who will surrender first?

Featuring Cade and Gracie from Make Me Stay.

Check out the hot and sexy trailer for a peek into the plot.

Surrender to Me is the sequel to Make Me Stay but both books stand alone so the reader can choose to read either one first. You may want to start with Make Me Stay to get the back story.

Can the sub teach the Dom to play?

Natural submissive Gracie Miller thought she had found her other half in Cade Jameson. Not only did he help her through a difficult time in her life, in the bedroom he brought her more pleasure than she could have ever imagined. They seemed perfect for each other.

Cade knew what he wanted in the bedroom. Gracie brought out his domineering side and ignited his passion. But he feared he was too dominant for this beautiful, naïve girl, who was so young and impressionable, so he ended their relationship.

Two and a half years later, Gracie returns to town a new woman. She had moved to the city and found a “Master” who showed her what she was truly capable of. Now she’s back and wants to show Cade exactly what kind of submissive she could be for him.

But after hearing all that she’s experienced, Cade now wonders if he’s dominant enough to satisfy her. Can he be the man Gracie needs him to be?

Content Warning: graphic sex, BDSM themes