A chat with Science Fiction Romance author, Diane Burton - pt. 1

Good day, everyone! I hope you're all doing well. The temperatures have finally gone back up in my neck of the woods, after having snow on the weekend. I have a special treat for you today. I'm going to be chatting with fellow science fiction romance author, Diane Burton, about the genre, and her latest release, Switched Resolution.

Hello, Diane! Welcome to Backward Momentum. We always love to have our fellow science fiction romance authors over.

DB: Thanks, Jessica, for having me here today.

Now, science fiction romance covers a wide range of stories, including most any futuristic romance, romances involving aliens, clones, artificial intelligence, dystopian romances, space opera, steam punk, and so much more, ranging from sweet stories to erotica. Yet, it is still a fairly niche genre. Why do YOU choose to write science fiction romance as opposed to the more popular paranormal romances, or even contemporary romances?

DB: I love to read science fiction romance. When I was younger, I never got into science fiction—too much technical detail, too dry, not even a hint of romance. Usually written by men. And that’s okay. I’m not knocking guys or what they like to read. When they first came out, I fell in love with the movies Star Wars and Star Trek (well, not the very first one—too long). I love action and adventure so put that in a movie or book and put all that action in space and I’m hooked. Back in the 90s, I couldn’t find enough sci-fi romance books so I decided to write what I wanted to read. Here we are, fifteen or so years later, and we have more choices. Halleluiah and amen.

I completely agree. I didn’t read a lot of science fiction as a child for the same reasons. I really need to have a connection between individuals in order to enjoy a story. And it’s great that we can find more of that nowadays. Who are some of your favorite science fiction romance authors, writers you turn to when you need a SFR fix?

DB: My go-to authors are Linnea Sinclair, Jayne Castle and Susan Grant. Lately, I’m discovering new (to me) SFR authors, like Elysa Hendricks, Cathy Pegau, Catherine Asaro. And you, of course. <g> Who are your favorites? I’m always eager to find new authors.

I am, too, especially in SFR. Automatics for me are Gini Koch, DL Jackson, Beth Revis, the Lux series by Jennifer L. Armentrout. I’ve also read stories from Pippa Jay, Diane Dooley, and yourself, and have more of their stories on my Kindle and Kobo. If only there were more hours in the day to get all of the stories in my head written, and to read all of the e-books I own. Now, I’ve heard that some authors don’t read in their genre when they’re writing. This doesn’t apply to me, but how about you?

DB: I didn’t discover Linnea Sinclair’s books until this past year. Now here’s why I should have found her sooner. I started writing The Pilot ten years ago. And despite a friend’s encouragement to read Finders Keepers several years ago, I didn’t until after The Pilot was published. That’s when I discovered so many similarities it was downright freaky—to the point that I wrote to Linnea and told her really, truly I hadn’t copied from her book. Gracious lady that she is, she said this happens often. Something in the ether. LOL She then told me an instance of when she was in the middle of edits she discovered that the name of one of her non-human characters had just become a popular toy—one that looked surprising like her character. At least she found out soon enough to change the name. She also reminded me that’s why we should read in the genre we write so we learn common terms and don’t have to reinvent the wheel. Also so we don’t inadvertently “copy” another writer.

So true! I’ve seen that happen in another genre a couple of years ago. When it comes to film, besides Star Wars and Star Trek, are there any other sci-fi shows and movies that are must watches for you, or something you’re looking forward to seeing this year?

DB: I was so entranced by The Matrix series that I’ll watch them over and over. Neo’s relationship with Trinity is so touching. I enjoy Warehouse 13, especially the push-pull between Pete and Mika. Oblivion blew me away. I expected lots of adventure and special effects. I didn’t expect the romance. Wow. I’m really looking forward to Star Trek Into Darkness. While ST is not technically SFR, I’m curious to see how the relationship between Uhura and Spock will progress. I’m sure I’ve missed a TV show or movie. What are they? LOL

Matrix is the only movie I’ve seen twice in the theater. Loved it that much! Though my favorite right now is Star Trek (2009). I haven’t seen Oblivion yet, but I want to see that along with Star Trek Into Darkness, After Earth, Upside Down, and Man of Steel. Though some aren’t true romances, I still enjoy the relationships between the crew, and the many familial relationships as well. As far as television goes, I’ve started watching Defiance (on Showcase in Canada, and SyFy in the US). It’s still early on in the show, but I think it’s fascinating to learn about all of the cultures of the futuristic society, and how they must learn to get along with each other. A lot of amazing world building, not only in the development of the society, but in the setting as well. And as you know, world building is an integral part of most science fiction romances.

Come back on May 27th for the second half of our chat.

Diane Burton combines her love of mystery, adventure, science fiction and romance into writing science fiction romance. Besides the Switched series, she is the author of The Pilot, a series about strong women on the frontier of space. She is also a contributor to the anthology How I Met My Husband. Diane and her husband live in Michigan. They have two children and two grandchildren.

For more info and excerpts from her books, visit Diane’s website: http://www.dianeburton.com

Connect with Diane Burton online 

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A Buck A Book & WIN A Nook with Casea Major!!

Attention Backward Momentum readers! Decadent Publishing has a great promotion going on now - A Buck A Book WIN A Nook! You can get ebooks for only $1 from great authors. Plus, you can enter to WIN the draw for a Nook 7" HD Tablet. 

The total value of the ebooks is around $48, so you will be saving 75% if you buy all of them. Prices of the ebooks on sale range from $2.99 to $5.99, so $1 is a HUGE deal! Here is the list: 

Awaken the Demon--Shiela Stewart 

The Naughty Angel-- Shiela Stewart

Daughter of Lust--Ann Mayburn

Amber Moon--Ann Mayburn

Night With a Dom--Casea Major

White Wedding--Ursula Sinclair

Something Blue--Ursula Sinclair

Last Request--Arlene Webb

Falling For Water--Arlene Webb

The One he Chose--Wendy Burke

Respite- Wendy Burke

Senator Mine--Kerry Adrienne

They are already marked down on Amazon, Decadent Publishing, Smashwords, and ARe, and will be until 7/1.

Now, please welcome Casea Major, whose story Night With a Dom is one of the ebooks on sale.

Oral Sex – Taboo or Mainstream 

Guest Blog by Casea Major 

Thank you for having me as a guest today in your lovely virtual home.

When I was growing up in the 1980's oral sex was hush-hush never spoken of in polite society. Nowadays, it seems more widely accepted and in some cases even expected. Especially in erotic romance.

In my reading, I've found an exorbitant amount of oral sex. In the m/f romances I read, more than three quarters have some depiction of oral sex and that includes the mainstream non-erotic. Generally in the stories, the male is the giver and the female the receiver. But this flies in the face of actual statistics.

According to a survey done on AskMen.com -- The numbers on how many men have received oral sex from a woman and given oral sex to a woman in the past year show a perturbing discrepancy. It seems that men in nearly every age category are more likely to receive oral sex from their female partners than to give it. Only the 18- to 24-year-olds are tipping the oral scales in the other direction, offering more mouth action than their female counterparts. It goes without saying that a woman getting enough oral sex is a happier woman, and all the more willing to reciprocate. Read more: http://www.askmen.com/daily/sex_tips_400/418_sex-stats-you-can-use.html#ixzz1pacP9Y7n

In my release with Decadent Publishing, Night with a Dom, my heroine strongly desires oral sex – an act her ex-boyfriend had been unwilling to perform. But on her New Year's Eve 1Night Stand, Mel gets more than she bargains for with Dominc, her date and Dom for the evening.

So tell me, how do you feel about oral sex in life and literature? Do you mind pitching or catching?

Night with a Dom by Casea Major 

Melody Manning’s workaholic ambition, coupled with a slave-driving former boss, has made her the youngest market analyst in her firm. It’s also killed her personal life, including losing her fiancé. When she receives a message from him on New Year’s Eve announcing his engagement to another woman, Mel loses it. Her new, more compassionate boss has the perfect solution for her—get laid. Good and laid.

At his suggestion, she signs up with the 1Night Stand service, listing her deepest sexual desires on the application. A speedy response from Madame Eve has Melody on her way to Sonoma Valley wine country and a one-night stand with a mysterious Dom.

The sexy, masked Master promises to get to the bottom of her guilt and provide ultimate satisfaction under the safety of his stern hand. After an emotional night of submission and uninhibited passion, will her lover’s unmasking lead to the end of their encounter or give Mel another chance at love?

Major Love ~~~ Major Romance 

Prior to becoming a writer of romantic fiction, Casea Major worked in the legal field for a non-profit dispute resolution company for ten years. She is now a full-time mom to three preschool children with whom she and her husband live happily...most of the time. When she isn't chained to her laptop, she enjoys Cary Grant movies and crocheting.

Website / Facebook / Twitter

Follow along with the blog hop.

And enter the giveaway here:

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Science and Magic - Guest post by author Cate Masters

Science and magic – one in the same?

Guest post by Cate Masters

Do you believe in magic? Or do you look for a logical, science-based explanation for what might look, to others, like the unexplainable?

Maybe it depends on whether you’re right-brained or left-brained. Whether you’re open to the seemingly impossible, or whether you need a concrete reason to explain away the mysterious.

If you’re like me, you’re a little bit right- and left-brained, and subscribe to what Arthur C. Clarke said – that magic is just science we don’t understand yet. With that scenario, anything truly is possible.

Ah, a writer’s dream. :) And I took advantage of that very scenario in Cursed. This novella doesn’t fit neatly into the paranormal category. It mixes in a bit of science and a twist on history. I’m not a fan of labels or categories anyway. I’m a rebel like that, lol.

Stories sometimes take on a life of their own. The more I wrote of Cursed, the more the story surprised me with new facets, and took turns I didn’t see coming. The characters kept surprising me, too, in the best possible way. They led me in new directions too. Cursed kept coming together in unusual ways, from disparate sources.

But that’s the best kind of magic, isn’t it? When a completely new world builds from nothing, and even you, the writer, aren’t quite sure how. But wow, what a cool ride it takes you on! The best high a writer can hope for.

Here’s a peek at Cursed, book one of The Vitruvian Man:

Ten days of freedom. That’s all Fate had allotted me each year. In the streets of Venice, I could walk among them. Mingle. Belong.

During Carnevale, they had no idea who I was. What I was.

For ten days, it didn’t matter.

Until I met her.

Bruno diCesare lives alone by necessity, not choice. An experiment performed by Leonardo da Vinci, who believed having a dual DNA would grant a person immortality, used magic to render Bruno a chimera – the head of a lion, body of a dragon. The only time he can mingle with people is during Carnevale, ten glorious days of masked anonymity, frivolity and intimacy.

Melina Weaver learned fire dancing to enliven her dull existence. A scientist, her long hours at the lab leave no time for a social life. For ten days at Carnevale, she can pretend to be someone else. Someone sexy and daring, who lives on the edge.

Once she meets Bruno, her wish comes true, but everything goes terribly wrong. Beneath Bruno’s costume lurks an alpha male, but is he dangerous? Worse, can she return to an employer who sells her research to the military to make an army of efficient killers? Her only hope may lie with the man she’s just met and never seen.

I am super excited that Cursed is the first release in 

Decadent Publishing’s new Tease line!  

Now available at: 

Decadent Publishing | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | All Romance

You can find out more about Decadent’s new Tease line at:  http://www.decadenttease.com 

and news about this new line at its blog: http://decadenttease.blogspot.com/

Oh, and I’d love to connect with you, if we haven’t already! Find me here:

Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

It's Time To Celebrate - New Release & New Cover!!

Hello everyone! It's time to celebrate many things. Earlier this week, we had Pippa Jay on celebrating the one-year anniversary of her science fiction romance novel, Keir, being released. You still have time to get in on the giveaways, if you haven't already.

I'm celebrating the release of ALIEN ADORATION with a blog tour starting tomorrow. I'll be sharing excerpts, plus a serial romance based on the book, I'm being interviewed, and revealing other information about the story. Plus, I'm giving away a $25 Amazon gift certificate and 3 awesome swag packages at the end of the tour. You can find more information and the tour stops listed here.

Alien Adoration

Alien Next Door book 1

By Jessica E. Subject

Erotic Sci-Fi Romance

ISBN: 978-0991932009

Erotic dreams fill her with need…

Night after night, Rachel fantasizes about her sexy, playboy neighbor. But in her small town, no one changes, least of all the bad boy next door. But when Luke rescues her not once but twice from disastrous dates, she dares to believe her knight in black leather armor may be the right man for her after all.  

Until she learns the truth...

Life on Earth has never been easy for Luke. Stranded as a little boy, he struggled to craft an existence for himself, but he never forgot the first human he met--and he never stopped wanting to see her again. Returning to Hanton, Luke longs for Rachel. Yet, nothing goes as he plans, and Rachel barely notices him. Convincing her he isn't like all the jerks she's dated means telling her the truth, but can she handle it? 

Can she overcome her fears, or will she deny her alien adoration and leave him stranded once more?

Available From:

Amazon (US/UK/Canada) | All Romance | Kobo | Smashwords | more

AND, I'm really excited to show you the cover for Another Night, Another Planet, a 1Night Stand/Elatia story which is scheduled to release on June 14 from Decadent Publishing. Here's it is...

And here's the unofficial blurb:

Limited by status…

Ava is a housekeeper aboard Star Spirit, a luxury cruise ship that travels between the Milky Way and the Belvarian System. Coming from a middle-class family on Earth, she is considered by passengers as nothing more than an object to be tossed away when they’re done with her.

Shunned because of his lineage…

Being banned from several planets across the universe has made it hard for Nate to run his interstellar shipping business. But the DNA of an exterminated race runs through his blood, giving him a diluted form of their powers, and leaving him labeled as a terrorist.

Both searching for the one…

Through her 1Night Stand dating service, Madame Evangeline matches these two together for a celestial escape on the pleasure planet, Elatia.

Will Ava and Nate find what they’re looking for, or will their date go up in flames?

Bio:

Jessica Subject is the author of contemporary and science fiction romance, ranging from sweet to erotica. In her stories, you could meet clones, or a sexy alien or two. You may even be transported to another planet for a romantic rendezvous.

When Jessica isn't reading, writing, or doing dreaded housework, she likes to get out and walk. Fast. But she just may slow down if there is a waterfall nearby.

Jessica lives in Ontario, Canada with her husband and two energetic children. And she loves to hear from her readers. You can find her at jessicasubject.com and on twitter @jsubject.

Website/Blog | Newsletter | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Amazon | Authorgraph

Celebrating the one-year anniversary of Pippa Jay's Keir!

To celebrate the one-year anniversary of the science fiction romance novel, Keir, author Pippa Jay is celebrating by sharing YUMMY recipes and hosting TWO GIVEAWAYS! So keep reading for all of the details.

Mini Blueberry Pancakes

You will need:

1 egg
7oz bio-yoghurt
2 ½ fl oz milk
1 tbsp vegetable oil
5oz plain flour
½ tsp bicarbonate of soda
7oz blueberries

Place the blueberries in a saucepan with enough water to cover the bottom of the pan. Cook on a low heat and crush once soft to make a sauce. Place the egg, yoghurt, milk and oil in a bowl and mix together. Add the flour and bicarbonate of soda. Mix well with a fork. Add a little extra milk if the batter is too thick. Heat up a large frying pan or griddle, adding a little oil if necessary. Drop spoonfuls of the batter in the frying pan/onto the griddle allowing room for each pancake to spread. Cook on medium heat until bubbles appear and the undersides are golden brown. Turn and cook other sides until golden. Serve immediately with the blueberry sauce. Makes 12 pancakes.

KEIR by Pippa Jay

A 2012 Readers Favorite Award Finalist and 2012 SFR Galaxy Award Winner.

Outcast. Cursed. Dying. Is Keir beyond redemption?

For Keirlan de Corizi--the legendary ‘Blue Demon’ of Adalucien--death seems the only escape from a world where his discolored skin marks him as an oddity and condemns him to life as a pariah. But salvation comes in an unexpected guise: Tarquin Secker, a young woman who can travel the stars with a wave of her hand.

But Quin has secrets of her own. She’s spent eternity searching through space and time with a strange band of companions at her back. Defying her friends’ counsel, Quin risks her apparent immortality to save Keir. She offers him sanctuary and a new life on her home world, Lyagnius.

When Keir mistakenly unleashes his dormant alien powers and earns instant exile from Quin’s home world, will she risk everything to stand by him again?

AVAILABLE IN PRINT AND IN ALL DIGITAL FORMATS FROM:

Lyrical Press Inc.

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Barnes & Noble 

Kobo

All Romance eBooks

Bookstrand

The Book Depository

ADD IT TO YOUR GOODREADS SHELF HERE 

FIND PIPPA JAY HERE:

Website | Email | Blog | Goodreads

Twitter |Facebook | Google+

Enter to WIN a print copy of Keir via Goodreads (open until the end of May)

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Keir

by Pippa Jay

Giveaway ends May 31, 2013.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter to win

Enter to WIN a blue crystal star pendant via rafflecopter 

(open until the 14th May), available internationally

a Rafflecopter giveaway

And be sure to visit my fellow party hosts – 

Liana Brooks

Misa Buckley

Karen Y Bynum

Chantal Halpin

Jessica E Subject

What DO Aliens Look Like? - part 2 - Science

Thank you for joining me on Backward Momentum! It's time for part two of What DO Aliens Look Like. Today I'm going to focus on some of the theories offered by the scientific community.

From "Through the Wormhole: What Do Aliens Look Like?" on the Science Channel, it is assumed that extraterrestrial life would be both carbon and water-based like us. But due to many factors, including differences in evolution and gravity, life on another planet could be very different from what we know on Earth. Life could be as simple as microbes. But will we ever be truly satisfied until we find intelligent life like us?

   


An article by Seth Shostak, Senior Astronomer, SETI Institute on Space.com suggests extraterrestrial life might be humanoid, like us. And at a former exhibit in Montreal, scientists displayed plausible displays of aliens that might live on other planets with what we would consider, extreme conditions. Those lifeforms resembled creatures on Earth who live in extremely high temperatures and in acidic conditions. Be sure to check out the flying whales, animals that look like plants, and more.


  

  

So, what do YOU think aliens might look like?

Bio:

Jessica Subject is the author of contemporary and science fiction romance, ranging from sweet to erotica. In her stories, you could meet clones, or a sexy alien or two. You may even be transported to another planet for a romantic rendezvous.

When Jessica isn't reading, writing, or doing dreaded housework, she likes to get out and walk. Fast. But she just may slow down if there is a waterfall nearby.

Jessica lives in Ontario, Canada with her husband and two energetic children. And she loves to hear from her readers. You can find her at jessicasubject.com and on twitter @jsubject.

Website/Blog | Newsletter | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Amazon | Authorgraph

Ghost Planet is on Vaginal Fantasy Hangout April 30th!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

 

Mark your calendars, sci-fi romance fans! Sharon Lynn Fisher’s GHOST PLANET (Tor) is the April 2013 selection for Felicia Day’s Vaginal Fantasy Hangout book club.

 

Actress-producer-writer Felicia Day is a true geek and a reader of science fiction romance. In addition to her many credits, she runs the Vaginal Fantasy Hangout, a lively, entertaining, and no-holds-barred online book club.

Members include Veronica Belmont, Kiala Kazebee and Bonnie Burton. The VFH team is sassy, outspoken, and passionate about books.

The GHOST PLANET video discussion will go live on April 30 at 8 PM PST.

Watch the video and join other VFH viewers at the GHOST PLANET Goodreads discussion thread.

 

Want to know more? Visit the main Vaginal Fantasy Hangout Goodreads page. You can access all of the Vaginal Fantasy videos here, including ones featuring science fiction romances by authors Linnea Sinclair, Nalini Singh, J.D. Robb, and Meljean Brook.

 

We hope the VFH team enjoys GHOST PLANET and would appreciate any support you can offer via tweets, posts, and any other way you like to spread SFR news!

GHOST PLANET

 

A world in peril. A bond deeper than love.

Psychologist Elizabeth Cole prepared for the worst when she accepted a job on a newly discovered world - a world where every colonist is tethered to an alien who manifests in the form of a dead loved one. But she never expected she'd struggle with the requirement to shun these “ghosts.” She never expected to be so attracted to the charming Irishman assigned as her supervisor. And she certainly never expected to discover she died in a transport crash en route to the planet.

Reincarnated as a ghost, Elizabeth is symbiotically linked to her supervisor, Murphy - creator of the Ghost Protocol, which forbids him to acknowledge or interact with her. Confused and alone - oppressed by her ghost status and tormented by forbidden love - Elizabeth works to unlock the secrets of her own existence.

But her quest for answers lands her in a tug-of-war between powerful interests, and she soon finds herself a pawn in the struggle for control of the planet…a struggle that could separate her forever from the man she loves.

Leave a comment under this post for a chance to win a set of Decadent cover romance trading cards.

Elatia Series Courtesan Boot Camp And courtesan boot camp starts now. When Shay lands on Elatia, she knows she has one shot to be chosen as courtesan for a king and queen. Mess up—everything she was born to be, all she’s trained her entire life to become—will be lost. The alternative is unthinkable. What a pampered priss. Dayne’s first impression isn’t a good one, but he’s determined to turn the spoiled beauty into the next royal courtesan at any cost. As a Dominus, a master of all things sexual, he agrees to help a friend, his sovereign, and promises to do nothing to compromise her future. Except the promise may cause him to question his loyalty, friendship and honor. All he knows is on the line…when he falls in love with a woman who can never be his. ~Excerpt~ “Wakey, wakey, princess.” Someone slapped her cheek. Shay knocked the hand away. “I’m not a princess.” “We’ll you’re not an ornament for my transpod either. Get off. You’re drooling on my deck.” Shay’s eyes snapped open, and she found herself face to face with the mud slug again. “Courtesans don’t drool.” “You aren’t a courtesan yet, cupcake, and what do you call that puddle on the deck?” She turned and her eyes widened. No, no, no. She’d committed the unforgivable. Her hand shot up to cover her mouth and chin, hopefully blocking the view of any spittle left on her face. “Yup, Dayne’s going to have fun with you. What street corner are they finding you girls on these days?” “They didn’t find me. They bred me for…why am I explaining this to you?” She kept her hand over her mouth, waiting for him to look away so she could take care of business. He shrugged, dropped her bag beside the transpod, and headed for the front entrance to a large minnica spire. She used her palm to wipe her chin and watched him go. “Hey, do I go in there?” If he heard her, he didn’t indicate that he had. He entered, leaving her to her own devices. Okay, she wasn’t some helpless flower. She could make the introduction herself and didn’t need Mr. Personality’s help. Shay reached into her bag, retrieved a mirror, and checked her face and hair. All evidence of the mishap had been wiped away, and without smearing her makeup. At least something had gone well. Once satisfied, she climbed to her feet with as much grace as she could muster, smoothed the fabric down on her overdress, and grabbed her bag. Sometime during the trip to her new home, her right ass cheek had gone to sleep. Combined with the missing heel, she hobbled like a crone. Not the most elegant example she wanted to put forward, but also not her fault. Too bad about the boots. The heels were hand-carved crystal, irreplaceable, and her favorite pair. If not for the fact she had to undress to reach the tops to unbuckle her boots, she’d have changed on the transpod. She stopped in front of the tall door and stared at it for several seconds before she found her courage. Shay cleared her throat. “Open,” she spoke in her most commanding tone. Stepping forward on instinct, she smacked face first into the hard surface, which had failed to vaporize as expected. Shay reached up and rubbed the tip of her nose. What kind of freaking planet is this? She poked it and cleared her throat. “Open.” The door didn’t move. Shay glanced around for a button, or something, anything to activate the mechanism that opened it. Lever? Fuck. Nothing but a round thingy. She bit her lip again. Certainly nothing as primitive as…. You have to turn the round thingy, honey. This time Milos’s voice came through by brainwave, telepathy, or whatever he was using to annoy the shit out of her. “Stay out of my head.” Turn the knob. Open the door. It’s not rocket science. “I know rocket science. I don’t need your instructions.” “Of course you don’t,” the voice in her head said again. “You’re an asshole!” “Nice language.” Shay lifted her chin to look in the face of…dear gods. Dark hair, green eyes, strong jaw and chin. The man standing in the doorway had looks that would melt a woman where she stood. And she’d just called him an asshole, or he thought she did. Her mouth dropped open.

RT Stay at home Party

Leave a comment under this post for a chance to win a tee shirt in Med/Lg/Xlg (US Residents) or an e-book of one of my Decadent titles(All).

A 1Night Stand Story When Grace Daniels goes to the cemetery to visit the grave of her twin brother, she meets a soldier, there for the same reason, or at least that’s what she believes until he tells her about the blind date her brother arranged before he was killed in combat. It’s the date of her dreams. Big band, brass and sass, Madame Eve from 1NightStand has set her up for an unforgettable night, a WWII swing dance party. Unfortunately, she’s having trouble letting go of her past and is afraid to take the chance given to her. Sergeant Frank Winters is an Army trumpet player who travels with the Color Guard, a great dancer, and six feet four inches of eye candy that could make her an addict. He’s also a soldier and soldiers can get killed. Grace doesn’t have the heart to lose someone again, but Frank knows a good thing when he sees it, and he’s determined to show her in one night, she’s got more to lose if she walks away.  ~Excerpt~ “For my next number, I’m gonna play something a little more laid back.” A slurry voice rang out over the headstones, echoing through what was supposed to be a closed graveyard. A trumpet began to play. Dah, dah, dum. Dah, dah, squawk. She bolted up. “What the hell?” Believing she was alone, she’d bared her soul to her brother. She certainly wouldn’t have had that conversation if she’d known someone lingered nearby. She turned around three hundred and sixty degrees, until her gaze landed on a mausoleum backlit by the moon. A man stood on the roof with brass to his lips, butchering Taps. In his other hand, he held a bottle of what was probably in the glass on Geordie’s grave. Grace swatted the debris from her pants and stomped toward the mausoleum, irritation prickling over the back of her neck. She stopped at the base of the stone structure and glared at the man on the roof. “What are you doing here at three in the morning? The cemetery is closed.” “Whoa, hot chick in the audience.” He swayed, threatening to fall off the roof. “Feel free to toss your panties onto the stage in appreciation.” She clicked her flashlight on and cast the beam at him. “I suggest you get down from there before you fall or I have to arrest you for public intoxication.” He gave her a shit-eating grin. “You got handcuffs?” “Oh, God,” she groaned under her breath. “Of course I’ve got handcuffs. I’m the police.” He rocked and blinked his eyes. “You’re hot for a cop.” “Thank you, I think. Now get down.” “Okay.” He jumped, hit the edge of the roof, rolled off, and dropped like a stone at her feet, doing it with all the grace of a bag of potatoes. Yet he’d managed to keep hold of the bottle and not spill a drop. He put the horn to his lips and blew, but nothing more than a raspberry came from the mouthpiece. “For my next number, I’m going to play….” He looked up at her. “Any requests?” “Yeah, tell me where you’re staying, so I can take you to your room.” “Easy, girl. What kind of guy do you think I am?” Author Bio: D. L. Jackson is a writer of urban fantasy, science fiction, military romance and erotic romance. She loves to incorporate crazy plot twists, comedy and the unexpected into her worlds. As a U.S. Army veteran, she naturally adores men in uniform and feels the world could always use more. She does her part by incorporating as many sexy soldiers in her novels as she can. When she isn't writing or running the roads, you can often find her online chatting with her peers and readers. Grab a cup of iced coffee, pull up your virtual chair and say hi. She loves emails and blog visits from her readers.

Finding Mercy

Doomsday Preppers Prepper A Prepper Romance Evans Point Series You’ll die in three minutes without oxygen, three hours without shelter, three days without water and three weeks without food. But could you live a lifetime with a broken heart? Mercy Evans has come to Evans Point hoping to collect herself and find a way to resurrect her career as an anchorwoman for Cheyenne’s news station. Sergeant Justin Redway has come to Evans Point to try to forget his past and survive all he’s done. One is a battle-damaged veteran, the other a desperate woman who will go to any extreme to get his story. When their worlds collide, sparks fly and old wounds open. As the chasm between the fated lovers widens, it might be too big to cross. One town, two lovers, and a second chance at finding mercy. Leave a comment under this post for a chance to win a set of D L Jackson's Decadent cover romance trading cards. Thanks for stopping by:

What DO aliens look like? Part 1 - Hollywood

While writing my alien romances, I always ask myself, what DO aliens look like? Many have tried to explain what they might resemble, but all our guesses, both fictional and those based on science make the assumption aliens are carbon based lifeforms. What happens if they're not? The possibilities are endless.

Today I'm going to give a glimpse at how Hollywood has portrayed aliens over the years. Next week, I'm going to take a more scientific approach.

Now, in Hollywood, aliens have been those hiding on Earth, trying to blend in or not be found, and also those arriving to take over.

Here are just a sample of the variety of aliens in movies:

Earth Girls Are Easy

Close Encounters of the Third Kind




And here's a top 10 list of Alien races in film from WatchMojo.com:




See any you like? So, based on Hollywood's portrayal of extraterrestrials, what do YOU think an alien might look like? Are there any movies that resemble your idea better?

Bio:

Jessica Subject is the author of contemporary and science fiction romance, ranging from sweet to erotica. In her stories, you could meet clones, or a sexy alien or two. You may even be transported to another planet for a romantic rendezvous.

When Jessica isn't reading, writing, or doing dreaded housework, she likes to get out and walk. Fast. But she just may slow down if there is a waterfall nearby.

Jessica lives in Ontario, Canada with her husband and two energetic children. And she loves to hear from her readers. You can find her at jessicasubject.com and on twitter @jsubject.

Website/Blog | Newsletter | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Amazon | Authorgraph

What is it about rebels?

I've been noticing a common theme in many of the stories I've written lately.

Rebels.

Everyone loves an underdog. Myself included. And maybe it's the struggle I love to write, or the character that's just a little rough around the edges. Or perhaps it's the raw, sometimes painful consequences my hero or heroine have to deal with because they choose to fight for something they believe in, that drives me to tell their stories. Whatever it is, I seem to have an infatuation with them.

Which brings me around to Rebel Souls. Of all the books I've written, published and unpublished, It's one of my favorites. My hero and heroine are from opposite sides, and must overcome almost impossible odds to have their happily ever after.

But what price is too high to pay?

What price would you pay to have your happily ever after? Would you give up everything you've fought for? Would you break the law? Walk away from a career, family, friends, everything you've strived to be and all you have stood for to embrace what you have been against. Would you become a traitor? Would you give up a chance at having a normal life and family, and always have to look over your shoulder, never knowing when you'll be found?

These are some of the dilemmas my characters face in Rebel Souls. The journey isn't an easy one, but in the end, sometimes love is worth it.

Want to read it?
Here are the buy links:
Kindle
Nook
Publisher

Blurb:

"Good morning, Duchess.”Born in the fires of revolution and baptized in the blood of those who fought for a better life, Captain Ava Frost smuggles illegal materials to a war machine that will someday free her people from an oppressive government...until her path crosses with a Regulator commander.

Seth Reynold’s mission is to find the dangerous cargo of fissile materials. When he stops Ava at a wormhole, his ethics and beliefs are compromised. Torn between duty and love, Seth is determined to find out what Ava is hiding, but her fiancé is standing in his way.

Back from the dead, Brodie Mark—a leader of the revolution, a man that challenges Ava’s loyalties in every way imaginable—wants her back and will do whatever it takes to help her realize her heritage.

While falling for the enemy and endangering all that the underground rebels had struggled to achieve, Ava must make a choice between duty and love. But is she ready to sacrifice a freedom in its infancy for a love that comes once in a lifetime?

“No man flies three days to the edge of Nexian space without a reason.”

Have a great weekend!

My Decadent Journey Hop #DecadentJourney #DecadentAuthors

Hello everyone! Thank you for visiting me during the My Decadent Journey hop! And thank you to JoAnne Kenrick for organizing this event!

Just a quick introduction for those who don't know me. I write contemporary and science fiction romance. My first story was published in July 2011 with Decadent Publishing, and I have twelve stories published with them so far, with two more coming soon.

My Decadent journey started at the beginning of 2011. I was busy writing my first novel, and sharing excerpts every Sunday on my blog. One of my author friends, Rebecca Royce, whom I'd met through participating in Six Sentence Sunday, suggested I add my sci-fi romance style to a brand-new line at Decadent Publishing, called 1Night Stand.

I had not read any stories from this new line, so she suggested I read Erotic Healing by Becca Dale. After that, I was hooked on the series, and wanted to try to write one.

So, I penned a story about an alien who came to Earth to experience love based on the 1Night Stand line guidelines. Rebecca helped me to polish my story for submission. But, I didn't think it was quite ready. I had never submitted anything at this point, and was scared send my work into the world.

I was also celebrating my one-year blogoversary in April of 2011, and wanted to wait until that had finished before sending the story to Decadent Publishing. Little did I know, Rebecca had contacted one of the acquisitions editors for the 1Night Stand line, and told her about my story. And I was asked to submit.

Holy sh**! I never expected something like that to happen. And on the morning of April 30, 2011, I submitted my first story, Celestial Seduction.

I felt ill all day, my stomach twisted in knots. I didn't know how long I'd have to wait to hear back, either, the waiting times that I'd heard about from other authors ranging from four to six weeks. Sometimes longer.

Lucky for me, I didn't have to wait long. I received an email that night with the offer of a contract.

Now, wait times have since changed, and I become an inbox stalker when I have a story on submission. But Celestial Seduction was my foot in the door, my first published story.

I've since written five more 1Night Stand stories, plus stories for The Edge, Elatia, and The Challenge series lines, amongst others. I've met so many wonderful people through Decadent, and I have to say, Decadent Publishing is one of the most supportive publishers I know. Though, it's still a lot of hard work, never mind the colorful edits that arrive in my inbox. Celestial Seduction was a technicolor rainbow.

And I've learned so much in my journey with them, taking new chances and trying new things all the time.

Be sure to visit the Daily Dose of Decadence blog to read the journeys from other Decadent Authors

Bio:

Jessica Subject is the author of contemporary and science fiction romance, ranging from sweet to erotica. In her stories, you could meet clones, or a sexy alien or two. You may even be transported to another planet for a romantic rendezvous.

When Jessica isn't reading, writing, or doing dreaded housework, she likes to get out and walk. Fast. But she just may slow down if there is a waterfall nearby.

Jessica lives in Ontario, Canada with her husband and two energetic children. And she loves to hear from her readers. You can find her at jessicasubject.com and on twitter @jsubject.

Website/Blog | Newsletter | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Amazon | Authorgraph

10 Reasons to read Being Amber - Guest Post by Sylvia Ryan

I’m always at a loss when asked to tell a little about a book I’ve written. I never want to give away too much because I feel it takes away from the discovery of the ‘world’ and plot. This is one of the reasons I rarely read blurbs. If I do, it’s usually just the first few sentences to get a feel for the content.

So, with that in mind, here is

10 Reasons to read Being Amber…

1. Global Pandemic
2. Dystopian Society
3. Alpha males
4. Dominance/submission
5. Evil dictator
6. Underground dungeon
7. Sizzling sex
8. Undeniable love
9. The utter lack of: Billionaire Doms, vampires, werewolves, and shifters.
10. Science fiction + erotica= perfection                                

Still not sure? How about a book trailer?

And be sure to click over to my website, enter the GIVEAWAY for the kindle and other great swag and satisfy your curiosity for more at www.RyanBooks.net.

Being Amber by Sylvia Ryan

Both danger and sex are inescapable in the Amber Zone.

Jaci Harmon was born a Sapphire, but after she’s summoned to receive her final designation, the testing reveals she carries a gene slated for eradication. Within a day, she’s sterilized and dumped in the Amber Zone, where the damaged are corralled away from the rest of New Atlanta. Scared and alone, Jaci would rather die than face her future as an Amber.

Born in the Amber Zone, Xander Dimos is a product of a lifetime spent under the oppression of the Repopulation Laws. Decades of suffering have taught the Ambers to make the zone a place where touch, sex, and unconditional acceptance ease the pain of their fate. Jaci has a lot to learn about her new home, and it’s Xander’s responsibility to guide her through the differences and the dangers safely.

With the simmering undercurrents of sexual chemistry growing between them, and in the midst of discovering the Gov’s true motives, Jaci and Xander must overcome his secret and accept their love as undeniable…even if the time allotted to share it is short.

CONTENT WARNING: This title contains explicit sex, graphic language, ménage a trios, use of sex toys, and anal sex.

Excerpt:

“Why didn’t you just let me die?” she whispered.

“Because you’re mine to take care of now.” He leaned in close so that his lips were brushing her ear. “It’s okay to stumble and fall. I’ll be here to catch you. I’ll take care of you Jaci, I promise.”

Xander squeezed the words out through a tight throat and then sat on the edge of the bed. He settled her in his lap and tucked her into him, wrapping his arms around her to keep her warm and let her know she was safe. After a few beats of stillness, Jaci started shaking her head. Almost imperceptibly at first, but within seconds, a sob escaped her. “I don’t want this. Let me die next time,” she cried. “Please. Please,” she sobbed. “I don’t want to feel like this. I don’t want to feel it anymore.”

“That’s enough,” Xander growled. “I don’t want to hear any more of this. I’m going to take care of you, Jaci. I’ll help you chase the pain away. We’ll do it together.”

About the Author:

As an avid reader, I’m always on the hunt for that next amazing story. Those unforgettable books with the perfect balance of action and passion are hard to find and even harder to write. My hope is that Being Amber has given readers a few hours of happiness while they savor the gradual discovery of each character and how their story unfolds. I usually fall in love with the hero and heroine in the books I write by the time I’ve written the last page. If I’ve done my job well, you’ve fallen in love, too. So many times I find myself not wanting a book to end.  I crave more of the story, wanting to know what happens after the happily ever after. If you’re like me and want to read more about Xander and Jaci, the epilogue to Being Amber is posted on my website at www.RyanBooks.net. Stop in and find out how their story ultimately ends before moving on to Jordan’s story in Being Sapphire. And from the bottom of my heart, thank you for reading.

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