Monday, February 28, 2011

UNTIL MIDNIGHT has a dangerous man. Here's a nibble

Thrillers are a special cup of tea...and the men who star in them must be strong, knowledgeable, agile and...oh, yes...yummy.
Today, Desiree Holt & I debut our second in our NEMESIS series, UNTIL MIDNIGHT.
Who is the male star? ooooooouuuuie.
Adam Molloy who definitely does resemble luscious Jimmy Thomas, seen here sans every stitch.
Who is Adam?
A special blend of man.
Can you guess where he came from?
What he does for a living?
Desiree and I guarantee you Adam is a different breed of jungle cat.
Come, take a guess!
Meanwhile, do hope you enjoy all of UNTIL MIDNIGHT!
Our heroine, Nicole Welles certainly does.
And here's a nibble for you: (Copyright 2011, Holt and DeLand)

She tasted like sun and sand and suppressed fear. She felt like hard earth, the muscles beneath his fingers taut with training and tension. But her mouth? Her mouth that had driven him to a ripe hot erection was supple and sensual. And so very giving.

She made a little sound in the back of her throat as if she hated to surrender but didn’t give a damn if she did.

Just how he wanted her. Conflicted but trusting. He kissed her again, fierce as thunder, moving over her mouth like he’d never let go.

She broke away, her head falling back, exposing her throat to him.

And he couldn’t refuse such an offer.

“We can’t do this,” she objected and pushed at him, even though her fingers tore at his polo shirt.

“We can. Must.” He nibbled his way down the strong column of her throat.

“We don’t know each other!”

“Of course, we do. I’m the man who just saved your life.” He pressed his lips to the hollow where her pulse beat, fast and hot. “You’re saying thank you,” he murmured as he let her take his shirt up over his head.

She let out a huge laugh. “That’s big payback, Mr. Molloy.”

“Adam.” He licked at her collar bone.

She sighed and sought out the button on his khakis. “An Israeli from the Mossad with an Irish name?”

He caressed the curves of her shoulders, his lips brushing her silky skin there. “Mom’s from Jersey and lives in Jerusalem. Daddy was from Boston and Londonderry.”

“Wow,” she said languidly, trying to catch her balance as he bent her backwards in his arms and tasted the center of her deep cleavage. “Bet he was with the IRA.”

“A rebel with a cause. Best bomber the Brits never caught.” He spread his legs, cupped her sweet tight ass cheeks and nuzzled the top of one full firm breast.

“Is that why you’re Mossad?”

“Runs in the blood.” He nodded and nudged her bikini top slightly with his lips. “What runs in yours?”

“Apache warriors and Italian sculptors.”

That had him smiling against her fragrant skin. “The lady is hot blooded.”

She skimmed her hands up his shoulders, one set of fingers twining in his hair. “Injustice makes me mad.”

“See?” he offered, relieved to learn that she had personal motivation for what she did. “Birds of a feather. Makes us perfect partners.”

She chuckled as he untied the string of her bra and stared at her full proud breasts. Christ, what gorgeous nipples. Dark rose and pouting. He could hardly wait to see her pussy. He walked her backward to the wall, where he seized her wrists and forced them up alongside her face.

“You know this is crazy,” she objected in a whisper.

“Crazier if I walked away without you—or this,” he murmured as he shut her up with another kiss. “Last chance, Nicole Welles, to put me out the door.”

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Night Owl 4.75 for SOMETHING NEW!



Reviewed by Terri over at NIGHT OWL REVIEWS, SOMETHING NEW struck her as something new and yum yum!

Happy and sharing!

Scott McCoy definitely noticed his younger brother’s future mother-in-law the first time he saw her. She didn’t fit any motherly picture he ever envisioned but she sure fit his view of a lover. Raine Fontunato was toned, long legged and intelligent. What more could a man want?

Raine is 11 years older than Scott and she knows she shouldn’t be attracted to such a younger man. She has plans to head to Italy to find herself some sexy Italian man and to have fun, just as soon as her daughter’s wedding is over. Tomorrow is the big day and Raine’s tickets are bought.

Scott knows that tonight is the night he will gather his nerve and ask Raine to join him in his room. Will he get shot down before they have a chance to explore what may be? Raine’s tempted by Scott but does she dare to take the chance? They will be seeing each other for years to come with her daughter marrying his brother.

This quick, short story is filled with emotion and passion. Only 50 pages but lots of story comes across keeping it interesting and gives it some depth.

The characters, Raine and Scott, are not only the primary characters but they’re thoughts, actions and desires fill most of those pages. Through these things, they become more than just a younger man and an older woman. They become people with real dreams and personalities. There are some secondary characters but except for Raine’s daughter, they do not contribute much to the story.

This story is part of a series that is based around Raine’s daughter’s wedding. I’m assuming that the first book was her story. This story is set at the wedding venue, a hotel, the night prior to the wedding. By the finish of this story, it’s the morning of the wedding. Because the story is so short, I’m thinking that you could probably read the first book, the second book and perhaps future books to get the full timeline of this wedding. However, you don’t have to read the first book to thoroughly enjoy the second book.

Raine and Scottt have a lot of sexual attraction. When they explore it, expect some hot, graphic sex. Nothing is held back as Scott tries to convince Raine that she doesn’t need to go to Italy to have her fantasies played out and those fantasies don’t have to end.

I liked this fun glimpse into a side of a wedding that I’ve never seen before. Raine may be a mom but she’s still all woman. Scott may be younger but he knows what he wants. Reading how these two wonderful characters figure out how much they are willing to explore may ignite more than they expect.

Now, I wonder who’s dreams come true further along in this wedding because love or lust is definitely in the air!

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Talking about why cowboys, sheriffs, Rangers are great erotica heroes


Ever wonder why we are so attracted to tough cowboys, sheriffs and Rangers?
I have a few ideas, especially because I live among them here in south Texas!
Come on over to Goddesses of Storytelling blog today where I am offering up my views:

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Nibble on my newest cherry, I CAUGHT THE SHERIFF

I stopped for gas one day and saw this man getting his own. For his BIG truck. With his Stetson on. Jeans starched and the crease just so pressed. Shirt, white and crisp. All dressed up, Texas All Man Style. Yes, ma'am. We do grow 'em like this down here.
I always say when I travel that I can pick out the gate where the plane for San Antonio is not by reading the screens. No, ma'am. But by finding the gate where all the men are dressed in Stetsons, jeans and damn good boots.
Here's a nibble of Lex Coltrane, rancher, attracted to the local sheriff, a gal after our own hearts for her sass and spunk: (Copyright 2011, Cerise DeLand. All rights reserved.)

“I’m asking no favors outside your bedroom.” One of his thumbs rubbed her lower lip, pulling it down. Man, he was dying to get inside every bit of her.

“Good.” She nipped him. “You won’t get any.”

He leaned forward, skimming his nose down along the warm, elegant column of throat. “But I want every one you’ve got to give inside it.”

She rubbed her hips against his. “Guaranteed. Follow me.”

Pulling out of his arms, she took the long hallway at a clip.

“We just passed the stairs, lady. Where are we going?”

“Getting supplies.”

Supplies. Condoms? Christ, never thought about that. She’d better have ’em. He was as unprepared for this as a sixteen-year-old in a drive-in parking lot.

But when she dropped his hand and reached in the refrigerator, he thought he’d die of ecstasy. She brought out two handfuls of ice cubes, then plunked them in a large bowl. Next, she produced a can of whipped cream and a jar of strawberry jam. From her pantry came a jar of butterscotch ice cream topping.

By this time, he had his hands on his hips, doubling over with laughter. “You planned this?”

“A girl can dream, can’t she?”

“Hell, darlin’, you look serious but you shock me outta my socks!” He grabbed her by the waist. “Gather up that stuff.”

“You like my menu?” She gave him a wide-eyed challenge.

“We’ll see when I lick it off you.” That’s when he up-ended her over his shoulder.

She screeched.

He swatted her behind. “Cut that out or I’ll drop you and that would not be sexy!”

“Wait! Wait!” She pummeled his back. “Turn around. I need the ice!”

“Got it?” he barked and when she yelped, he pivoted for her stairs. “Let’s get this fireworks started.”

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

I CAUGHT THE SHERIFF

HE IS DELICIOUS, NO?
I thought so, too.
Living in southwest Texas I see many men who really do look like this.
Stetsons, belt buckles, boots and...yeah, muscles. Most are not shirtless, but sometimes in the summer Texas heat, oh, yes.
Hope you enjoy my Quickie with a sheriff who is...a woman!
(We do have them! Few. But still, they do create a ruckus. THIS one does.)
Hope you enjoy I CAUGHT THE SHERIFF out at EC today:

Monday, February 14, 2011

Today's the day, Lovebug

Ready to do the checklist?
Wine.
Food.
Chocolate.
Flowers.
Card.
New lingerie? Or...NO lingerie?
Gift?
Enjoy the only day of the year dedicated to love.
Should be more of them, shouldn't there?
Ahhh. That's what good romantic fiction is for...to fill in the hours when romance seems impractical!

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Great lovers of the world eat...

What would Casanova eat to celebrate Valentine's Day? Fish. He lived in Venice.
Josephine? Bread. Hey, she lived in Paris.
Antony and Cleopatra? Olives. They lived...well, everywhere around the Mediterranean.
So to give you fish, bread and olives, I give you a fish stew with an old world flavor. Make it the day before. Buy some fantabulous French bread and viola!
Buy at the store:
1/2 lb. white fish, such as cod
1/2 lb. shrimp
1/2 lb. scallops, small
1/2 lb. mussels (clean them in a cool bath at home)
1 can diced tomatoes
red wine (not expensive) to cook with
garlic (3-6 cloves, diced)
1 small white onion, thinly sliced
1 can chicken broth
olive oil
What to do? (best to create the day before!)
In the same pot, saute garlic and thinly sliced onion
then, saute shrimp, scallops, and white fish
Add tomatoes, 1/2 c red wine and chicken broth
Bring to a slow simmer.
Add the mussels
Let simmer for 30 minutes until the shells open.
Toss on top freshly minced Italian parsley!
You are done!
If it is the day before, cool the soup and refrigerate.
Then pull out 1 hour before serving, and gently bring back up to a steady simmer.
Serve with a great white or red wine, marvelous bread and olives!

Friday, February 11, 2011

Fast finger food for Valentine's

No time to prep?
I understand.
Try this recipe for happy times on Monday:
Buy at the store:
20 large shrimp, fresh, in shells (Buy the size 16-20)
large jar of bbq sauce
small jar of mango chipolte sauce
1/2 pound bacon
Then, just before happy hour:
peel the shrimp
cook the bacon to 1/2 done
mix 1/3 c. of bbq sauce with 3 T. chipolte and add chili flakes and cayenne to taste! (Not too much or you will DIE!)
Cut bacon strips in half, wrap around shrimp and put on skewers
Cook on medium heat on grill. Baste with sauce.
Save half of the sauce for dipping.
RICH!
DECADENT!
Filling, too.
With good beer, yummy.

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Feeling decadent and loverly in no time

No time to prep for the big day?
What if you bought:
1 avocado
1 large ripe tomato
4-5 green onions
1 jar picante sauce
a bag of tortilla chips
Then chopped up the veggies minutes before your Valentine arrives and put out the chips with a sangria to match?
Sangria is easy too.
A nice Cava (sparkling white from Spain).
Make honey-coated berries (whatever looks fresh, like blue berries or strawberries) the day before. Approximately 1/4 c. honey mixed in berries.

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

More food for the soul of your Valentine

Are you a vegetarian?
I have a recipe I love. Spanish. Easy. Fast. A meal all by itself. Made in large frying pan.
What to buy?
1 lb. potatoes
8 eggs
1 large onion
Olive oil--approx. 1/4 c.
salt/pepper
The secret to success with this dish is to thinly slice the potatoes and the onion. If you have a slicer, you are in better shape than if you slice by hand.
Heat your skillet on medium high heat, then add oil and your slices of potato and onion. Cook the veggies until they begin to brown.
Beat eggs, add salt and pepper, and add to your veggies in frying pan.
Let eggs gently cook (about 20 minutes) and set all around your veggies and hopefully (!!!) you will be able to flip the entire thing so that you get a marvelous crust on the top, too.
Serve hot with all your other goodies. French bread? Salsa?
Perhaps add a nice Rioja from Spain!

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

A first course for your Valentine?

I know I am bad. I gave you the chocolate for the dessert course yesterday...but I promise to be good now!
Your first course?
Brie. Very ripe.
Pears.
Honey.
Pecans. Tablespoon of brown sugar, dash of cinnamon and 1 teaspoon of butter.
Flatbread crackers.
And perhaps a light, sparkling rose? Mumm from California?
How to serve all this?
A few days before the 14th, buy your brie and one bosc pear (the gorgeous ochre colored one) and let them ripen. You know grocers: they put the fruit out long before it is ripe. And the brie should come to the party softig, too.
Then, on the day, remove your brie from the refrigerator about an hour before show time. Put it on a pretty plate. Decorate with your crackers.
Then in a Pam-coated baking dish, cut your pear in half, remove seeds and pit.
Heat oven to 350 degrees.
In a Pyrex dish, put butter, cinnamon, brown sugar and maple syrup if you like, and melt it all.
Pour over the pear, ,which is face up, and bake for approx. 15-20 minutes.
Kitchen smells wonderful. You look brilliant.
First course, DONE.
Tomorrow, more....

Monday, February 7, 2011

7 Days to prep for your Valentine. Day 1 Recipe

Getting ready for your Valentine? Want to make it memorable? Feed him (her) very well? Let him drink the best?
For those who would rather stay IN to celebrate, I have a few recipes for you, 1 a day for the next 7! Not difficult. Very scrumptious.
First up, dessert, of course, because your Valentine has a sweet tooth? For you? For chocolate? And you are many things, but never a cook?
CHOCOLATE SAUCE for Ice Cream.
Made with 4 ingredients and a microwave.
In about 20 minutes.
Ready?
BUY:
1 bag of caramels (14 oz.)
1 bag of chocolate chips (14 oz.)*
1 8 oz. can of condensed milk
2 sticks, yes, 1/2 lb. of real butter. (no subs.)
MIX it all up in a microwave proof bowl.
Melt together on HIGH at 2 minute intervals for a total of 12-14 minutes. Or until all caramels are melted and chips, too.
Remove from micro. Stir for a few minutes to ensure all lumps are gone and all luscious butter is integrated to the sauce.
Cool at and to room temperature.
Then ladle into a glass jar, Corningware container or plastic container. (put a spoon in there before you pour the hot liquid in--or it will shatter!)
Refrigerate.
You are ready to buy fantastic ice cream to go with!
Perhaps, you might want delicate little cookies for dipping into that sauce, too. Shortbread or lemon drops. Nothing iced as you must heat the sauce a bit and the icing would drop off your cookies. Or perhaps you would like to...um...chase the crumbs about. Whatever you wish, bella!
*If you want to make this a tad more heart healthy, buy the dark chocolate chips. OMG. You will not be sorry.
And you will have sauce for lots of other things besides the ice cream. (Wiggling brows, here.)
Tomorrow, another easy, fast, decadent indulgence for the Day of Your Lover!

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

I came, I saw, I ate, I drank. Napa at its best.



My husband and I plus our son and daughter-in-law visited Napa California for a week long journey among the vineyards. We enjoyed ourselves tremendously and ate our way through many course luncheons and dinners with superb wines.
In one 5 star restuarant, FISH STORY, we had their wine on tap. Intriguing idea, no?
Another marvelous restaurant we dined in was BOUCHON, which was like going to Paris. French concierge--and marvelous French onion soup, included.
I do have a pix of that and will try to get it up here!
Another we would recommend is RUTHERFORD GRILL where their Texas ribs do rival ours here in San Antonio.
For Italian, we had late lunch one day at BOTTEGA. The bread alone and the freshly pressed olive oil could make your day.
Above pictures in order are: Gates to LUNA Vineyards. The cellars for the reserve of ROBERT MONDAVI, whose tours are superb for the education and the wine analysis afterward. Finally, a vineyard. Mondavi's, I would say.
Summary in stats?
Visited 11 wineries.
Did 3 full tours of wineries. (Learned a lot while sipping.)
Joined 3 wine clubs. (Yeah, well, a girl has to have the best, does she not?)
Ate at 5 star restaurants for lunch and dinner for more than 7 days AND DID NOT gain an ounce. (How is that possible? NO clue, Dear Reader. NO CLUE.)
Froze in the 30 degree weather, which even they in Napa declared was unusual.
SPENT buckets of $$$.
Got tons of material for a new story. What is it? No clue on that, either. Still pondering that one!
In the meantime, here are a few pix for you of the gorgeous wine country.