Cover reveal and Giveaway winner

First things first, congratulations to Judy Hubbard, who won a copy of Too Hot To Handle in my release day giveaway. Hope you enjoy reading it :-)

I'm also incredibly excited to be able to reveal my cover for Goldie And Her Bears.

I love it! It encompasses my naughty tale well. *cough*

I have just completed first edits for Goldie and all I will say is. "The bears made me."

*blush*

This is the first m/f/m menage that I have written and I have quite surprised myself, how much I enjoyed writing it.

I leave you with a little teaser. Be warned it's HOT!

“Jesus, Goldie—safe word.” He framed her head with his hands and the tenderness she saw warring with lust and ruthless determination in his once again golden eyes blew her away.

“Teddy.”

He blinked and Jacob laughed from his position at the bottom of the bed.

“Oh you have no idea how perfect that is, sub.” Jason smiled and Goldie smiled right back at him, happiness suffusing her at that moment, before the first swipe of Jacobs tongue made her eyes roll back in ecstasy. Jacob licked her slit to clit, one finger hooked into her anus and she would have bowed straight off the bed, restrains notwithstanding, had Jason not pushed her hips back down on the cushion. He kissed her deeply, reiterating his demand for her not to come. She nodded through gritted teeth, even as her body bucked and climbed along each rung of exquisite torture, each swipe of Jacob’s oh-so-talented tongue represented.

Jason’s smile turned wicked and he kissed himself down her neck to her breasts, leaving a trail of fire in its wake. His warm hands massaged the aching globes, and Goldie screamed when he bit down hard on one swollen nipple. Jason soothed the sting with his hot tongue and sucked strongly. He murmured his approval, his hot breath on the stiff nub making it thrust into the air even more. He repeated the process to the other one, until Goldie was literally sobbing incoherently. Jacob eased his frantic lapping at her pussy and inserted two more fingers into her forbidden passage. The sharp pain brought her arousal down a few notches and Jason kissed her again.

“Easy, my sweet girl, this next bit will hurt, but trust me, it’ll be worth it.”

Bouncing back from rock bottom - guest blog

BOUNCING BACK FROM ROCK BOTTOM

Author Elizabeth Kyne remembers her lowest moment

and how she came back from it

It was December 2008. I’d just finished writing a novel after taking the mad and inadvisable step of going part time at my day job. I took the first three chapters and an outline to my writing group and hoped to receive some notes which would help me polish the manuscript before sending it to publishers. The notes all pretty much said the same thing – they hated it.

When I say ‘they hated it’, I’m probably being  a bit melodramatic. What they actually said was more along the lines of they didn’t like the story or the characters. I distinctly remember one person (once described as “the Simon Cowell of the group”) declare that the novel “clearly hadn’t been thought through” and tossed the manuscript across the table with a dismissive flick of the wrist.

I was a little bruised. Not because I thought I’d written a multi-prize-winning masterpiece that had been damned by a bunch of ignoramuses, but because I didn’t know what to do next. I had thought I would emerge with a clear idea of how I could improve what I had written. Instead, I had no idea at all. I was stuck; and I was despondent.

A week later, I turned forty. The week after that I got ill. I had one of those ghastly winter viruses that knocks you for six and keeps coming back to knock you down again. Just as I started to feel better, I got worse. It lasted for weeks.

So, there I was. I’d given up my full time job, I’d rented out my house and moved back in with my parents – all to write a novel. And what did I have to show for it? A manuscript that didn’t work. This was my lowest moment.

One of the things I decided to do was to treat that manuscript as a practice run. There was – to use a cliché – no use crying over spilt milk (although, in truth, I may have moped about for a few weeks feeling sorry for myself) and I simply had to keep at it. A lot of people told me how harsh my writing group had been and said things like “people can be so cruel”. Well, no, they’d actually done what I’d asked them to do and given me an honest opinion. What I needed to do was to take that feedback and make use of it. Not to endlessly re-write my current manuscript (which can be terribly soul destroying), but to do something new with the lessons I’d learnt.

I should, perhaps, rewind a little here. Although it was probably naive of me to think that I could just set aside some time and write a novel at the drop of a hat, I’d actually had some writing success before taking on the day job, with six non-fiction books published, a seven-year run of writing for magazines and an awful lot of fiction writing in my spare time. What I hadn’t counted on was my skills being a bit rusty. I had to re-learn my craft. My writing group had been extremely helpful in that and, despite getting an overly-blunt critique from ‘Simon Cowell’, I remain extremely grateful.

The other thing I did was get out the credit card and book myself a couple of writers’ courses. A writer should never stop learning or trying to improve her craft and, although some beginners courses can be a bit basic for the experienced writer, the Arvon Foundation course I went on was an incredible boost. I had brilliant tutors in Malorie Blackman and Melvin Burgess and people genuinely liked the things I was writing. They weren’t just being kind to protect my writer ego, either; it was a genuine response to the improvements I had made in those months since receiving a critique from my writers’ group.

The second course I went was a two week intensive writing-fest in Oregon. I must have been a bit bonkers at the time because my credit card really took a hit for that one, as it meant flying from the UK to America and having faith that the Masterclass taught by Dean Wesley-Smith and Kristine Kathryn Rusch would be valuable. It turned out to be so very much worth it. I learnt a bunch of stuff about writing skills and so much more. At the end of it, I sat down with Kris and talked about my work and she told me “you’ll be very successful” and made me write it down in my notes. It’s something I try to remember, especially when I’m feeling low and suffering a lack of confidence.

Another thing I tried out during those two weeks was dipping my toes into other genres. We were asked to write a lot of pitches for novels and I took it as an opportunity to try something different. I wrote a pitch for a novel called If Wishes Were Husbands which ignited the class with enthusiasm. When I got home, after I finished the project I was on at the time, I sat down to write it – and it’s this book which is finally bringing me some success. I don’t have the funds to move back into my own house yet, but I’m getting there.

There are many things I have learnt since that dismal Christmas and New Year where I was ill, despondent and floundering. The first is that a good writer is always learning and should strive to constantly improve her craft. Secondly, I learnt that it’s important to take risks in life if you want to succeed and one failure doesn’t meant that the risk wasn’t worthwhile, it just gives you more experience and more knowledge to put into practice when you try again. Which leads me to the third lesson, which turns out to be that old cliché: “If, at first, you don’t succeed, try try again”. Because I so easily could have fallen into depression and never wrote anything again (and, to be honest, for a while that’s what I did), but I decided to make an effort to turn things round, to learn by my mistakes and to keep going. Now, I have one book out and am writing another book. If that demonstrates anything it’s that there is only one way to go when you’re at rock bottom, and that is to make the effort to climb back up.

*****

Rachel re-invents herself when she moves back to her home town of Aylesbury; with a new job, a new house and a new haircut. But people’s eyes glaze over when she tells them about her life as a forty-something singleton who works in accounts. So why not spice things up a bit? Why not tell her new hairdresser and her new friends about her fantastic husband? Everyone wants to hear about Darren, the man who cooks her amazing meals, cleans the house and takes her to bed for orgasmic sex three times a night! What a shame he doesn't exist…

…Until she comes home one night and finds Darren sitting in her lounge. And everything she said becomes true: from his sensuous food to his skill in bed. So real, that she believes it.

Not as if living with a perfect is man is… well, perfect…

She can’t find anything because every time she puts something down, he tidies it away. Then there’s the shock of the credit card bill from buying all that gourmet food. Not to mention the sex! Three times a night is great at first, but sometimes all she wants at the end of the day is a sandwich and some sleep.

Then Rachel decides that Darren has to go - and that’s when her troubles really begin.

Elizabeth Kyne takes the absurdities of the modern woman's quest for love and turns them into an enjoyable romp. She finds the comic in everyday situations, from buying a dress to experimenting with hair dye at home. While, underneath, she comments on the pressure to find the perfect husband and how that quest is doomed for us all.

PAPERBACK

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wishes-Were-Husbands-Elizabeth-Kyne/dp/1908340010/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1319364974&sr=1-3

http://www.amazon.com/Wishes-Were-Husbands-Elizabeth-Kyne/dp/1908340010/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1319365757&sr=1-3

EBOOK

http://www.amazon.co.uk/If-Wishes-Were-Husbands-ebook/dp/B005S66A8M/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1319364974&sr=1-2

http://www.amazon.com/If-Wishes-Were-Husbands-ebook/dp/B005S66A8M/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1319365757&sr=1-3

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/92446

http://itunes.apple.com/gb/book/if-wishes-were-husbands/id475075856?mt=11

http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/if-wishes-were-husbands/id475075856?mt=11

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/if-wishes-were-husbands-elizabeth-kyne/1106913246

http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-ifwisheswerehusbands-606059-150.html

*****

Elizabeth Kyne trained to be a radio journalist and spent her early working years reading news bulletins and writing for magazines. Later, after learning the meaning of “mortgage” and “gas bill”, she decided to do the sensible thing and drop the freelance lifestyle to get a proper job. The job, however, all went horribly wrong and she returned to her first love of writing, and worked on several novels before finding success with “If Wishes Were Husbands”.

http://www.elizabethkyne.co.uk

http://www.facebook.com/elizabeth.kyne1

Release day and Giveaway!

Bounce, bounce, bounce, bounce, bounce....

I don't think I can sit still today,  cause I am far too excited.

My sexy Italian firefighter Alex is yours to own! *big grin* Too Hot To Handle released today and I am too excited for words.

When I first thought about what I could write about for NaNoWriMo 2010 Alex popped into my head. Well, a vague idea of Alex. Then I went in search of some visual inspiration and found it in Joe Mangianello

And somehow and I can't think why *giggles* the words flowed.

Now Too Hot To Handle has had several re-writes since that original draft and the heat level has increased considerably *ahem* as my writing evolved into the steamy stuff I now do, so enjoy.

I am giving one lucky commenter the chance to win a PDF copy. All you have to do is follow my blog and leave a comment.

To get a little more of an insight into Alex check out Raven McAllen's interview with the man himself here. I am also on Tory Michael's blog today talking all things writing.

For now I shall leave you with another little snippet from Too Hot To Handle

When firefighter Alex Giovanni returns to his old neighborhood to fulfill family obligations, he is reunited with the woman inhabiting his dreams. The sexy siren ran out on him after one explosive night many years ago. Hiding behind her sensible clothes she portrays the perfect image of Miss Prim and Proper and Alex vows to unlock the passionate woman he remembers. Mixing business with pleasure has never been so much fun.

Kitty Jenkins’ orderly life gets turned upside down when Alex walks into her school. Their passion filled night four years ago has left her with a secret that threatens to tear them apart. Giving into Alex is out of the question, regardless of how much her body craves his touch.

When secrets spill and disaster strikes, can their passion turn into love?

Available from Evernight and Amazon

Excerpt

Alex knocked the brandy down in one go. All his, was she? If only that were true. But she was here, and she was making arrangements to have Noah looked after. She was so damn hot in the prim-and-proper skirt and blouse that she wore to school. Just watching her had him shifting in his suddenly tight jeans. Down, boy. She wanted to talk, remember. But then, they could always talk afterwards. He closed his eyes, recalling the way she had trembled in his arms earlier, and his smile turned wicked. This was long overdue. What he needed was to lose himself in her soft curves, and maybe then he would be able to sleep tonight without reliving that damn fire every time he closed his eyes.

****

 Alex’s gaze scorched her back whilst she was on the phone getting Noah’s care sorted out for tonight. Thank goodness for her neighbor. Gwen readily agreed to get Noah from nursery.

“Don’t you worry about a thing, my dear. Noah and I will be just fine. You take your time with that fire fighter of yours. I will make sure Noah has some dinner, and he can stay with me as long as it takes. All night if need be. I do love having him here.”

Heat rose in Kitty’s cheeks, and she heard Alex’s low chuckle when she answered Gwen. “He’s not my fire fighter, and I’ll be over as soon as I can. I have no intention of staying the night, Gwen.”

“Now that is a shame.” Alex’s low whisper right behind her made her jump. When had he gotten that close? She felt her hair lifted away from her neck, and replaced with Alex’s firm mouth as he rained kisses on the sensitive skin, whilst one hand reached around her to take the phone off her.

“Hey, Gwen. Alex here. Thanks for this…. Yes, I will. Don’t you worry…. I think so, too.”

Before she could stop him, he ended the call and threw the phone on the leather settee just in front of them. She turned around to look at him. “What do you think you’re doing, Alex?”

“I’d have thought that’s obvious.”

“Alex, we need to talk.”

“Talk is overrated, Kitty”

 She took a step back from the intense heat she saw in his eyes and swallowed nervously as Alex chuckled.

“Thought you were all mine.”

Oh, me and my big mouth! She spotted the bag of cards she had brought over and, sidestepping Alex, hastily grabbed it. She held the bag in front of her as though it was a shield.

“Urm, you haven’t looked at these. The kids made them for Lewis’s family, and—” The words stuck in her throat when Alex stopped where he was, and the sadness that suddenly came off him in waves was almost palpable.

He stepped away from her and poured himself yet another glass of brandy, one hip balanced on the kitchen counter, his knuckles white where they grabbed the decanter.

Kitty’s heart went out to him, and she dropped the bag. She crossed the distance between them and put one hand on his arm. “I’m sorry. Was it truly awful?”

Alex nodded grimly. “He shouldn’t have died. He was so young, Kitty, so goddamn young, his whole life in front of him. He was their only son. Imagine that. And I was the one who sent them into that building. I underestimated how unstable that side was. This is my fault, and there they were looking to me to tell them how he died.”

He reached once again for the bottle, but Kitty wouldn’t let him.

“It was an accident, Alex, a tragic accident. You can’t blame yourself; you were right there with them, weren’t you?”

She almost didn’t see Alex’s barely-there nod.

“And you said the initial investigation showed that it could not have been prevented. You told me that only yesterday. So it’s not your fault. It’s the fault of whoever the thug was that set fire to that lot in the first place. Think of all the lives you did save. All those neighboring houses that would have gone up in flames, too. All those families whose homes you saved. All the lives you’ve touched over the years, Alex.”

She moved closer still, taking his head between her hands to make him look at her. She was not going to let him take the blame for this, no way.

“You’re a hero, Alex. You all are, and I’m sure Lewis’s family will get some small amount of closure over this.  He will never be forgotten.”

****

“I wish I could believe that.”

Alex was stunned by the sincerity in Kitty’s voice, by those green eyes willing him to see her point of view. Not in his wildest dreams would he have thought anyone would ever fight in his corner like this.

“Believe it, Alex. Surely your family—”

“Did they look supportive to you, when I had to leave the party?”

“Well, no, but that’s only because they love you and don’t want to see you get hurt. That’s understandable, isn’t it? And Francesca and Nonna seem supportive, and your mother, well, she is just being a mother. I can understand that. You just want to keep your baby safe, can’t blame her for that, Alex.”

“I’m not blaming her, Kitty. I just don’t like her methods.”

“Which are?”

Alex sighed to himself.

“Alex, tell me what’s going on.”

Enough of this! He did the only thing he could do. He pulled her towards him and shut her up with a kiss.

End of an era

Today marks the end of an Era and the beginning of a new chapter in my personal life.

As you will know Hubby and I have a brood of nine children. I have had the privilege of being a mummy now for almost twenty one years and I wouldn't change a thing. I love my brood, even when I'm ranting at them and need match sticks to prop my eyes open, because the baby has had one of those nights.

However, even hubby and I have reached our limit and this afternoon sees him having a vasectomy. He was going to have one after baby number eight, but I got the wobbles and asked him not to. It seemed too final a move, and I'm so glad we didn't go through with it four years ago, because we wouldn't have little budda now.

This time however, there are no wobbles, just a certain amount of relief. It's tinged with a little sadness that there never will be another baby in this house, apart from grand babies in years to come, but we both know that this time we are ready for that final step.

Everyone has been ribbing hubby mercilessly about the procedure and I will have a giggle when he comes out walking like John Wayne, lol. However, I'm also grateful to my amazing hubby for his willingness to get it done. I can tell he's nervous, well you would be, wouldn't you, and also a  little introspective today. It really is the end of an era for us!

So, this is just a little blog to mark the occasion and a big 

to my amazing and wonderful hubby!

Writers or Puppet Masters?

Writers or puppet masters?

By Karina Buchanan

Amidst all the hard work us writers do on the road to publication, we can't forget what it is we love about this profession. Personally, I enjoy it when the first seeds of an idea come to me – the bare bones of a story – and usually this starts with the image in my mind of the hero. Of course, the heroine deserves a special mention too but I have a special place in my heart for all my heroes.

            Whether it's the dashing Mr Darcy in Pride and Prejudice…

Or the sexy Eric Northman in Charlaine Harris's True Blood novels…

…we all love our fictional heroes. There's nothing better than reading about a handsome leading man's journey to true love. Oh wait, there is – writing about one!

            That's the fun part of being a writer, that ability to create our ideal man from scratch. We sculpt their drool worthy physique, give them the colouring of our choice and of course it gives us the perfect excuse to ogle pictures of hot men. It's research!

            Do we want the strong silent type? Or the kind of man who knows what he wants and isn't afraid to go for it? We choose. We give them the background that dictates that personality and create a whole world around them.

            Sometimes I do feel a bit guilty about lumbering them with angst-ridden pasts but it would be boring to read about a perfect man. A few flaws make them a little bit vulnerable and even easier to fall in love with.

Of course, sometimes they fight back and the character takes me off in a completely different direction from the one I intended.

Take Matt King from Daring to Love, for instance. When he first came into my head he was just a gorgeous daredevil with amazing blue eyes, who prim Andrea Macleave couldn't help falling for.

But it takes more than physical appearance to hold a reader's interest and he needed some depth. I had to find out what drove him to live such an adrenaline fuelled lifestyle. I mean what makes a good looking man want to throw himself out of planes or off buildings and call it fun?

Bit by bit, Matt revealed a deeper character through each traumatic layer of his past. Once I was done torturing him, I redeemed myself by pairing him up with Andrea, a woman who could make him love again and leave his troubled past behind.

My latest hero is proving equally as stubborn as Matt. Henri, my suave Frenchman, really does not think he has room in his life for junior doctor, Lola but I intend to prove him wrong J

So, who's your perfect hero? And what attributes do you like/dislike about your leading men?

Andrea Macleave is determined to lose her 'Miss Stuffy Knickers' nickname with a rappel down Ireland's famous Europa Hotel, for the hospital where she works. Risk taking goes against everything she believes in and it takes a kiss from her hunky instructor to send her on her way. With her wild side let loose, a one night stand with the action man seems the perfect antidote to her staid life.

Part-time charity volunteer, Matt King, hopes to put the disastrous hook-up behind him. That's easier said than done when he meets the woman in question at his workplace. There's clearly a powerful attraction between them but he's fighting his past demons by living life on the edge.

With each of them determined to let their past ruin their chance for happiness, how can an adrenaline junkie and a control freak ever make it work?

Excerpt:

"I should have known you couldn't handle your drink." With the devil in him, Matt pushed the buttons guaranteed to re-activate his Andie.

A frown, a purse of full pink lips and she took the bait. "I'll have a whiskey if you're buying." The determination to prove him wrong blinded her to the goggled looks she garnered and the sudden quiet at the table.

He couldn't help his smile getting wider, the more irritated she became. "One whiskey, coming up. Jimmy give me a hand getting these in, will you?"

"I've a good mind to get you fired!" Matt hadn't noticed Andrea following him over to the bar. At the sound of her sexy, pissed-off voice, he slowly turned his head.

She stood, ram-rod straight, giving him clear appreciation of long, lean legs. They seemed to go on forever in those spiky black heels she had swapped for her trainers, even if she still had to look up at his six foot four frame. The figure-hugging jeans would bring a grown man to his knees but he would prefer to see her in something to better show off those pins.

The rose tint in her cheeks gave away her embarrassment at being so openly admired and coming across as a letch was not how he wished to be perceived. Nevertheless, he did enjoy throwing her off guard.

"You should be thanking me really." He wound her up and let her go.

"Thanking you?" She crossed her arms across her chest, drawing the V of her top down to give a tantalizing peek at her cleavage. "I should have you arrested for the way you behaved, never mind getting you fired."

"It got you over the edge, didn't it? You were so caught up, being ticked off at me that you didn't have time to think about what you were doing."

"In that case, turn around."

"Why?"

"So I can slap the gold star on your backside for a job well done! Do you seriously think that's a good enough reason for your behavior? Is that the way you carry on with all your clients?"

"Only the pretty, obstinate ones. As for having me fired, well," he backed his elbows onto the bar, "I do the charity rappels voluntarily. It's difficult to replace a trained instructor willing to work for free but if I caused you so much offense, do what you must."

Her delicious mouth opened and closed and he was assaulted with memories of tasting her. And how good it would be to do it again.

"Since it's for charity and all, I suppose I'll let the matter drop. Forget it happened." The defensive arms slackened and fell to her sides. With the thaw setting in, Matt impulsively stepped forward, to invade her personal space.

"Are you sure that's what you want, Andie?" If he could forget his rules for one night, she could stop pretending she didn't want him.

Instead of seeing the look of longing staring back at him, her pupils narrowed. "Where do you get off calling me 'Andie', anyway? My name is Andrea." She lifted the tumbler of the finest whiskey from the bar, knocked it back and stalked back to her friends.

Matt King never was one to back away from a challenge.

****

Daring to Love is available to buy on Amazon - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Daring-to-Love-ebook/dp/B006UITZ5W/ref=pd_rhf_se_p_t_1

You can contact Karina here - http://karina-buchanan.blogspot.com/

Or on Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=100002715462350

Weekend Dirty Dozen

It's been a while, but the dirty dozen is back!

This weekends twelve comes from my upcoming release Too Hot To Handle

When firefighter Alex Giovanni returns to his old neighbourhood to fulfill family obligations, he is reunited with the woman inhabiting his dreams. The sexy siren ran out on him after one explosive night many years ago. Hiding behind her sensible clothes she portrays the perfect image of Miss Prim and Proper and Alex vows to unlock the passionate woman he remembers. Mixing business with pleasure has never been so much fun.

Kitty Jenkins’ orderly life gets turned upside down when Alex walks into her school. Their passion filled night four years ago has left her with a secret that threatens to tear them apart. Giving into Alex is out of the question, regardless of how much her body craves his touch.

When secrets spill and disaster strikes, can their passion turn into love?

Too Hot To Handle releases Jan 12th through Evernight

 My twelve:

“Well, Sir, that all depends what you have in mind, because I have been very naughty.”

Alex went very still at her breathy statement, and Kitty bit her lip. Had she read this wrong? Was he not up for a little role-play? She hesitantly raised her eyes to his face to read his expression, and the heat in his gaze scorched her skin.

“So, I’ve heard. Come here, and take your punishment.” His deep voice had dropped several octaves, and he grabbed her by the wrist and spun her into the room. The door clicked shut, the sound loud in the quiet room, and before she could even blink, he had her pinned against the wall. One jeans clad thigh spread her legs wide, and he raised her hands high above her head, whilst his other hand blazed a trail of heat along her exposed tummy. His mouth claimed hers in a bruising kiss, and she opened to his quiet demand automatically. His tongue found hers in an erotic dance that left her jelly-legged, breathless, and grateful for his big body holding her up against the wall. 

You can find other participating Authors here, so do go and check out their twelve and like the Facebook page, if you're on there. 

Have a great weekend, folks xx

Meet Lady Hermione Missenden - Interview and Giveaway

I'm bringing you something different today - A Character Interview - Meet Lady Hermione

Trussed up like a Christmas Turkey, I have jumped into my time machine to travel back to 1814 to interview Lady Hermione Missenden, the heroine of my good friend Raven McAllan's new book To Please A Lady, which releases today!

And I tell you one thing, the things I do for you people – these darn dresses aren't all that comfortable to wear.

*adjusts corset for the umpteenth time and glances up at the butler, watching her out of the corner of his eyes*

Oh dear, he doesn't look amused with me. Do you think he knows I'm pretending and shouldn't really be here? I do feel a bit like a fish out water in this drawing room, waiting for Lady Hermoine. I wonder what she'll be like in person.

*glances at her notes*

Hmm, It says here she is a lady of independent means. Guess she'd have to be to afford all this without being married. Oh here she comes now.

*sits up straighter and breathes a sigh of relief, when the lady smiles*

D: Thank you so much for seeing me and agreeing to this interview, My Lady. Raven's readers will appreciate this chance to get to know you better.

H. It's my pleasure Doris. By the way, you really need to tie those strings tighter on your chemise. Gives one a much more sensual look. And there was no need for a corset… Look, I don't wear one.  My men wouldn't stand for it. Which is lucky, because actually (leans forward to whisper) They don't fit into this era.  They look like torture to me. But that apart, may I say I admire your dress? That color suits you. It matches the chaise, or should I say the chaise compliments it?

*blushes the same colour as her dress and indeed that darn chaise*

(Great, I'm a trussed up beet root red turkey. See, that's why I'd never fit in in here. Where are my jeans? Just smile Doris and ask your questions...)

D. Thank you You have a lovely home. I was admiring it whilst I was sitting here. It can't be easy to run a home this size?

H. I have a very well trained and understanding staff. Without them my life would not run nearly as smoothly.

D. I understand you are a lady of independent means. Could you explain what that means, for the benefit of our 21^st century readers?

H. (laughs) I have money of my own. I'm not dependent on the charity of my brother, nor do I need to be married.  In fact to my brother's disgust, my fortune, thanks to my godfather, is somewhat larger than his. It allows me a certain degree of independence and leeway.

D. So, one could say your situation is unusual?

H. (smiles) Well yes, I suppose you could. Unusual in more ways than one.

D. I get the impression you like being unusual, Lady Hermione.

H. Oh definitely. I have never conformed to what society decrees. My life is just that, my life, and I'll lead it as I think fit.

(I knew there was a reason why I liked her and made this trip.)

D. Can you tell me what drew you to Lord Langlosh and Lord Raykes?

H. Apart from their bodies and minds?  They make me wet just with a glance. Seriously, they are both unselfish, unself-conscious, kind, caring, and interesting. And Incredible lovers.

D. And you don't mind sharing?

H. OH no. Not at all. We three are as one now. I couldn't imagine what life would be like without both of them in it.

D. What, if anything have you learnt from your lovers?

H. Ohh so much. How to share, how to enjoy and explore each other, separately and together. How to be myself. Please don't think I flaunt my individuality in the ton, I do not want to be totally ostracized, but Berry and Ran have helped me come to terms with that aspect of our lives, and shown me how to deal with it. I never knew just how many anti-chambers you could find at a ball suitable for, well (colors) you know.

(I smother a smirk at that. I can just imagine!)

D. Do you have a favourite?

H. No, how could I?  they have the knack of knowing what I want when I want and er, how I want it.

D. What has the reaction of the ton been to your unusual living arrangements?

H. We try to be reasonable discrete, and still have our separate households—in theory. The ton is very much of the idea, if you don't flaunt it, it isn't happening.

D. What do you think the future will hold?

H. It's funny you should ask that, we were having the discussion today, before you came, whether we should let you know our secret. So just for your ears only (leans forward and whispers into Doris' ear) So you see, there's so much to look forward to. Perhaps you can give me some tips?

*blushes beetroot red again and clears her throat*

(I think it would probably be safest to ignore that comment and no I can't tell you what she said, Raven would kill me!)

D. Thank you so much Lady Hermione. This has been most enlightening.

H. And for me as well. Tell me, for how many years did they make women wear that rather uncomfortable contraption you have on? You look like a trussed turkey. We in the ton don't even wear pantaloons. They're considered rather fast. Personally I think it's a story set about by men, because it would be one more layer for then to have to delve through on their way to their goal. I'd take them off. Oh and don't mind the butler. Dorris is actually Berry's Major-domo. I borrowed him for the day, to impress you. My butler has earache, and he's been sent to bed with oil of cloves and an onion in his ear.

And thank you for taking the time to come and see me, please come again. Next time perhaps you'd like to meet my men? Or we do have a friend or two who would be very pleased to meet you.

*blushes again*

I have to clear my throat repeatedly before I can say my goodbyes and I dash out of there before I give in to the temptation to take her up on her offer to meet those friends.

*reminds herself that she is not one of her heroines - cough*

Back out in the fresh air, I breathe a sigh of relief to be away from the disapproving stare of that butler.  The butler named Dorris.... Hmm, I will have to have words with that Raven!

So, there you have it. Fascinating woman, Lady Hermione. To find out how she fares with those two rakes of the ton, do read her story.

Now, where did I park that machine again?

***

Raven has kindly agreed to a Giveaway. All you have to do is leave a comment and follow Raven's Blog. The winner will be announced in a weeks time on her Blog and will receive a Pdf copy of To Please A Lady. 

When your lovers are lovers themselves, and want you to help them make the perfect triangle, what do you say? Persuade me of course!

Unconventional, and happy, Hermione is in the enviable position of having not one, but two lovers to attend to her every need. That her lovers are lovers themselves, only adds to the equation.  Berry and Ran feel it’s time to make all their various twosomes, into one splendid threesome. Now all they have to do is persuade Hermione!

Being men, they are too impatient to wait for her answer. Being a woman, she isn’t going to be pushed, shoved or coerced into saying anything until she is good and ready. Patience is a virtue, and one her men needed to get.

***

For now, here is an excerpt.

Excerpt and buy link   

A sudden hard slap on her rear added to her jubilation. The sting, the soothing hand that followed, the way it swept aside the silk covering of her gown, before elegant fingers traced around her anus, made her draw breath. She heard the soft sibilated, “Ah, yes.” As she was spun around full circle, hands caressing as they spun her, her nipples, her breasts, her pussy, all fondled as they were skimmed and swept over. She could feel the brush of fingers on her sensitized skin as the ties across her front were loosened. Regardless, her arse was caressed, her silks slithering gently over her sensitized body. 

A thought drifted into her mind, took hold and made her act. How could one man’s hands be in so may places at once? Impossible! Firmly she took hold of the two hands at her ties, and held fast, still feeling those that were softly stroking her arse. How dare she be used so.

“I think not. My Lord Stray, remove your hands also. I did not ask or desire the two of you here tonight, neither will I countenance it. My Lord Rakes, if you do not desist from attacking my ties, my knee will attack your groin. Hard. Your choices my Lords. My choice is to be unmasked.” Unfortunately, but in no manner would they cuckold her so.

She waited, her foot wishing to tap in its anxiety. Her eyes were uncovered and she blinked in the candlelight.

Then her foot did tap. With anger. “As I thought.” She regarded the two male forms standing in front of her, one tall and dark with saturnine grace, the other fair as any angel. “You seek to try  to trick me my Lords? Into what may I be so bold to ask?” She looked from one to the other. “What gives you the right? Forsooth you are both aptly names Stray! Raykes! Either fits.”

Neither man spoke. 

“Cowards also? And to think I have given my body to each of you freely. Allowed you to enter me with those craven cocks. I despair of my intelligence. And that of you.” Still she waited. “No response? Then I suggest you leave my bedchamber and I will service myself. More trustworthy and satisfactory.”