Dragon Naturally Speaking & Hot Romance

What a great couple of weeks I’ve had creative-wise. OMG, the ideas are pouring in and I can scarcely keep up with the words in my head. This year I made a decision to use Dragon Naturally Speaking for all new work and my experience thus far has been both rewarding and frustrating.

In two days I wrote the first chapter of four books, The Wolf with the Broken Heart, That Pearly Drop, Torch the Wind, , and Wolf Without, and I’m into Chapter 2 on all of them. For someone who works full-time and writes only in the down hours, that’s a significant productivity increase.

Dragon is fussy and demanding. If my allergies are acting up and I’m a tad nasal, it misunderstands me. The last thing you want to do with Dragon is become frustrated or angry – then the darned software doesn’t comprehend a single word you say. It appears that using Dragon will make me a more disciplined writer…we’ll see how that works.

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Anyhoo, I thought today and over the next few days that I’d share excerpts from the coming books.
Here’s an unedited preview of The Wolf with the Broken Smile, White Wolf Book # 4

Blizzard conditions—check.

Transportation impossible—check.Being forced to spend the night at Chad Lexington’s condo—check.

“My sister keeps a few clothes here.”

The object of Lizzie White’s sexual fantasies for the last four months raked her from tilted beret to BDSM-style boots. Her nipples sizzled under his intent stare. She prayed her feverish desire and frazzled nerves didn’t show, and clamped her mouth shut.

“She’s shorter than you.”

His gaze fixed on her chest and no amount of willing her blood to cool worked. Sweat coated her nape and her grip on the laptop case white-knuckled.

“It’d probably be better if I loaned you sweats and a T-shirt. They’ll be big, but that’s better than wearing too tight clothes.”

The devil had it in for her. His sweats abrading her pussy. The material that gloved his cock riding her clit. Cat on a hot tin roof had nothing on the sexual tension driving her. “Thanks, but not necessary, I sleep in the altogether. I am sorry to put you to such an inconvenience, however.”

Lie number one, she wasn’t sorry at all.

Had Mr. Stoic actually blinked at her I-sleep-naked declaration?

“It’s not as if you caused the worst weather conditions in the last century of Chicago weather.” As usual his smile didn’t quite reflect in those impenetrable silver-rimmed eyes.

She repressed a grin. Of course, he’d never in this universe believe she’d caused the blizzard deliberately. But she had. It had all been part of the plan to seduce him. Lizzie couldn’t wait for him to see her without the glasses and the dowdy clothes she normally wore. As it was, the boots had had him flummoxed from the second she’d stepped into his condo.

“The snow’s so wet I wouldn’t be surprised if we lost power soon.”

Perfect. Hot sweaty sex happened in blackouts.

Both their gazes swept to the wall of windows opposite and the white sheets of dense flakes slapping the glass. Lizzie hoped the heat climbing her throat didn’t mean she was blushing. No man ever had this effect on her except Chad Lexington.

“What do you want to eat? I’m not sure how long The North Plains Kitchen will remain open and I don’t stock food beyond a stash of power bars.”

He didn’t glance her way but continued to stare at the falling snow.

Lizzie gritted her teeth. Not once in the last four months of working together day after day had he shown an iota of interest in her as a person or a woman. Night after night, she’d analyzed every minute of time in his company searching for some slight nuance that signified he returned her explosive carnal cravings for him.

Could such intense passion be so fricking one-sided?

It was so hard to read him. She’d studied every arched brow, flared nostril, and the steepled hands and mocking grin that so frustrated his opponents. If it hadn’t been for his one slip two days ago, she would’ve left Chicago wondering, wondering what his cock would feel like inside her, if he yelled his orgasms, or got a little rough in the sack. But he had slipped and tonight it was go big or go broke.

“I’m not fussy. I’ll have whatever you’re having.” She’d have him in a heartbeat.

“Why don’t you settle in while I order takeout for today and tomorrow? Any allergies or food restrictions?” He shifted to face her and she had to fist her hands to resist the urge to tuck his famous wayward forelock back into place.

“I’m not vegan if that’s what you’re asking. I like all food, too much, as you may have guessed.” She didn’t point out the obvious, her D-cup breasts and full hips.

A ton of men lusted after her Jessica Rabbit figure, but Chainsaw Chad, rumored to have ice in his veins and not a shred of empathy, had never deigned to notice the slightest thing about her body or her Vegas showgirl legs. Maybe that was why she couldn’t get him out of her head. Nothing sweeter than the unattainable.

“The Kitchen’s known for its rack of lamb—how’d you like it?”

“Medium rare. I like my meat bloody.” And my sex hard and fast the first time. She hoped he had an oversize, thick cock and the stamina of a ram. Once wasn’t going to do it for her. Not when tonight was the only time she’d ever have with him.

“So do I.” He had a broadcaster’s voice, deep and laced with a rough coarseness. “Bathroom’s stocked with all the amenities of a hotel. I’ll have them send up the food ASAP. I use the conference table for eating. Join me there when you’re ready.”

“Okay.” Lizzie followed the bunching of his glutes when Chad spun around and left the room. The man’s ass was perfection, tight and round and his thighs those of the honed equestrian he was, at least according to the media.

When the door closed behind him, she set her laptop case on a walnut-stained desk in the corner of the room, hung her purse on the chair, and shrugged out of her coat. Quick as flash, she retrieved the toiletry bag from the outside pocket of the case and trudged to the bathroom.

After brushing her teeth, she unraveled her customary tight bun, finger-combed her waist-length corkscrew curls, and studied her reflection in the mirror.

Lizzie had no delusions about her looks.

She had an ordinary face, neither pretty nor ugly, but her centerfold figure more than made up for her average features.

Professionally, she dressed to emphasize her brain not her femininity. She’d had enough trouble in her first job with unwanted male attention and had learned the hard way what not to wear. The bun, the librarian glasses, the baggy suits, and calf-length skirts, all designed to detract attention from her bountiful breasts, narrow waist, and mile-high legs.

She ticked an imaginary check mark.

No way was Chainsaw Chad going to ignore her tonight.

The bland camel coat she’d discarded had hidden her CFM outfit. She gave her thigh-high black boots that begged for a whip and a pair of leather cuffs, a thumbs up. If Chad didn’t get the message the instant she walked into the conference room, he deserved a flogging. The scooped neckline of her form-fitting top showed hints of the dark rose of her areolae and then some. The leggings tucked into her Dom boots were unmarked by pantie-lines. On impulse she unhooked her bra and sidled the harness off.

Commando all over.

Lizzie sucked in a deep breath. She’d never had to make the first move. What if he rejected her? Or worse, pretended not to notice?

Hope you enjoyed!

Cheers,

Jianne

 

#BlogBarrage: “Gone” by Barb Han @BarbHanAuthor #cblspromos

It’s my pleasure today to host the CBLS Blog Barrage Tour for my fellow Etopia Press author, Barb Han.  Welcome Barb and take it away!

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by Barb Han

Romantic Women’s Fiction

Category(ies): Mystery/Thriller

Publisher: Etopia Press

Release Date: January 11, 2013

Heat Level: Steamy

Word Count: 77,000

 Buy Links

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Gone-ebook/dp/B00AZDI3PQ/

ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-gone-1041392-152.html

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/gone-barb-han/1114108626

Blurb

How far would you go to find a child that never existed?

Elizabeth Walker awakens in a mental institution, the aftermath of a nightmare in her veins. All she can think of is saving a little boy—her son. But the orderlies who rush in and jab her with needles assure her she has no son. So does her mother, who demands her doctors keep her calm and prevent her from these troubling delusions. But Elizabeth’s nightmares are so real, and her arms still feel the memory of holding her son. And her instincts tell her to trust no one. Her child is gone. Her memories are gone. Everything is just…gone.

Ex-military medic David Kerrigan will never stop blaming himself for the childhood tragedy that took his younger sister’s life. Working on assignment at the facility, he’s drawn to Elizabeth, and he’s not sure that everything about her case is on the up and up. David knows full well he can’t change the past, but what if he can save this one person? And maybe helping Elizabeth might just save them both…

Warning: This title is intended for readers over the age of 18 as it contains adult sexual situations and/or adult language, and may be considered offensive to some readers.

Excerpt

If memories were liquids, then Elizabeth Walker’s would be blood. Not warm, life-giving, tissue-bathing blood, but cold, coagulated, dried up, and stepped-over-on-the-sidewalk blood.

Memories weren’t liquids.

They were more like fireflies blinking in the dark, daring to be caught, disappearing a moment before they could be reached. And the only liquid left in Elizabeth’s body was a few unshed tears. They hardly ever fell now. Even they seemed to be drying up on her.

Nightmare or not, she would claw her way through any level of consciousness to save the boy. The last ounce of breath she drew from her lungs burst out as a scream, leaving her choking and gasping for air.

The sense of urgency to save him, to do something, burned frustrated holes through the bottoms of her feet—feet that did not touch pavement no matter how fast she moved.

She had to do something. But what?

She calculated the likelihood of reaching him and came up short. He was far. No way could she reach him in time.  Yet waiting, doing nothing, wasn’t an option either. Protective instinct propelled her legs forward, and damn the odds.

“Somebody. Help.” She pushed herself from the dream.

She dug her fingers into her mattress, discharging a crush of bleach into her hyperventilated nostrils. A drowning sensation filled her lungs. She clenched her chest muscles. She gasped, struggling for oxygen.

A door slamming against a wall made her sit bolt upright. Two bulky men in blue scrubs burst into the room.

Barb’s offering a giveaway on this Blog Barrage as follows:

Giveaway Info:
Prize is a $25 Starbucks Gift Card. Contest is tour-wide, open internationally and ends Mar 19. Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.

A Rafflecopter Giveaway

Link to Blog Schedule:
http://www.cblspromotions.com/2013/03/blogbarrage-gone-by-barb-han.html

About the Author

SONY DSCBarb Han lives in North Texas with her husband, has three beautiful children, a spunky Golden Retriever/Standard Poodle mix, and too many books to count.

When she’s not writing, researching, or otherwise getting lost in a story, she volunteers at her children’s school, is in the kitchen ‘creating’ dinner, or can be found on or around a basketball court.

Writing contemporary romance and romantic suspense has been a dream come true for Barb–something she’s wanted to do for as long as she can remember. She left her corporate job, at her husband’s urging, and has been happily playing with imaginary friends ever since.

Learn more about her latest releases at http://www.barbhan.com and don’t forget to say hi. She loves hearing from readers.

Connect with Barb Han

Website: http://www.barbhan.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BarbHan

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BarbHanAuthor

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/barbhan/

Watch the GONE trailer: :

 Click on the following to go to the next blog in this tour

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What’s Cooking for The Hades Squad & More!

I’ve finally had the time to talk to my editors and plan the writing year. Yay! I have goals and too many ideas to get onto paper/screen.

Release dates etc. will be finalized as the year progresses.

I will be adding a WIP (Works in Progress) section to the website, which will be available to anyone who’s signed up for the newsletter.

Here we go!

Existing Series and Books

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Vengeance Hammer, Book Three:  Release Date – May 17, 2013

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The Wolf With The Broken Smile (Chad & Lizzie) – est. completion date – May 2013

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Two books this year.

Aha!

Caught you!

Thought there was only going to be one more, huh?

Shifty, Sinner’s cousin, will have his own tale.

Shifty’s Bacchanal – estimated completion date – July 2013

Satan’s Angel – estimated completion date – November 2013

New Books and Series

Murphy’s Laws of Time-Travel

A time-travel, fantasy series set between 2013 and 1763.

Book #1 – That Pearly Drop

Orca Rules

A contemporary, wounded SEAL series set in the north-west.

Book #1 – Torch the Wind

Ricky’s Landing

A paranormal, contemporary suspense series set in the Caribbean.

Book #1 – Wolf Without

Varangian Fury.

A Viking series set in the tenth and eleventh centuries.

Book #1 – The Viking’s Chains

As of today, I am about three weeks shy of getting previews up for The Wolf with the Broken Smile, That Pearly Drop, and Torch the Wind. The rest will follow *fingers crossed* soon after. It seems as if I may be having a creative tsunami. Here’s hoping my time and fingers keep pace with the tidal wave of new ideas.


Send me an email if you want to know more.

Cheers,

Jianne

 

NOLA Stars Conference

What fun I had at the NOLA Stars conference! Not only did I have almost 72 hours of uninterrupted gossip and brainstorming time with my good friend, author Lynn Lorenz, but I also met a whole ton of new authors and the charming and entirely hilarious Barbara Vey.

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Barbara Vey

For those of you who don’t know Barbara Vey blogs about romance for Publisher’s Weekly – http://barbaravey.com/books/. Barbara’s workshop had us in tears we laughed so hard, particularly when she spoke of how the blog started and the possible names for the blog – The Nipple Notes, The Breast of Barbara, The Vagina Vignettes – OMG, we had to hold our sides.

I also had the pleasure of meeting two amazing authors, Mandy Harbin and Parker Kincade.

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Mandy Harbin (left) and Parker Kincade

Parker recently released her first novel, One Night Stand, and I hope to devour this book soon! 15841797

Isn’t the cover scrumptious?

The lovely Mandy Harbin has a few books under her belt and is remarkably diverse with her writing – and her website’s intriguing – check Mandy out at: www.mandyharbin.com

We had lunch with Kerri-Leigh Grady, the Editorial Director of Flirt and Ever After at Entangled Publishing and Winne Griggs of the NOLA chapter, the conference chair, and a terrific host.

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The Becca Ladies

Not only did I meet a bunch of wonderful, talented women, but I also managed, thanks to Lynn, to satisfy my crawfish cravings! Yep, four meals in three days – a crawfish boil, crawfish stew, crawfish etouffee, and crawfish pie!!! We ate twice at Becca’s Restaurant and these lovely ladies and Lynn helped me decide what to eat.

But the best part of the conference was the three-hour drive with Lynn Lorenz from Houston to Shreveport and back. Nothing more wonderful than spending time with a good friend. IMG_0936[1]

The only thing that would’ve made it better was if the fabulous Georgia Woods, who started the two of us on our writing careers and friendship, had been with us – we missed you Georgia!

Have a wonderful Monday!

Cheers,

Jianne

 

Written in the Stars Conference

Njal  - yumDougKoziak01 (2)Tomorrow I head to Houston, Texas to meet my good friend and fellow author, Lynn Lorenz.

Woo Hoo! Road Trip!

We drive (4 hours – loads of gossip time) to Shreveport, Louisiana to attend the Written in the Stars Conference. So exciting.

It’s wonderful to meet new writers and readers, listen to the experts in the industry, and re-charge my creative batteries. I always come away from a conference brimming with new ideas, so when I return I’ll be posting my What’s Cooking page. There you’ll find a list of what I’m working on currently and what I hope to finish before the end of the year.

Here are some hints – two new Hades Squad books, a new SEAL series,  a new Wolf series, and for all of those who’ve asked a new viking series starring Mús, Tighe, and a couple of new heroes. As you can tell I’m revved up for hot romance, nerve-wracking suspense, supernatural shifters, and more Vikings!!!

The guy in the pic is my inspiration for my latest hero, Torch, a wounded wolf SEAL.

Isn’t he drool-worthy? Sigh.

Have a great hunk (my version of hump) day!

Cheers,

Jianne