What is love? What is romance?

Last week in the Facebook group, Sexy Spanking Reads, there was a heated discussion about the ‘rules of writing romance.’ My first thought was, “There aren’t any.”
Yes there are rules about writing. Every writer should have proficiency in language. A command of grammar, spelling, and basic story structure is the writer’s equivalent of a musician learning the scales.

Once a writer has mastered essential skills then they get to break some of the rules. The person who posed the question of whether or not the rules had changed asked if examples like cheating and open relationships as fall outside the romance genre.
For all that neither of those situations appeal to me, I can’t decide for others.
Art should be dynamic, challenging and evolving. Different takes on the genre will appeal to different readers.
What is the most romantic thing that has ever happened to you or someone you know? Here’s mine and I have no doubt it won’t be everyone’s idea of romance:
My loving husband has surprised me many times with his ability to make me feel cared for and wanted. The most romantic thing he’s ever done? Years ago we did an 18,000 km camping trip around the Australia outback. One of the most upsetting sights to me was the road kill: animals hit by speeding cars. It wasn’t the dead animals that worried me.
It was the gorgeous wedge-tailed eagles that would land to feed on the carcasses that were upsetting. These eagles are huge, with wing spans up to 2.8 m (9 foot). They can only lift off the ground in the direction they are facing so if a car comes barreling down the highway and the birds are having their fast food lunch and not looking that way, they become a second tragedy.
What did my husband do? Every time we saw a carcas on the highway, he stopped the car, donned gloves, and dragged the eagle-snack far enough off the road so the birds could land safely.
I never loved him more than I did in those moments. And my love for him has grown stronger since then.
But that’s us - two strong people with similar sensibilities in love. While I consider our love and relationship to be extremely romantic, it wouldn’t appeal to a lot of people because they may not care as much about the wild world as we do.
Also our love wouldn’t make much of a novel because there is little conflict between us, even if we do have power exchanges that spice up our intimacy.💝

Taken By The Renegade by Sadie Marks

I’m thrilled to welcome the amazing Sadie Marks to my blog today. She brings with her, book 2 in the Rise of the Sadecs, Taken By The Renegade - just released today!

Dark choices distract Sam when she’s pulled from the arms of her renegade Sadec lover. Her captors fill her every possible need except her need for him.

Blurb:
Samantha is a masochist with no interest in the trappings of romance or submission, until she meets the sexy new Dominant in town and falls for him hard. But he’s not who she thought he was. He’s not even human.
Trev is a renegade member of the sadistic Sadec race. and by the time she learns it, she’s on his spaceship far from home. When she’s confiscated by his people as forbidden contraband, Sam finds herself reborn into her new life as Silla. She consents to fill her role as Pain Receiver and reluctantly learns to submit to their whims.
But Trev is never far from her mind, and when she’s given the chance to get back to her renegade Sadec Dom, she realizes it’s worth risking everything to be with him.
Taken by a Renegade is a stand-alone sequel to Surrendering to Her General where Silla first appeared as a minor character. Now we’ll see her backstory and learn how she ended up at the mercy of the Sadecs as she struggles to get back to the man she loves.
Disclaimer: Taken by the Renegade contains lots of steamy scenes well as graphic BDSM and power exchange, so please avoid it if you find those things upsetting.

Buy link: Amazon
Free in KU

Excerpt:
A slow grin crept across his face. "In our game, the prey—that would be you—runs off and hides. The hunter—that's me—has to track down the prey, and when he finds her…" He let the words trail off, but they had the desired effect.
She swallowed hard and shifted nervously. Her fingers twisted and rolled the hem of the short one-piece dress she'd worn, but at least her voice didn't shake when she asked, "What? What does he do when he finds her?"
"Anything he wants, of course, and she has to obey if she wants to be rewarded." There was way too much weight given to the word 'obey' and she knew exactly what he was doing. He wanted her submission, if only for the night.

More about Sadie Marks
Sadie Marks has been in love with Science-Fiction and horror since she was a little girl and when given the opportunity to mix power-exchange romance with sadistic aliens there was no way she was going to turn it down. She is continuing to work on the Rise of the Sadecs series and is enjoying her work on the third book.
Her wide and varied experiences lend a note of realism to the D/s relationships she portrays in her books.
(Sadie Marks is the darker half of Author Kessily Lewel)
Sadie doesn’t have her own website, but she does share one with Kessily Lewel which covers a mixture of topics like writing, safely exploring BDSM relationships, and the occasional kinky short story.

Connect with Sadie Marks and Kessily Lewel
Kessily’s website
Sadie’s Amazon page
Sadie’s BookBub page
Sadie’s Facebook page
She also shares an amazingly fun facebook group with four other authors who write kinky romance and would love to have you as part of the fun over here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/2351026058496857/

Don’t miss these exciting titles by Sadie Marks and Blushing Books!
Surrendering To Her General, Rise of the Sadecs, book 1
Taken By The Renegade, Rise of the Sadecs, book 2

Sure Mastery, book 2 in the Black Combe Dom series by Ashe Barker

Have you caught your breath after reading book 1 in Ashe Barker’s Dark Combe Dom series yet? Great because she’s here today with the next instalament. Book 2, Sure Mastery is out now!

His gifts to her are beyond price, the rewards of submission.

Blurb
He’s hurt her once, and terrified her. He holds her future in his hands. Can she trust him with her body too?
Desperate to escape her past and start over, Ashley McAllister cuts her ties with her old life and heads for the wild landscape of West Yorkshire, the perfect place to reinvent herself. And her carefully laid plans are working, until she encounters her nemesis—the one man she’d hoped never to see again—Tom Shore, the man she and a gang of thugs attacked and robbed, and who swore he’d make her pay. He owns the cottage she’s made her home and adores, and now he wants his pound of flesh. So he takes it.
Intimidated and beaten by her sexy and dominant landlord, and totally confused by her intense physical response to him, Ashley needs Tom to guard her secrets. But will he and his enigmatic and terrifying friend, Nathan Darke, allow her to leave her past behind and start again? Having survived her first explosive and humiliating encounter with Tom, Ashley struggles to get her new life back on track. But Tom wants her. His demanding, persuasive, sensual charm is almost irresistible, his mastery of her assured.
But—can she submit to Tom’s dominance? Should she? Ashley has escaped one violent and abusive relationship. Is she about to be sucked into an even darker and more dangerous liaison?
Disclaimer: Sure Mastery contains spankings, bondage and discipline and other sexual activities. These are fantasies only, intended for adults only. Strong stuff but worth it. If such subjects offend you, please do not buy this book.
This novel was previously released as three separate books, Unsure, Sure Fire and Sure Thing in the series Sure Mastery. In this volume the three books in the Sure Mastery trilogy are published as one combined novel, under the title, Sure Mastery with new cover art, no cliffhangers and a HEA..

Buy link: Amazon
FREE on Kindle Unlimited

Excerpt:
A long silence follows my little outburst. He doesn’t move, but I can feel his eyes on me. Watching, assessing. I wait for his next attack.
Instead, “He raped you? Kenny?” The question is soft, gentle.
I nod. “Yes. Twice.”
“Did you report it to the police?”
Ah, here we go. “No.”
“Why not?”
“I lived with him, slept with him, had sex with him regularly. Who’d have believed me that once or twice it was against my will? And… I was scared of him.”
He nods, doesn’t press me further, seems to accept this explanation. “I knew he was a vicious git. I saw the way he treated you that night. I just didn’t realise… I understand now why you were afraid of Nathan and me when we came to your cottage.” He hesitates, his gaze softening. “I’m sorry for that, and for the way I spoke to you afterwards. I was insensitive and cruel. You are safe here, with me. I hope you can believe that.” He reaches out, tips my chin up with his fingers, gently raising my eyes to his.
I hold his gaze, assertive Ashley back on her soapbox. “Yes, I do believe that. But only because you don’t fancy me. I’m too scrawny, ‘not enough to go around’ I think you said.” The bitter sting of those cruel, dismissive words still bites. Hard. Without thinking about possible consequences I press my point. “And I’m not having any more of that from you either. No more insults, no more belittling me with your personal comments. I won’t let you make me feel small again. Just leave me be, and if you’ve nothing nice to say about me then keep your opinions to yourself, please.”
Gently cupping my chin with his palm, he holds my gaze, his gorgeous eyes now warm, tender almost. And I see respect starting to dawn there. At last, he speaks, his tone low, serious. A hint of esteem there, just maybe.
“Well said, Ashley. You’re right, and I apologise. For the things I said to you, back then and just now. I was rude, cruel, and what I said wasn’t true. The truth is, you’re so lovely you take my breath away—especially naked.” He smiles, probably at my astonished expression—nothing he could have said to me in response would have surprised me more than that. Lovely? Me? My mind’s still turning cartwheels as he continues. “I’m not apologising for finger-fucking you, though, because I did ask. Maybe a bit late, but still… And you seemed to like that bit as I recall. And I’m not apologising for stripping you and spanking you, although I know probably I should. Nathan certainly thinks so. Trouble is, I enjoyed that part too much to be genuinely sorry now. And if you’ve done the research that I suggested you do you might start to have some idea why I enjoyed it. And why you did too. Do you have any idea why, Ashley?”
I shake my head, bewildered, completely lost for words now. Enjoyed it? He hurt me, terrified me. But a quiet little voice at the back of my head is quick to point out what else he did, afterwards, and how powerfully I responded. And how much more he could have done to me as I lay there helpless on my bed, offering no further resistance. But he didn’t. And Tom doesn’t push his advantage now, just as he didn’t then, he simply leaves me be with my thoughts.
He drops his hand, but his emerald eyes are still holding mine. “I shouldn’t have threatened you again just now, even in fun. Forgive me?” His low tone seems sincere, contrite even.
I do believe he means it. He must have decided to take my continued silence as assent because suddenly he’s all business again, his booted feet hitting the flags with a heavy thud as he gets to his feet. “I need to get off. I’ll be back around one, I’ve a Skype meeting scheduled with a supplier so I’ll see you then. Make yourself at home, have a good look round, try to find everything you need but if you get stuck or need to know anything text me. Oh, and just leave the ironing. Okay?”
Stunned at my success, and the tangible shift in our relationship, I can only nod. Assertive Ashley definitely has her moments. He grabs his jacket from a hook on the back of the door and winks at me on his way out. “Have a nice day, Ashley.” He clicks his tongue and the two dogs trot after him. A few seconds later I hear the Land Rover fire up and drive off, and I’m alone in his huge old house.

More about Ashe Barker
USA Today Bestselling author Ashe Barker writes erotic romance and spanking romance in a variety of genres including contemporary, BDSM, paranormal, historical. ménage, gay romance and time travel. She is a #1 Amazon Bestseller and all her stories feature hot alpha males and sassy submissives, often with a lot to learn. Kink abounds, and there’s enough dirty talk to satisfy the most demanding smut lover. However dark and dirty the setting, love always emerges triumphant, and her stories never fail to deliver a satisfying happy ever after.

Connect with Ashe Barker:
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www.ashebarker.com
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Tormented Desires by Poppy Flynn Club Risqué book 7

I’m delighted to welcome Poppy Flynn today, with her book, Tormented Dreams. This is the 7th book in her Club Risqué series.

What will happen when these two connect? Sizzling hot chemistry, that’s what!
– Amazon reviewer Red Rabbit – five stars

Blurb:
Grace Miller has worked hard at her career as a Human Rights lawyer, but with her fortieth birthday looming, she is desperate to settle down and start a family, and she knows she is running out of time. She thought she had found the perfect man when she met sadist, Dr. Xavier Diaz, the ideal foil for her own masochistic tendencies.
Everything between them seems to gel effortlessly, making it look like a match made in heaven...until she finds out that Xavier's own dream is to have a 'remote' 24/7 M/s relationship.
Disclaimer: Tormented Dreams contains fantasies, intended for adults only. Strong stuff but worth it. Nothing in this book should be interpreted as Blushing Books’ or the author’s advocating any non-consensual sexual activity.

Buy link: mybook.to/Tormented_Dreams

FREE on Kindle Unlimited

Excerpt:
Xavier directed Grace along the corridor to the next theme room, which happened to be the headmaster's study. There, a sub, dressed up in a sexy take of a British schoolgirl uniform, complete with stockings and garter belt, was sobbing and screaming somewhat theatrically as a she got the cane.
"Do you enjoy roleplay?" he asked, noting the anticipatory gleam in her eyes as she followed every movement of the Dom's hand.
"I've never really had the opportunity to try it," she replied distractedly, her gaze still fixed on the implement.
"Is it something you might like to sample?"
Grace furrowed her brow but didn't turn away from the scene, and he thought he detected a small sigh when the cane found its target once again. As the Dom finally moved to provide aftercare, Grace wrenched her eyes away from the floor to ceiling viewing window and gave him her undivided attention.
"I'm not sure," she replied, still frowning in contemplation. "It's not something I feel like I'm missing in my life. I suppose it might be a fun interlude if I wanted something different for a change, but in general, I like my slice of pain served neat and without frills," she told him boldly as they wandered across to the next window.
"A woman after my own heart," Xavier said lightly as they stopped to look inside the suspension room where Master Logan, another of the co-owners, had his wife, Luanna—or Serenity, as she was known at the club—bound in complicated Shibari work. He was in the process of suspending her rather artistically, one of his greatest pleasures.
"You're a sadist?" Grace queried. Had he detected the slightest breathiness in her voice, or was that just wishful thinking?
"Indeed I am. Master X, at your service," he said with a brief, formal bow.
"What about you? Are you an exhibitionist as well?" he enquired, the scenes playing out through the glass walls forgotten. "Or do you prefer privacy?"
"I'm not bothered, either way," she admitted. "I'm only in it for the scene, at the end of the day. It doesn't bother me to be on display, but it's not something I need to be fulfilled. Neither is a club, to be honest. It's just the only way to meet prospective Doms when you're single. I don't trust that kind of thing to internet chat. I need the security of a respected club so that I can meet people who have been vetted, but I'm perfectly happy to scene in private once I'm comfortable that I'm in good hands."
"Very sensible," Xavier agreed approvingly. "I should have asked before; do you use a club name for anonymity?"
They had passed a few more theme rooms, the Sultan's throne room, the wet room, and the French boudoir, and had given each one a little time and contemplation, albeit cursory. But none of them had lit Grace's expression as much as watching the caning.
More about Poppy Flynn
Poppy Flynn was born in Buckinghamshire, UK and moved to Wales at eight years old with parents who wanted to live the 'self-sufficiency' lifestyle.
Today she still lives in rural Wales and is married with six children.
Poppy's love of reading and writing stemmed from her parents’ encouragement and the fact that they didn't have a television in the house. 
"When you're surrounded by fields, cows and sheep, no neighbours, no TV and the closest tiny village is four miles away, there's a certain limit to your options, but with books your adventures and your horizons are endless."  Poppy x

Connect with Poppy Flynn
Amazon: Amazon Author Page – Poppy FLynn
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/poppy-flynn
Reader group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2351026058496857/
FB page: https://www.facebook.com/clubrisque1/
Website: https://www.poppyflynnsaucyauthor.com
Facebook group – Sexy Spanking Authors & Readers

Daddy's Game by Felicity Brandon

Hang on to your e-readers! Felicity Brandon has a new book out. Daddy’s Game is the third Dark Daddy story.

Blurb:
He made me his captive.
Demanded I call him Daddy.
He's my magnificent obsession.
I'm trapped. Helpless. Chained.
With no hope of breaking free.
I don't know if I'll get away. Or if I even want to. 
Daddy's games are addictive. 
He's a drug. The more I try to leave, the closer he pulls me.
Wherever I go... Daddy will haunt me.
Forever. 
Disclaimer: Daddy's Game is the third in a dark and suspenseful series from Amazon bestselling author, Felicity Brandon. It is intended for mature readers. 18 and over only! Some scenes are explicitly sexual, other include spanking adult women, age play, and power exchanges. These scenes are fantasies only and are suitable for discerning readers only. If such content may offend, please do not buy this book. 
In other words - dark adult content is included - you have been warned.

Universal Buy link: http://viewbook.at/Game
3 Book Series Link: http://mybook.to/DarkDaddySeries

Excerpt:
“I guess I can’t keep up, Daddy.”
He inhaled, wrestling the first pink ribbon into a bow in her hair. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Jared admonished himself. He should have never asked the question aloud. He should have never have engaged her that way. It didn’t matter what she meant, what mattered was she did as she was told.
“It means I never know what to do to make you happy.” She sounded exasperated, tugging her head away from his hands, which were still attempting to arrange the ribbon. “Once moment you want to talk to me, the next you want me silent. One minute you’re angry, the next you’re…” She hesitated, her brow knitting.
“I’m what?”
He had to physically suppress the anger which pulsed through his body at her reply. The nerve of the woman—criticizing him when she was the one causing all of the issues. Couldn’t she see by now what he was trying to achieve? A routine that would finally bring them both pleasure—a new life for both of them.
“I don’t know.”
In her reflection, Jared saw emotion flare in her eyes, though he couldn’t say if it was fear, fury, or frustration.
“Tender?” she spat the word out. “Sometimes, it seems as though you love me, and other times like you can’t stand the sight of me!”
Jared paused at that. It was a response he hadn’t been anticipating.
“That’s how it is, baby,” he concurred, pulling at the other side of her hair roughly as he bundled it together for the remaining ribbon. “That’s how you make Daddy feel.”
“So, it’s my fault?” Her eyes widened with disgust. He stared at her for a long moment in the mirror, his fingers pausing the infuriating task at her hair. “I make you feel this way?”
“Of course, it’s you.”
Jared blinked in disbelief. Why was he having this conversation? Why was he even entertaining it? Yet some part of him seemed to need the catharsis—to say what needed to be said, to get it all out there before he came down on her like a ton of bricks again.
“It’s always been you, Sophie.”
He forced the second piece of ribbon into place, discarding the hairbrush onto the bed before assessing his handiwork. Sophie was right about one thing—his hairdressing abilities were seriously lacking, and her hair hung in untidy, wonky pigtails on either side of her head.
“Everything I’ve done, I’ve done for you.”
Hadn’t he told her this before?
“The times you messaged me late at night when your useless fucking husband had left you all alone. I replied to you. I returned those messages. Didn’t I?”
Her brown gaze swam with feeling. “Yes,” she whispered. “Yes, Daddy.”
“For you, Sophie.” Their gazes locked in the mirror. “I did that for you.”
Sophie’s brow furrowed, and she looked away until he snaked his hands around her body, his palms massaging her wonderful, exposed tits. Even after nearly two days, he wasn’t used to having her naked all the time. He doubted he’d ever be used to it.
“The plan I created to get to you, to get into your home. Hiring the van, getting my friends on board.” He waited until her eyes flitted back to his before he continued. “All for you, little girl.”
She nibbled her lower lip, her expression conveying the idea she didn’t quite agree with his argument, but that was irrelevant. It appeared Sophie would never agree and would just have to learn to concede instead.
“And this place.” Jared pressed his body against her nudity, his arms tightening around her. “Everything I did to make this an inviting place for you, Sophie. All of the modifications I made. The playpen, the chair in the kitchen, and your room, Sophie—I decorated the whole damn place for you, baby girl.” Emotion spiked in his voice at the memory of the effort.
“All. For. You.” He sighed into her hair. “I yield for no one, yet I turn my whole world upside down for you.”

Submitting to the Doctor by BJ Wane

At a time when the world is a confusing place, BJ Wane brings us a lovely escape. Her latest book Submitting to the Doctor, (Cowboy Doms book 7) is being released this week. It’s available for preorder!

He wanted nothing to do with her but couldn't turn away from the sorrow reflected in her dark eyes.

Blurb:
Following the death of her twin sister and the abuse of her sadistic ex-boyfriend, Lillian Gaines drove away from her home to flee her heart-wrenching grief. Exhausted, numb from sorrow, she drives into a snowstorm and ends up stranded on a Montana back road.
The last thing Doctor Mitchell Hoffstetter wanted was to put up a stranded motorist at his cabin, but seeing the bruises marring Lillian’s face stifles his irritation. He couldn’t help offering comfort when her grief kept her awake, and for all her sass and independence, she succumbed to his commands and touch without pause. They went their separate ways the next day unable to forget that one hour.
Mitchell soon discovers Lillian is living in the motel in town. He offers his garage apartment which leads to another opportunity to show she wasn’t as opposed to his dominance as she claimed. Lillian discovers a side of her she couldn’t control whenever Mitchell leveled one of those potent gazes her way and showed her ways of pleasure she never imagined she would embrace.
It takes a threat to Lillian’s life for Mitchell to admit his sassy, independent tenant and lover had found a way through his grief to his heart, but had they both waited too long to express their feelings or would he and their friends ride to her rescue in time for them to start over together?
This is book seven in the Cowboy Doms series but can be enjoyed independently.
Publisher’s Note: This contemporary western romance is intended for adults only. It contains elements of mystery, suspense, danger, sensual scenes, adult themes and power exchange. If any of these offend you, please do not purchase.

Buy link: Amazon

Excerpt:
Lillian couldn’t help it, the desire to spend time with Mitchell outweighed her determination to forget him following his desertion as her doctor. When all she could think about was her reaction every time he leveled that focused gaze on her after Nan invited her to visit their club, she decided to give in to his offer and work towards getting him out of her system. It wouldn’t do for her to leave in a week or two and still have these mind-consuming, libido stirring thoughts about a man she wouldn’t see again.
Once they hit the highway, they limited their conversation to the evening until they reached Willow Springs and then he surprised her with his abrupt change of subject. “Are you considering visiting The Barn tomorrow night?”
His deep tone washed through her with its usual warmth, another reason she needed to do whatever was necessary to end this odd infatuation. “You heard that, huh?”
“Yes. And given your constant gripes about bossy men, I’m wondering why you would consider it.”
She sent him a teasing grin as he turned on his street. “How do you know it’s not just your high-handedness I’ve complained about?”
“Is it?” he returned with cool insistence.
Sighing, she admitted, “No. It’s not my thing, but I am curious.”
Pulling into the drive, he swung toward her as he cut the engine. “I didn’t prove you wrong about that last week?”
He would have to remind her of that. She wouldn’t deny what had been so obvious, but neither would she admit that meant she would enjoy a regular dose of his kinks. Instead, she planted another seed by saying, “Who knows? Maybe I’ll discover I get off on voyeurism. Goodnight, Doc. Thanks for the lift.”
Lillian’s hopes of getting away with having the last word were dashed when she’d no sooner gotten out of the vehicle and he was there, pinning her against the door with his towering, ripped body pressed against hers. She went hot, her heart rate tripping even as irritation over his domination rippled under her skin.
Before she could tell him to back off, he bent his head and nipped at her chin and then took her lower lip between his teeth and bit. The sharp sting ricocheted straight down to her pussy in an undeniable heated gush. Swallowing back a moan, she gripped his biceps and demanded in a hoarse voice, “What are you playing at, Mitchell?”
“Not playing, proving a point.” Gripping her shoulders, he spun her around and placed her hands on the hood of the SUV.
“I don’t care for your caveman tactics,” she stated, proud of her scornful, rigid tone despite her quivering muscles as he worked his hands inside her coat.
“So you say,” he returned with the same arrogance lacing his voice. “But your body says otherwise whenever I put my hands on you. Wonder why that is?”
Gripping her nipples, he plucked at the tender buds, and even through her sweater and bra, his pinch and rotation was strong enough to elicit another body quaking response. She wouldn’t fight it, or deny it, couldn’t if she wanted to get over it and move on
“Lust is easy to explain,” she answered on a deeply indrawn breath.
“Now, there I can agree with you.” Mitchell released her nipples and moved back as fast as he’d commanded her senses.

BJ Wane in her own words:
I live in the Midwest with my husband and our dog, Oscar, a lovable Goldendoodle.  I love dogs, enjoy spending time with my daughter, babysitting dogs and kids, reading and working puzzles.  We have traveled extensively throughout the states, Canada and just once overseas, but I now prefer being a homebody.  I worked for a while writing articles for a local magazine but soon found my interest in writing for myself peaking.  My first books were strictly spanking erotica, but I slowly evolved to writing erotic spanking romance with a touch of suspense.  My favorite genre to read is suspense.

Connect with BJ Wane:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3420232.B_J_Wane?from_search=true
https://bjwaneauthor.com/
https://twitter.com/bj_wane
https://www.facebook.com/bj.wane
https://www.facebook.com/BJWaneAuthor
https://www.bookbub.com/profile/bj-wane
https://www.instagram.com/bjwaneauthor/
bjwane@cox.net

Taunted by Felicity Brandon

The delightfully wicked Felicity Brandon is here today with her new book Taunted, the Dark Necessities, Dalton’s Tale – book two.
Blurb:  
She showed me the light when she came into my life.
And reminded me just how dark love can be.
I saved Delilah from Morley and Hyland.
It was a pleasure.
That should’ve been the end of it.
I didn’t expect things to get this intense.
I didn’t think our passion could grow so dark, but there isn’t anything I want more than to own her.
I need her soul to be mine.
But we have a new threat looming over us.
Hyland wants revenge and men like him will do anything.
We need to play this carefully.
Or else…
Disclaimer: Taunted is entirely a work of fiction. The author does not condone, nor endorse any of the acts in this book. In other words, it’s dark, sexy, and more than a litte kinky. Tough stuff but worth it.

Universal Buy link: mybook.to/Taunted

Excerpt:
“Delilah, can I be honest with you?”
Slowly, painfully, she forced her eyes to open. “Yes,” she breathed.
And in her heart, that was what Delilah wanted. Her whole life had been built on a foundation of shit—years of deceit and duplicity growing until it had become its own living, breathing foe. What she needed more than anything now was Dalton’s honesty—however brutal it was.
“I know the things that keep you awake at night.”
Her breath caught in her throat, and in that moment, the room seemed to empty of oxygen. Delilah couldn’t take another breath. All there was in the world were Dalton’s insistent blue gaze and his hot vibrating voice.
“I know the images that flutter behind your lids when they slide closed, the dark flashes you envision when you’re horny.”
“Dalton, please.” For all the stripping and fucking, Delilah had never been more exposed and vulnerable than this.
He leaned forward, brushing his lips over her cheek. “It’s okay, Delilah. It’s just like before—I won’t judge you—and do you know the most peculiar thing about it?”
She shook her head with wide eyes, trying not to think about those dark things Dalton referred to, but it was impossible. In that electrifying moment, those fantasies seemed more real than ever, and Delilah could picture herself collared and leashed with one of those awful tails jutting out from her backside. She panted as the image grew, the periphery widening to include the thing that terrified and compelled her in equal measure—the cage.
The cage had been coming to Delilah for weeks now. Every time she surrendered to Dalton’s will. Each time she stripped for him, gagged around him, or was spanked by him, in her mind’s eye she imagined him forcing her inside the metal construct and locking her in—leaving her there. She’d tried her best to dismiss the thought. Being disciplined was one thing, but being caged—what sort of a woman fantasized about that? Who could want that? Yet there was no getting away from it, and the desire persisted, burgeoning into something she needed to hang on to whenever pleasure loomed. Even by her own low standards, it was something Delilah couldn’t reconcile.
She shouldn’t want this. It was as simple as that.
“I’ve been having the same thoughts.”
His words were jagged, slicing through her shameful internal monologue.
“What?” Delilah was certain she hadn’t heard Dalton correctly.
“You did hear me.” His tone was soft and goading. “I’ve been thinking about those things, too.”
Delilah shook her head again, as though she wanted to clear it of the sordid thoughts altogether. “What have you been thinking about?”
Dalton leaned closer. Now only an inch or so separated them. “Doing those things to you. Buckling a collar around your pretty little neck and then pulling you around on my leash.”
Delilah was sure her heart stopped beating at that.
“Burying the butt plug of my choice into your delicious fucking backside and making you wear a tail for me.”
Oh God. The fortress she’d erected for all those years had been invaded, and Dalton was stampeding through it.
“You like that idea, don’t you, beautiful?” Dalton’s breath washed over, yet still Delilah couldn’t form the words to respond. “You like the idea of becoming my animal.”
“Fuck.” Had she just said that loud?
“You like the supplication of it, the humiliation of being made to behave that way?” Dalton continued. He seemed all the more powerful now—calmer than the man barking orders at her earlier, but every inch as demanding. “Don’t you?”
The question lingered in the air between them.
“Y-yes.” Somehow, she forced the word out.
Delilah was desperately trying to ignore the insistent throbbing of her clitoris, but its plea was getting hard to ignore. Especially when Dalton said those things.
“Yes, what?” His tone was clipped and she tensed at her own error.
“Yes, sir.”
“Tell me.” Dalton pressed his temple against hers. “Tell me what you want, Delle.”
But I can’t! Her mental plea was immediate. I can’t do that!
“Tell. Me.”
She sighed, her eyes fluttering closed. “I want those things, too.” Delilah swallowed, knowing already that those words would be insufficient. “I want to be collared and leashed, sir.”
Fuck, had she really just said that?
“And the cage, Delilah?”
She pulled away from him on reflex, her eyes wide.
“You want the cage, too, don’t you?”
A hot, mortified blush crawled over her face and Delilah wanted to scratch it away. Why was she so revealed to this man, her body responding to him as though he already owned it, and her mind, apparently, even more susceptible?
“Delilah.” Dalton’s tone was almost taunting. “Tell me you want it. Admit what you need and I promise, I’ll give everything you’ve ever wanted.”
Oh fuck. That was it. There was no going back now.
No way she could refuse him.
Not with those eyes, that voice, that promise…
Delilah exhaled, knowing that what came next would change everything. “Yes, sir.” She forced her gaze to meet his once more. “I want you to cage me.”

Submitting to the Cattleman by BJ Wane

BJ Wane is here today with book 6 in her Cowboy Doms series, Submitting to the Cattleman.

She was a one-night stand, but he couldn't forget her haunted eyes.

Blurb:
Why does doing the right thing have to be so hard?
Leslie Collins has been asking herself that question ever since her eye-witness testimony in a murder case landed her in the Witness Protection Program far away from everything and everyone she’s ever known. Now, four years later, she struggles with growing despondency over the circumstances that prevent her from forming a relationship. When she allows her loneliness to get the better of her and indulges in a one-night stand, she never dreams her stranger will show up again at the private club she’s stayed away from for a few weeks.
Kurt Wilcox returns home to Montana to help his father recover from a stroke and hopefully mend the rift between them. He doesn’t plan on rescuing a woman from a mugging and ending up succumbing to the loneliness reflected on her face and indulging in a one-night stand. When he meets up with Leslie at his club, he refuses to let her hide her identity or her reasons for inviting a stranger into her home and bed.
Leslie finally caves to his persistence and agrees to an affair that seems promising until she learns her identity has been comprised and an attempt on her life forces out the truth about her past. Will putting her trust in her Dom jeopardize him and his employees when she agrees to his protection, or will Kurt rid her of the threat against her, as he promises, leaving her free to embrace her own HEA?
This is book six in the Cowboy Doms series but can be enjoyed as a standalone.
Publisher’s Note: Submitting to the Cattleman is a contemporary, western romance contains elements of mystery, suspense, danger, power exchange, BDSM, and sensual scenes. If any of these bother you, please do not purchase.

Buy link: Amazon

Excerpt:
Kurt reached the loft and spotted Leslie bound on the St. Andrew’s Cross right away. As he eyed her slim, bare back, spread legs and white, soft ass, he didn’t know who to be pissed at the most, her or his dad. He shouldn’t have let Leland goad him into an argument right before he’d left. If the stubborn coot didn’t want to go to therapy or work at getting back on his feet, Kurt ought to leave him alone to stew in the misery of his own making. The problem was, he cared too much to do that, just as his strong feelings for Leslie wouldn’t allow him to give up on her regardless of her continued obstinance. Maybe, if those glimpses of a desperate, lonely ache reflected on her face weren’t continuing to wreak havoc with his conscience, starting with the first time she’d looked up at him, he would find it easy to wash his hands of her and walk away.
Between wanting to solve the mystery of her solitary life and the driving lust to fuck her in every way possible, he wasn’t about to let this little rebellion deter him from his goals. Mitchell flicked him a questioning look as he approached, checking the tightness of the ankle cuffs before rising to greet him.
“Kurt. I hope your scowl isn’t because of something I’ve done.”
“No, in fact I’d like to thank you for preparing my sub for me.” Leslie’s muscles tightened under Kurt’s hand as he caressed her clenching buttocks.
Mitchell’s eyes darkened, his gaze cutting toward Leslie. Fisting a hand in her long hair, he pulled, lifting her head. “Is this true, you’re with Master Kurt?”
She bit her lip, both men noticing the guilt swirling in her eyes as she looked from one to the other before her trembling mouth went taut and she replied with a thread of defiance coloring her tone. “We never agreed to be exclusive.”
Kurt winged one brow upward and crossed his arms over his chest. “I don’t share. In case I neglected to mention that, now you know.”
Moving back, a hint of amusement crept into Mitchell’s expression. “I’ll step aside and let you two work this out. Leslie, look me up if you decide to ditch Master Kurt again.”
Kurt waited until Mitchell walked away before leaning against Leslie’s back, loosely circling her neck with his hands and whispering in her ear, “Don’t you think you should have told me before you accepted another Dom’s invitation?”
“I didn’t think it would matter.”
A slight tremor ran through her body as he tightened his hands on her throat, just enough to remind her of his control, and what she’d agreed to. “Once again, you thought wrong, and you’re not being completely honest. You’d rather back away than risk revealing more about yourself, like you did last night.”
She tried to turn her head to look at him then released her breath in a huff when his hold wouldn’t allow it. Her throat worked under his hands as she swallowed and said, “You have no right to pry.”
Now it was his turn to sigh with exasperation because, damn it, she was right. Stepping back, he ran his hands over her shoulders, down her arched back and palmed her buttocks. “You’re right about that, but not about how you let me know you weren’t happy with me.” Digging his fingers into the soft globes, his thumbs slipped between the fleshy mounds to tease the sensitive area. “I’m disappointed you would resort to such a tactic instead of talking to me. Five swats with my belt or say red and we’re done. What will it be?”
Leslie couldn’t think straight, not with Master Kurt’s hands on her, the displeasure in his deep voice filling her with guilt and regret. She’d been a fool. What made her believe she could simply walk away from him now when she couldn’t forget him after one night together? Now she found herself torn between her ever-growing need for one man and her determination to ensure no one else would come to harm because of their association with her.
She heard the slide of his belt as he removed it and quaked inside. Goosebumps popped up across her backside as he trailed the supple leather over her flesh. To this day she didn’t understand how an aching, hot butt could calm her rioting emotions while drawing tears of discomfort, or how the hurt could eventually morph into pleasure. But there was no denying her body sang in tune to the silent threat, warmed to the promise of blissful pain and the pleasure induced forgetfulness it could lead to. If he allowed it.
Kurt reached around and cupped one breast before pinching her nipple. “Give me your answer, Leslie.”
Need won out over good intentions and she succumbed to the pull of that deep, commanding tone. For the first time in almost four years, she didn’t want to think in terms of ‘what if’, instead, opting for ‘why not’. “I’ll take the swats, Sir.”

BJ Wane in her own words:
I live in the Midwest with my husband and our dog, a lovable Great Pyrenees/Standard Poodle.  I love dogs, enjoy spending time with my daughter, babysitting dogs and kids, reading and working puzzles.  We have traveled extensively throughout the states, Canada and just once overseas, but I now prefer being a homebody. I worked for a while writing articles for a local magazine but soon found my interest in writing for myself peaking.  My first book was strictly spanking erotica, but I slowly evolved to writing erotic spanking romance with a touch of suspense.  My favorite genre to read is suspense.

Connect with BJ Wane
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https://bjwaneauthor.com/
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Pirates Passion & Plunder - an anthology

Here’s a deal you don’t want to miss out on! The anthology, Pirates, Passion and Plunder has gone live and for a very limited time, you can pick up this steamy collection of seventeen historical romances for only 99¢.
Here are some teasers to whet your curiosity:
What's a lady to do when she's boarded by ruthless brigands and barbarous buccaneers, kidnapped on the lawless High Seas?
Stripped to the skin by piercing eyes.
Captive and claimed by rough, strong hands.
She knows it's forbidden but how can she resist... a pirate's pleasure?

Buy link: Pirates Passion and Plunder
FREE with Kindle Unlimited

Don’t stop reading here! There is a chance to win a $25 Amazon gift card – details later in this blog.

Here’s a sample scoop from the novella Edward’s Law by Felicity Brandon
Blurb:
The Dexterity—designed to be the pride of the King’s navy, is mine.
Or, at least, she should have been, had the scoundrel Edward Law not waltzed into Christy’s auction house and stolen her from right under my nose.
But if Law thinks he can claim what rightfully belongs me to me, then he has another thing coming.
No man can make demands on me, be he gentleman, or otherwise.
I won’t concede to his dark, brooding eyes. I won’t surrender to his iron will.
Edward Law means nothing to me…

Excerpt:
Edward smiled. “As you can see, I have news of my own.”
He tilted his head in the direction of Alice, and for an excruciating moment, both men turned and regarded her. Alice’s face burned with embarrassment, and instinctively, she lowered her gaze, her attention falling on the stiff ropes at her wrists.
“A woman, Captain?”
“Very observant, Carlisle,” said Edward with a laugh. “Yes, a stowaway by the name of Alice Jaggers.”
“But a woman, sir,” the other man repeated. “It’s bad luck to have a woman onboard.”
Alice lifted her chin with interest. Bad luck, huh? This could be her way off the vessel altogether.
“Only if you subscribe to superstitions,” countered Law in an amused tone. “Which as you know, I do not. It is not luck that has brought us good fortune in the past but our own fortitude.”
Carlisle raised his brows but said nothing to protest. “How did she get on board, sir? And what are we to do with her?”
Alice’s belly twisted at the last question, her gaze darting once more to Edward Law. Until today, he was a man she had barely even contemplated—the man at the auction, a name on a list at Christie’s, but nothing more. Now, it seemed Mr. Law held Alice’s destiny in his hands, and she was heady with the new reality.
“I found her hidden in my quarters,” explained Edward as he turned to face Alice. “As for your second query, Carlisle, we are not going to do anything with her. As captain, our guest is my responsibility.”
She gulped at the way he made that sound, suddenly unsure if she should be grateful or afraid—worse was the way Alice’s body was reacting to the tattered captain. Where she had previously been disgusted by the sight of the man, she was fast becoming compelled. The weight of his stare and his authoritative presence had affected Alice in ways she could never have foreseen, and as she met his gaze again, she was perturbed by the way heat pooled beneath her gown.
“I should like you to stand guard outside my door while I address the crew.” Edward’s focus was back on Carlisle now. “I am sure you can understand I cannot have any of the men stumbling upon her by mistake.”
Carlisle turned to look at Alice, his brown eyes drilling into her. “Aye, sir,” he responded after a moment. “I can understand.”
Law moved toward him, resting his hand on the shorter man’s shoulder. “I would trust only you with this objective, my friend,” he said solemnly. “Keep her safe for me.”
“You can count on me, Captain,” Carlisle smiled, revealing two crooked front teeth. “Good. Then I must depart.” Law turned in Alice’s direction, fixing her with a hard stare. “I shall not be long, but until that time, behave yourself.”
Alice pulled in a deep breath as both men stalked from the room. She watched as the door slammed closed behind them, imagining Carlisle waiting just beyond. A potent myriad of emotions stirred as she heard what she assumed to be Law’s boots pacing away.
No man had ever spoken to her that way. Even her father had treated his only daughter with courtesy and respect when he addressed her.
Alice blinked, shaking her head as she processed what she was feeling.
On the one hand, she was embarrassed at her current predicament, entirely of her own making, and no idea how it would be reconciled, but on the other hand, she was seething with indignation at the way she had been treated. The way Law had spoken to her—dressing her down like a servant. Her face flamed as she recalled his proximity and the way he had touched her—the nerve of the man—then had somehow made her admit the error of her ways aloud. That was a feat no one had achieved before. Alice may have been guilty, but she would never have admitted such, especially to a stranger.
She sighed, eyeing the captain’s quarters as she struggled against the ropes. Being bound this way was intolerable—just like Law’s insufferable arrogance and the way he made assumptions about Alice. He assumed she would obey him and would be pliant to his plans. She snorted—the man had a lot to learn about Alice Jaggers if he thought she would remain compliant. She had not sneaked her way on board just to end up his bound captive, yet even as resentment burned in her blood, there was also something else. His commanding presence, just like the bondage, had stirred something in Alice.
Something she had not expected.
Something that felt like desire.

Here is the full list of titles and authors:

THE CAPTAIN’S CAPTIVE
by Victoria Vale
RAVEN
by Ashe Barker
ROGUE BOOTY
by Golden Angel  
THE BLOND DEVIL OF THE SEA
by Celeste Barclay
BOUGHT BY THE BUCCANEER
by Vanessa Brooks
TAKEN BY SIN
by Sky Purington
THE SEA WOLF
by Lee Savino
EDWARD’S LAW
by Felicity Brandon
PIRATE’S RUIN
by Marie Hall
OWNED BY THE PIRATE
by Sue Lyndon and Celeste Jones
TROUBLED WATERS
by Jane Burrelli
PURSUING HER PIRATE
by Jaye Peaches
HIS STOWAWAY
by Measha Stone
HIS WICKED WAYS
by S. Cinders|
CUT AND THRUST
by Simone Leigh
PIRATE’S PLEASURE
by Mariah Stone
LADY EVANGELINE’S PIRATICAL PERSUASION
by Emily Tilton

BONUS! To celebrate the launch of this gorgeous festive collection of historical romances, there's $25 of book money to whizz out to one lucky reader. Just click through to enter => http://www.lovebooksdaily.com/featured-read

Tempted: Dark Necessities - Dalton's Tale #1 by Felicity Brandon

Today’s guest is Felicity Brandon with her book, Tempted: The Dark Necessities – Dalton’s Tale #1.

A love that neither of them could resist.
A secret that will burn down the whole city...

Blurb:
I’m obsessed with a woman who’s nothing but trouble.
She’s feisty and tempting.
And she doesn’t let anything come in the way of her mission.
I’ve dealt with my fair share of rule-breakers.
So, Delilah isn’t what I need.
But I can’t stop dreaming about having her in my arms.
She might be hiding a secret.
A secret that could destroy me and burn the city to the ground.
There’s only one question that remains.
Is she worth the destruction that she’s about to cause?
Disclaimer: This book is intended for mature readers. 18 and over only! Scenes include spanking adult women, power exchanges, and explicitly sexual situations. These scenes are fantasies only, suitable for discerning readers. If such content may offend, please do not read this book.

Buy link: Amazon

Excerpt
“So, you don’t want dessert, sir?” Delilah’s voice had taken on that soft purr again, and his cock stirred reflexively at the tone.
Dalton leaned toward her. “Oh, I want dessert,” he assured her in a low tone. “In fact, I predict we’ll both be enjoying a bloody big portion.”
Delilah’s eyes widened and she smiled. “Thank God,” she murmured. “I can’t wait.”
He grinned, rising from his chair while she grabbed her purse and shrug. Stepping around the table, she moved toward him.
“How far is to your place, sir?”
Dalton’s arm snaked around her middle, drawing Delilah toward him. “Not far, beautiful. Hold on, I’ll have you there in a few minutes.”
She flicked her bob back with a mischievous smile, and he led her wordlessly out of the Italian restaurant and in the direction of the elevators. The place was the usual thrum of activity for this time of the evening, and numerous people acknowledged him as they wandered past the throng.
“Hey, Dalton!”
He turned at the sound of his name to find Manuel striding toward them. “Hey, man,” Dalton answered, his brow arching at the way his old friend’s gaze so overtly fell over Delilah.
“I was going to ask if you were stopping by the club tonight, but…” Manuel paused, smiling at the pouting expression Delilah was offering him. “It looks like you’re already taken.”
Dalton laughed. “Manuel, this is my friend, Delilah.”
He glanced down at her expectant face, her thoughts confirming how eager she was to know who Manuel was. “And, Delle, this is Manuel.”
Manuel thrust out a large palm in her direction. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Delilah.”
His gaze rose to Dalton, his brow raising as his thoughts confirmed his curiosity. Who’s the hot little redhead, Dalton? You’ve obviously been playing this card very close to your chest.
Dalton bit back on a grin as he guided Delilah in the opposite direction. “Great to see you,” he called back over his shoulder. “Have a good night.”
“Yeah, you too,” Manuel replied. You lucky sod.
“Friend of yours?” Delilah whispered as they entered the elevator.
There was only one other couple at the far end and with a nod, Dalton steered Delilah away from them.
“Yes, he is,” Dalton confirmed.
He was about to illustrate his point by telling Delilah about Manuel’s position within the organization, but he stopped himself. He may really like the woman, but Dalton had to face facts. She wasn’t telling him the truth, so he needed to be careful with the information he made available. Dalton gazed down at Delilah. She was glancing over her shoulder at the other couple, her attention slowly returning to him.
“Are you okay?”
“More than,” she answered with a lascivious grin. “This is the part of the night I’ve been looking forward to the most.”
Dalton smirked. “I noticed,” he murmured. “You’ve been making those bedroom eyes at me all night.”
Delilah nibbled her lower lip, pressing herself up against him. “Guilty, sir,” she said softly. “What’s my punishment?”
His eyes widened at her provocative display, and at that moment, the elevator came to a pause, the chiming bell drawing both of their focus temporarily back to the sliding doors. Dalton pulled Delilah against him while the other couple left, his arm reaching to instruct the elevator to the floor they needed.
“I’m glad you asked,” he brooded, ensuring he had her full attention as the doors slid closed once more. Slowly, he spun Delilah’s body around, pressing her against the cool mirrored interior. “Based on how much you enjoyed your introduction to BDSM yesterday, I thought we could play another game?”
Delilah gulped, her pupils dilating. “Are you trying to frighten me, sir?”
Dalton’s cock roused at her question. “No, Delilah.” His tone was low and even. “Would you like me to?”