When is consent not consent?

**Spoilers**

A few people have commented about my book, Simon Says. They say there is one scene when it crosses the line from DD to abuse. This happens in Japan when Sadie deliberately disobeys one of Simon’s specific rules, meant to protect her and keep her safe. As the author and as a DD practitioner, I have some problem with what Simon does next but he acts within his mandate. He is a little over the top and regrets his actions later but at the time he is working within the principle in law known as Carte Blanche.

Sadie has given Simon Carte Blanche, or unlimited authority, in his role of Head of the House. By allowing him to spank her and set rules for her, she has given him authority over her as to when and how much she will be punished. To me, any time a submissive calls the shots about the when and how of a spanking, she has effectively given up her role as submissive. The whole idea of DD is that there is one leader, one primary decision maker. Yes there should be boundaries and safe words, but ultimately the HoH makes the decision.

No skin was broken in the scene in Japan. No blood was drawn. There is nothing like some of the gruesome spanking photos available online. But Simon did thrash her soundly. There is no doubt about that.

Did he get away with it? Definitely, in the short term. The first heat of love and romance has blinded Sadie. At the end of Simon Says, they both think they’ve found their HEA (happily ever after). However Sadie hasn’t quite forgotten that night in Japan. Book 2 in the series, Simon Says I Do, opens with her having serious second thoughts. There are times when a submissive needs to speak up.

What are your experiences with DD? Is there a time when you’ve wanted to withdraw your consent? Have you ever felt abused or unloved in your DD lifestyle?

Photo from Wikimedia Commons: Rosa Carte Blanche in the Volksgarten in Vienna by Anna Reg

The Code of the West By Kelly Dawson

Today I’m pleased to introduce Kelly Dawson who loves anything to do with horses, rodeos and cowboys, and being lost in a good book - preferably a rural romance where a strong woman falls in love with a ruggedly-handsome, tough but gentle cowboy, and these are the types of characters who feature in the stories she writes. Only in Kelly’s books, the cowboys are even better because they spank!
She lives literally at the bottom of the world in the South Island of New Zealand, with her husband, four kids, a dog and a cat.

THE CODE OF THE WEST

In the years since the tragic death of her parents, Jedda-Lyn Cross has given everything she has to keep the family ranch running. She has grown accustomed to getting no help at all from her alcoholic brother, but when his violent, sadistic friend tries to make Jedda his wife against her will, it is the last straw.

Her attacker is the son of the richest family in town, and with the corrupt sheriff ready to do his bidding Jedda is desperate to leave town in a hurry. With no money and no horse, her best chance of making her escape comes in the form of a soon-to-be-departing cattle drive led by the famous trail boss Wes Jordan. But a young woman has little hope of gaining employment on a cattle drive, so drastic measures will be required…

Wes is none too pleased when he discovers that the new drover he hired is actually a beautiful twenty-two-year-old woman disguised as a boy, but after hearing Jedda’s story he promises to protect her. As he quickly realizes, however, that will be easier said than done. Jedda is sassy, headstrong, and in serious need of a good, hard, bare-bottom spanking, and when her reckless disregard for her own safety finally pushes him too far, Wes takes her firmly in hand.

After a painful, humiliating punishment from the handsome trail boss, Jedda is left with her bottom burning and her mind set awhirl. In spite of everything, she aches for Wes to take her in his arms, and when at last he does the pleasure of his skillful, passionate lovemaking nearly takes her breath away. But with her obsessed former suitor and his hired guns still after her, can she bring herself to accept the fact that, for a man like Wes, risking his life to protect the woman he loves is just part of what it means to live by the code of the west.

Excerpt 1:

“I’m not a child!” she protested.

“No,” Mr Jordan agreed, sliding down off his gelding. “I wouldn’t do to a child what I’m about to do to you. What were you thinking? There’s no doctor within 200 miles – you could have been killed!”

“But I wasn’t,” she pointed out. “We were fine.”

She watched in morbid fascination as Mr Jordan took off his gun belt, draping it over the saddle of his horse. Then he rolled up his sleeves to the elbows to expose corded, muscular forearms. He was really going to do it! There were no wooden spoons out here – was he just going to use his hand? The thought intrigued her. She took in his sheer size, his incredible strength, his powerful muscles, his well-toned body. She took note of his huge, calloused hands. She gulped. Somehow, she didn’t think Mr Jordan would need anything other than the palm of his hand to ignite a fire in her backside.

“I gave you an order,” he told her sternly, but so quietly that she could barely hear him.

“I’m not much good at taking orders.” She waved her hand dismissively. “It was just me and Neil for a long time. I’m not used to being obedient.”

“Well you’re about to learn.”

Excerpt 2:

The whole way back to the herd, Jed remembered the way the ruggedly handsome cowboy’s chapped lips had felt on hers as he had kissed her urgently, the tender way his fingers had tangled in her hair while his other hand had caressed her cheek. She couldn’t stop smiling as the ache in her breasts deepened, electricity coursed through her, and the drumming throb between her thighs returned. Even the pain in her bottom was deliciously sore now, instead of the fiery, torturing burn of before. Mr Jordan was the man she’d been waiting for – the man who was able to take her in hand and make her content to be his woman.

BUY LINKS FOR THE CODE OF THE WEST:

Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/Code-West-Kelly-Dawson-ebook/dp/B017Y0Z1XO/

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-code-of-the-west-kelly-dawson/1122942605

All Romance ebooks: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-thecodeofthewest-1928159-147.html?referrer=561b48e08bbe8

Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/the-code-of-the-west?utm_source=linkshare_us&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=linkshare_us&siteID=hUnLKTScRMc-2zYt8r.vdtq9m1A0Ld6wEA

A Q&A with Kelly Dawson

Are you like any of your heroines?

Parts of me are, yes. But mostly, my heroines are a mix of myself, people I know, and the completely made-up.

How many books have you written? Are they all spanking fiction?

I have 4 books published now, heaps that are in various stages of progress, and heaps more ideas swirling around in my head. No, they’re not all spanking fiction, but they’re all romance. Although it will be a while before something that isn’t spanking fiction will be published.

Do you have a specific writing style?

I thought I did, but it turns out that no, I don’t. The way I write, the topics I choose … they’re constantly changing and developing. That’s a good thing, right?

Do you see writing as a career?

Absolutely! It doesn’t pay very much yet, but I’m hopeful that it will, one day. Being a writer is what I’ve always wanted to do, so this opportunity is a dream come true for me.

What is the best thing you have done in your life?

Marrying my wonderful husband and having my 4 beautiful children. They are what makes my life worth living.

Tell us about a unique or quirky habit of yours

I have Tourette’s Syndrome. So while the strange things I do aren’t exactly habits, it looks like they are. Other than my visible tics, I have to peg all my washing on the line using colour-co-ordinated pegs, and things must be hung up a certain way. If anyone helps me hang out the washing it drives me insane, because I’m going along after them, “fixing” it all LOL.

Have you ever had the feeling you were being watched?

All the time! Not so much since we’ve been in this house, but I swear a previous house we lived in was haunted. I felt like there was always something looking over my shoulder. It was horrid!

What's your favorite material object that you already own?

My laptop. I would be lost without it.

If you could eliminate one thing from your daily schedule, what would it be and why?

Washing dishes. Self-explanatory really! – I hate washing dishes – they’re never ending!

Tea or coffee?

Coffee. Vanilla latte, preferably.

Social Media Links:  

My blog: http://www.kellydawsonauthor.blogspot.co.nz/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100008980697756

Google+: https://www.google.com/+KellyDawsonauthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KELLYDAWSONauth

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/kellydawsonau/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13257528.Kelly_Dawson

Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/author/kellydawson

The Code of the West is a standalone sequel to The Ways of the West, (Note: You do not need to have read The Ways of the West to enjoy The Code of the West; they are both standalone books) Both books are now available in one paperback volume – called The Heart of the West.

BUY LINKS FOR THE WAYS OF THE WEST:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Ways-West-Kelly-Dawson-ebook/dp/B014LXVSIO/

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-ways-of-the-west-kelly-dawson/1122591477

All Romance Ebooks: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-thewaysofthewest-1876679-147.html

Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/the-ways-of-the-west

BUY LINK FOR THE HEART OF THE WEST:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1519500831/ref=cm_sw_r_fa_dp_N.Gvwb17WHREV

Guest spot with Jane Henry Author

Thank you to the generous Jane Henry for inviting me to her blog today.

Jane is the mother of small children who manages to blog, write and participate actively in a wide social media circle. I’m grateful that she made time for me in her busy life.

#SatSpanks - she was falling in love but could she fall into line?

This is my first foray into the fun world of the Saturday Spankings blog hop.

I hope I’m doing it right!

Following is an excerpt from my first novel Simon Says from Blushing Books. It features bossy billionaire Simon and his feisty girlfriend, Sadie. He has just given her a gift:

Inside was a black and gold box from Mason Pearson. Hair Brush. Two separate words for hairbrush, in the old-fashioned style. Inside that, like undoing Russian dolls, was a red flannel bag. It held a wooden-handled brush and a small, black-bristled cleaning tool. I ran the brush through my hair and my scalp tingled from the massage. Then I slapped the back of the brush against the palm of my hand. Ouch. The damn thing stung.

Buy this book at Amazon ‖ Blushing Books

February 3rd, 2016

The gorgeous Bethany Leigh invited me to visit on her blog:

http://bethanyleighromance.blogspot.com.au/2016/02/guest-spot-libby-campbell.html

His Gentle Persuasions by Alyssa Bailey

Today I'm delighted to welcome my first guest author, Alyssa Bailey, and look at her latest book, His Gentle Persuasion.

This dyed-in-the-wool Texan writer lives in beautiful Southeastern Alaska with her husband, her youngest four (of eleven!) children, two dogs, and two cats.

After her mother read to her as a small child, Alyssa began writing as soon as she could put letters together to form words. Her first story at the age of six was about a performing horse that ran away from the circus. As she got older and read more of a variety of books, she would say, “I can do better than that” and then rewrite them in her head. She was writing fanfiction before the trend had a name. In high school and college, she won journalism and special recognition for her writing.

Alyssa is a firm believer in all things spanking. She loves writing about domestic discipline and power exchanges between strong, intelligent women and Alpha men confident enough to keep them safe.

Her books feature lords and ladies in Regency England or men and women in the contemporary and cowboy world.

Today we are looking at Alyssa’s most recent release, His Gentle Persuasion (from Blushing Books), which is storming the Amazon charts.

His Gentle Persuasion 

Blurb:

Rancher Ciarán O’Connor is one of the best and most successful equine and canine trainers in the Northwest. Finding a date is never hard for Ciarán but unearthing a woman that meets all of his particular expectations that is not too needy herself is more challenging. He is ready to wait for as long as it takes when he spots Nurse Katherine Franklin and makes a horse trade to get better acquainted. He finds that just like his wild or abused animals, Ciarán must slowly work at the puzzle of Katie’s past to find the jewel hidden beneath all that manipulation. It will take all the tools in his arsenal to reach his goal.

 Katie has a reputation with the men in the community; hard to catch and impossible to keep. Ciarán O’Connor makes her blood run hot. This rancher expects the woman he loves to allow him to take care of her which includes her obedience when he asks for it. And a red hot bottom when she doesn’t. Ciarán doesn’t need someone like Katie, whose past screams for her to run while her heart begs her to stay, but will he take her anyway?  

Can Ciarán convince Katherine that his take-charge lifestyle is not only what she needs, but everything she craves? Or is she going to turn away from the future she desires because of the past she has endured?

Excerpt:

“Where is Aaron?” Ciarán looked around as though he expected to see him somewhere. "

"Oh, inside, I told him that I was going home and I didn’t need him to go with me if he wasn’t ready. We came in separate cars so that worked out fine or it seemed like it would.”

“He allowed you to go home alone? Where is your phone? Did you already call someone to come and get you?”

She shrugged her shoulders to dismiss her answer. “I left it at home. And just to be clear, no one allowed me to do anything. I do what I want.”

Ciarán growled as he told her to sit tight and he would be right back. A shiver of
something ran through her body at his tone, creating a rolling anticipation in her stomach and a clenching of her core. Ciarán got into his pickup a few rows away and pulled up in the row front of her car. Jumping out he told her to get into his truck to stay cool and he would jump-start her battery.

“Oh, I’m all right, it isn’t too hot,” Katie said quickly, not moving from her leather
upholstery so he would not know that her legs were quickly becoming seared to the seat. She knew that skin peeled from the seat sound would be a dead giveaway.

She had made it a hard and fast rule not to let another person, especially a man, dominate anything associated with her actions or her will. She had allowed that before with disastrous results and would not do it again. She had come a long way but it was still difficult to trust anyone with macho tendencies. Gorgeous as this specimen was, he was machismo personified.

Ciarán opened the door wider and went down on his haunches saying deliberately and in a quiet voice, “Don’t argue, beag Leanaí. You will be perfectly safe. Mind me and go sit on the passenger side of my pickup or I will not get your car started and you will have to let me take you home in my truck.”

Again, Katie was dismayed when she sensed a thrill that went right to the center of her womanhood. However, she was not going to acknowledge it by dwelling on it. Nor was she going to let another man tell her what to do even if this one was sexy as hell while doing it. Been there, done that. However, her inner soul was begging that she let this one in. It was begging her to try again with this man.

“What did you say? You said it twice now, beag Leanaí. What is that?”

“Truck.” He stood up. The conversation was over.

You can find Alyssa online:

Alyssa Bailey Romance website ‖ Facebook ‖ Twitter: @blushingalyssa

email: alyssabaileyromance@gmail.com

Books by Alyssa Bailey:

Chase Abbey Series:

Lord Barrington’s Minx (book 1)

Becoming Lady Barrington (book 2)

The O’Connor Series:

Her Sweet Complication

Liam’s Lessons

Loving Liam

Contemporary / Cowboy

Cowboy Welcome

His Gentle Persuasion (Ciarán O’Connor book 1)

How are you celebrating Robbie Burns Day?

January 25th is Robbie Burns Day and our small branch of clan Campbell is ready. At sunset we will don our traditional clothes, a kilt for him, a red velvet gown for me. We’ll pour a dram of scotch each, take our dinner from the oven, and settle on the sofa in the living room. Gavin will put a match to the fire and we’ll read Burns’ poetry to each other while bathing in the warmth from the hearth. We will attempt to read the Scottish versions and one of us will fail miserably.

No haggis will be served.

It will be an evening of laughter and dreaming. The entire time I will be mindful of the thick leather belt that runs around the top of my handsome husband’s kilt. He has never used it on me but there have been close calls. It creates a nice level of tension between us and whenever he brings it out, I straighten to attention.

I’m sure these awful belts must be the basis of the tawse that at one time were an integral part of the corporal punishment system in Scotland. Over thirty years ago, the tawse was outlawed for use on children in Scotland, as it should have been.

However consenting adults only have to search the internet to buy a tawse of their own.

Surely as long as Gavin has the belt from his kilt, there is no need for one in our house. Is there?

The Making of Simon Says

My first erotic romance, Simon Says, is due for release next Friday, January 29th! I couldn’t be more excited. I’m eternally grateful to the people who have brought my vision to realization: namely my publisher, Blushing Books, and most particularly the excellent editor, as well as woman responsible for the eye-catching cover, Lawson Craighill.

My editor challenged me on some aspects of spanking, specifically the strike zone. That was excellent – it forced me to do some research on the subject. I found these two charts that illustrate the safe areas for spanking. If you’re just starting out on your spanking adventure, I wish you lots of fun, romance, and, most importantly, safe practice.

How do you keep the fire going in your spanking romance? Do you have a safe word and defined limits?