Category Archives: Breathless Press
Why I read romance—Michele Stegman
Excerpt
She did not cry out or pull away. She opened her mouth farther, inviting a deeper taste of her sweetness, an invitation that this time, he did not ignore. She swayed against him, and the combined heat of their bodies seemed to melt them together, fusing them into one.
Somewhere in the deep recesses of his mind he marveled at how well their two bodies fit together, curve to cavern, hill to hollow, swell to depression. He started when her hand touched the bare flesh of his back, and again when her other one was also laid upon him, was utterly lost to dignity when they moved over his skin.
His own hands began to explore, almost, it seemed, of their own volition, but he drank in their findings, savoring the slope of her shoulder, the long curve of her back, a cresting buttock. His hands found it all, gliding over her, sending searing sensations to him to feed his hunger for her. But it was an insatiable hunger, a hunger that grew with each touch, each caress, each play of tongue on tongue.
One of his hands searched upward from her waist, climbed the mound of her breast, and was rewarded by a hardening nub at the peak. He pressed closer, wanting that union of flesh with flesh that could not be accomplished through layers of silk and linen. He pressed against her and she stumbled back a step. He turned her so that her back was to the oak and ground into her, tongue thrusting, loins pressing in a frenzy to intermesh.
Her hands moved with an equal searching frenzy across his back, kneading, clawing, wanting, urging him on. He grabbed at her skirt, trying to lift it, but the fullness of it defeated him, slithering back into the path of his groping hand, blocking him from his goal of bared thigh and hip and belly. He heard her moan and its plaintive note lent him new resourcefulness.
Historical Romance
Timeless-Historical Romance
Nevil’s View on Love and Marriage
Excerpt Tuesday
This week I have Sonia Hightower for Excerpt Tuesday.
Blurb
Q&A With Arya Grey
Arya Grey : I’ve been writing for most of my life, but it all started in High School, where I was lucky enough to attend one based on the arts. My Creative Writing teacher was and still is my biggest inspiration. So for nearly 12 years I’ve dabbled, but only started writing books 3 years ago. Time passes when you’re having fun!
Alyssa: What made you pick writing horror?
Arya Grey: Horror describes me best. Just ask those who know me 😉
Alyssa: Are you the kind of author who needs a certain drink or snack nearby when writing? If so, what is it?
Arya Grey: Not typically, but if I’m exhausted then a milky coffee and some Cadbury’s chocolate fingers do me nicely. I try not to snack when I write because I pig out when I’m not at my computer!
Alyssa: How has your life changed since becoming published?
Arya Grey: Well, I suddenly seem to have no time for anything! Ha!
Alyssa: What can you tell me about your newest release?
Arya Grey: Well, what started as a fun exercise with a crit group, soon turned into soon-to-be published Anthology, that spans across 3 books and 12 authors! ‘The Blood Bar Chronicles’ follows 12 writers who meet at a bar, and by the end of the night their lives all change drastically.
I am the 4th story (‘Perfect Timing’) in the first book, entitled “The Blood Bar Chronicles, Book 1: The Alphas”, where you’ll meet Josie McNair, young, self-conscious and looking for a little excitement in her life. Well, she gets what she asks for when she meets the gorgeous, but strange, David Malm.
,
and she had absolutely no idea why. Every woman in the joint had their eyes set on him, except for Arielle, who just looked confused.
,
and the only thing Josie saw as the world came to a stop around her, were blue-green eyes. Then she was spun into a vortex of wind and colors so bright she had to close her eyes for fear of being blinded. She shrieked at first, but calmed when warm hands spread across her waist and held her tight. She had to try with all of her strength not to throw up the glass of wine she’d drunk too eagerly.
,
she finally felt ground beneath her feet. A cool, calm voice with a soft American accent spoke to her. “Are you okay, sugar? You look a little pale.”
,
and they met with an almost bare chest. The skin was smooth and a splattering of blond hair lay across it. She pushed back from him and looked up. He was smirking.
and looked around. She was in an old house with antique furniture, yet it smelled like a new car. “Where am I?” She gasped as another wash of ecstasy rolled through her.
“
I’ve brought you to my house where you’ll be safe,” he said, still smirking. His eyes almost sparkled in the lights of the dining room. “Would you like a drink?”
“
I’d like you to tell me what’s going on. What exactly am I safe from?” She demanded.
“
Well, babydoll, I wish I knew. What I do know is that I couldn’t leave you there salivating.”
“
I…I feel…” She moaned. She sure as hell wasn’t going to tell this fit-as-fuck stranger that she was close to having an orgasm, all because of some pretty boy. Now, the confident man in tailored clothes standing before her… he was her every fantasy. Hell, she was sure she’d written him into one of her books. She wondered what he looked like under his clothes, but snapped out of it.
“
You and every other gal in that joint.” He went to a small bar, poured whiskey into a glass, and held it up to Josie. She shook her head in refusal, still trying to keep the wine down. “He must have some sort of call.” He sipped from the glass.
“
How did we get here? And where exactly is here?” Josie asked and sat back against the long table. Every sense was on high alert. Did someone slip something into my wine?
“
Now that would be telling, wouldn’t it?” His voice, low like a purr, sent shivers down her arms. She had hoped she would meet someone at the end of the night, maybe even go back to their place, but this was not what she had imagined. Of course, the man standing before her was pretty much her description of perfect, but something didn’t feel right.
“
What about my friends? Are they alright?” Josie’s voice shook as she said the words out loud, but his next words relaxed her.
“
Your friends are fine. I assure you.” He pressed his lips to the glass once more and walked up to her. Josie held her breath, hoping that her amazing make-up was still intact, and watched his every move. Despite his height he walked with a certain grace, and his eyes told of the many things he’d seen in his life. “And you’re okay, thanks to me.” He traced his fingers lightly down her shoulder. Goose flesh broke across her pale skin, and she let out her breath.
“
Who are you?” She asked, leaning into him.
“
My name is David Malm.” He smiled.
Q&A With Kiru Taye
Alyssa: So, Kiru, how long have you been writing?
Kiru: Hi Alyssa, it’s great to be your guest today. I started writing seriously in January 2010. Prior to that, the last time I wrote stories was in high school.
Alyssa: What made you pick writing romance?
Kiru: Romantic fiction is a genre I love reading. Out of the paperbacks on my bookshelves, or eBooks on my eReaders (yep, I’ve got two of those) 90% are romance novels. So it kind of made sense that I write about what I love.
Alyssa: Are you the kind of author who needs a certain drink or snack nearby when writing? If so, what is it?
Kiru: Well, I’ve got to have my cup of hot drink (coffee or Chai tea, depending on my mood) before I can even write anything coherent. lol
Alyssa: How has your life changed since becoming published?
Kiru: It’s more chaotic. I’m lucky I have a patient husband who appreciates that I don’t work a 9 to 5 job like everyone else. When I’ve got a deadline, everything else takes a back seat.
Alyssa: What can you tell me about your newest release?
Kiru: His Strength is book 2 in my Men of Valor historical romance series. It follows the story of Ikem and Nneka who were briefly mentioned in book 1, His Treasure. Each story is a stand-alone and can be read independently. But they are all set in the same location, a village in ancient West Africa and occur around the same event—the New Yam festival. So you get to see how this one event affects the lives of the characters differently. Ikem is a strong alpha who has no qualms about how to tame his strong-willed quarry. But Nneka has a few tricks up her sleeves and certainly keeps him on his toes till the last page.
Here’s the blurb:
Ikem was unable to claim Nneka once because his lineage meant he wasn’t good enough. Now fate has given him another chance. But he quickly discovers that claiming this unpredictable wildcat is easier said than done. Will he be able to convince her that succumbing to their passion is the key to her freedom?
His Strength excerpt: