Yes, this post is part of the St. Patrick’s Day BlogHop! See below for prizes and make sure to leave a comment with and email address to enter, and check out the gift basket that’s potentially available from Morgan K. Wyatt below.
Such idioms have ingrained themselves within our language and culture. It doesn’t matter if you’re not Irish, you better be wearing green on St. Patrick’s Day, or else you’ll be pinched.
What’ll happen if you pinch someone by accident, and they are actually wearing green? They get to sock you! Ouch.
On this St. Patrick’s Day, my family actually will be celebrating another saint day – St. Joseph’s Day. The name-saint’s day actually falls on March 19 but since my father will be out of town, and it falls on a Monday, we’re celebrating a little bit early. The family will get together, make limoncello liquor, and give my dad homemade gifts.
When most people read “homemade,” they probably think arts & crafts. Well, there’s not much crafty about these gifts. One year, my daughters and I hollowed out loaves of French bread and made shoes for him. Last year, my aunt Bedazzled a pair of black boxer shorts, and the fashion show will forever be embedded within my mind! Do a little bit of research and you’ll learn that fava beans often play a role? Don’t know what a fava bean is?
Most are familiar with them dried, but they also sell them fresh – much tastier. And green! Here’s an image:
And that’s a reminder, no matter what we do, we’ll also be wearing our green … but drinking yellow alcohol. Ah, the luck of the Italian-Irish.
BlogHop Prizes!
More than 120 authors are going to be telling anything they can about being Irish, celebrating the day, wearing green, drinking green beer... pretty much anything!
Each author will be giving away a prize. Like a swag pack, gift cards, ebooks, print books, and so much more.
PLUS We have TWO Grand Prizes for TWO different winners! *gasp*
Grand Prize 1: Winner’s Choice of a Kindle Fire or Nook Tablet
Grand Prize 2: Winner’s Choice of a $90 Amazon or Barnes&Noble Gift Card
Isn’t that exciting? LOL. So you as a reader – what do you have to do? Well, come on over to these websites on Friday, March 16 and comment on as many as you want (with an email address so we can contact the winners!). The grand prize winners will be chosen at random from the commenters – meaning you can comment on EACH blog – meaning 120 entries to the grand prize.
What can you win here at Love Knows No Bounds? How about a $10 gift certificate to Ravenous Romance and a Goody Bag.
Tell me: What’s your item of green on this emerald-hued holiday? Not wearing green, and use some creative licensing (make it up!). Please make sure to leave your email address in order to be entered into the contest.
Morgan has some creative & cute giveaway prize pack baskets that's she's giving away to a lucky commenter. Each basket includes a stuffed cougar (beanie baby), dark chocolate, bath salts, flower seeds and (possibly) a bracelet. Make sure to leave your email address with a comment to be entered. Contest ends Monday, March 19, 2012.
I am a historical romance writer, not an erotic romance writer, and I have a half dozen unpublished books to prove it. When I saw the submission call from Secret Cravings, I read it, and considered it. The email came through one of my writing groups. It wanted stories about women in relationships with younger men. There is new phenomenon out there called cougars, where the older female pursues the younger guy.
Well, I thought I’d give it a try even though it was way out of the ball park as far as historical goes. The prompt for submission told me the hotter the book the better. Whoa, an entirely different angle for me. I have friends who write some pretty hot stuff, even with three ways, but not me. I am the type of person who did the fade to black. My couple who did the deed would wake the next morning to birds chirping that’s the only clue you’d have that they spent the night together.
The concept of writing about older women dating younger men wasn’t a hard one for me since I’ve spent a few years in the dating world. I chose not to write about the aggressive man eater who chases down her prey with a promise and a wicked smile in her BMW convertible. Nope, my characters were pretty normal as opposed to the obvious stereotype.
Ashlee, my heroine in RELUCTANT COUGAR, is surprised that a younger man would approach her, so much so that she brushes aside his advances. Men are willing to go out with anyone who strikes their fancy. They don’t ask a woman’s age or what she does before contemplating asking her out. This is a hard concept for both Ashlee and me. I even asked several men about it to confirm this. Yes, they’d go out with women older than then, but; they didn’t want women that acted older. Men who choose to date older women want vibrant, interesting women. Read: men don’t want to date a different version of their mother.
I wrote my first erotic romance putting in all the fears I had about dating younger men. Ashlee questions what she is doing, until she starts to fall for Nick. I didn’t go with the obvious cougar type, but allowed the relationship to develop on its own just like any other relationship.
Reluctant Cougar was an interesting writing change for me. I have two more cougars novels published by Secret Cravings including CUB IN BLUE and PUPPY LOVE, and two more in the works. The experience has been fun because it has stretched me as a writer. At first, I rejected the idea of the cougar romance because I only saw it from the television angle. I chose to write it from a normal woman angle, someone like me. I dated younger guys before, not because I ran them down, but because they asked me out. In fact, I am marrying a younger man in less than two months. So I would have to say I definitely embrace the image, or at least my version of it.
Blurb
The very last thing Ashlee expected was to meet a hot, younger guy Nick, at her boyfriend’s funeral. The tall, soft-spoken man comforted her with stories of her boyfriend since he studied under him. Grateful for Nick’s help and the shared connection they both shared with the deceased, they kept in contact.
Ashlee managed to ignore his hints for drinks and meetings putting it down to politeness. He felt sorry for her. There was no way he could be interested in a woman at least a decade older than him. That was until her work posse caught scent of the story and urged her to give the
man a chance. Ashlee knew she had to be the most reluctant cougar in the history of womankind, but what did she have to lose?
Morgan as a child had to suffer through movies with clueless heroines rescued by smart men. Her mother dutifully read her stories where princesses waited for princes to jumpstart their lives. There were no proactive female role models in the media at that time, with the exception of Wonder Woman. It is for this reason, and that it is fun, Morgan writes about strong women going after what they want, which is often a delectable cub. Those who wonder if the cougar tales have any reality to them should remember that writers often put themselves into every story they pen, even if it is a secondary character.
Thrilled to be featuring Liia Ann White's new release, Hot Aussie Weekend. I had the pleasure of meeting Liia last year in New York, and am looking forward to hooking up with her again in Chicago. Until then, here's to some Aussie fantasies!
Blurb
Newlyweds Jaycee and Campbell are stressed. Constantly working, trying to set up a secure future for themselves, they rarely spend time alone, enjoying each other’s company.
So, to celebrate their first anniversary, Campbell whisks away his wife on a romantic getaway where he plans to pamper her and lure her into the ultimate relaxed state. But what is his ulterior motive? What secret has he been keeping from his new wife?
Whatever it is, it’s guaranteed to be a weekend full of eroticism, love, romance and some surprises on a Hot Aussie Weekend.
Excerpt
Jaycee let out a long sigh as the bath bomb fizzled out beneath her legs. Lying completely immersed in the hot scented water was just what she needed. She hadn’t realised she was stressed until she was on the car ride down here. The tension always knotted her neck and shoulders, which ached.
The fact that Campbell had even thought of giving her a weekend away where he could pamper her was enough. The fact that he was actually doing it? Oh yeah, he got extra brownie points for that. She could have jumped him the second she stepped through that door, but now she was so relaxed, all she wanted to do was curl up next to him and snuggle.
As the bath water cooled, Jaycee pulled herself out and dried herself. Assessing herself in the mirror, she noted her pink cheeks and the way loose strands of hair had curled around her face and neck. Knowing Campbell loved that look, she left her hair up in the messy bun she had and left the bathroom.
Wrapping the towel tightly around her, Jaycee wandered to the bedroom area, sighing when the cool air hit her skin. She’d sat in the bath for too long and overheated herself a bit – she did that every time.
The second she set eyes on Campbell, her temperature rose again. Topless and wearing only a pair of cotton pants, he was mouth-wateringly sexy. Her eyebrows rose and she smiled as she took in the sight of him standing at the edge of the bed.
“You look…” she paused, trying to think of an appropriate word, but nothing described how attractive he was. With a light moan, she stepped up to him and ran her hand down his bare abdomen, smiling when the muscles contracted underneath her fingertips.
The series is based around Madame Evangeline's match-making skills. A woman to be reckoned with, and owner of a highly successful matchmaking service; put the right two people together for just one night and anything is possible. Especially when the dates take place at the fabulous Castillo Hotels and Resorts in some of the most exotic places in the world. For more on Madame Evangeline.
BLURB
Rachel Taylor has issues. Her father broke her mother's heart with his cheating and Rachel swore never to let that happen to her, but one ruined relationship after another and she's realized she's got to get over being closed off to men. Perhaps a one-night stand is just the baby step she needs to begin to build trust again.
Shaun Bell, a divorced workaholic, spends all his time tending bar in his Irish Pub. He's ready to love again, but the women who visit his bar are only after his infamous Irish cocktails. At the advice of his darts team, over a tanker or two of Beamish, he applies to 1Night Stand to get back into the swing of things and enjoy the company of a woman specially selected for him by Madame Evangeline. A match seemingly made in heaven...until morning rolls around and Shaun can't bring himself to say good-bye. Can he win her over with his secret weapon, a Sweet Irish Kiss, or is Rachel still too scared to love?
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Your Panties will be bunching and you will be sitting on the edge of your chair to wait and see what goodies Shaun has packed in his overnight bag ** grins **"-- Kat, Pageflipperz
GRAB YOUR COPY FOR FREE TODAY! LIMITED TIME OFFER TO CELEBRATE ST PATRICK'S DAY! AVAILABLE IN MOST EBOOK STORES...
"Ms. Kenrick's writing style flows nicely throughout the story. Her attention stays more on the characters rather than the setting which is fitting for the genre of the novella. I like her ability to dig deep within the characters feelings allowing them to step up and tell their story. It is as if the author really took the back seat on this one. Very well written indeed! JoAnne Kenrick knows how to write unique, if not quirky, characters that stay with me long after I've finished reading their stories." -- Talina, Night Owl Reviews
This Sweet Irish Kiss excerpt has been edited to make it a PG-13. Please keep in mind that
the full story has a 4 flame rating and is therefore NOT suitable for minors.
I can’t believe I did that. What a great first impression. Not! And only I could top it off by going all defensive on his ass. Poor guy looks like a rabbit caught in the headlights. At least he was a gentleman about it, though. Had any of my exes seen me go down like a ton of bricks, all Nia Vilvados style, they’d have pissed themselves laughing and grabbed their cameras. I’m the character who gets caught up in headphone wire when she sees a hot guy in that movie...Fat Greek Wedding, Big Fat Greek...whatever. I know what I mean.
Rachel shuddered. She’d fallen flat on her face because the hunkiness of her one-night stand had taken her by surprise. She hadn’t expected it. Not in the least. Average, that’s what his profile had said. It’s why she picked him. She figured he wouldn’t be up himself. Most attractive men who know they’re hot behave like monkeys in heat because of it. She wanted a man who would be thanking his lucky stars to have her in his arms, and one who would be romantic and polite. And when he rushed to help her, he‘d surprised her again.
Drop dead gorgeous and caring? This could be dangerous.
“Ya feeling better now?” Thick Irish accent, smooth like Baileys, coated each word her one-night stand spoke.
“Uh-huh.” She glanced up at his welcoming expression and caught her stare in his. “So, you’re Irish?” You’re Irish?
He quirked his mouth into a grin as if she amused him. She reminded herself that she wanted this and backed up. She sat on the nearest thing to her, a dining chair from the breakfast for two set, and chewed at her freshly manicured nails. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt this nervous. Her stomach flip- flopped around the butterflies dancing in her gut.
“Ya, that a problem?” God I love his Irish brogue.
“Listen, Shaun, I’m sorry about the way I came down on you. I mean, not came down on you. Hell, I...I’m sorry for losing it.” He raised an eyebrow. “For biting your head off when you tried to help.”
“Hey, I get it. I’m not what ya expected.” Shaun, hands firmly rooted in his pockets, shrugged his shoulders. “Ya definitely not what I expected, either, but here we are. We can call it a day if you prefer or we can enjoy the rest of the evening. What do ya say? I can leave if ya like. The hotel room’s been paid for, so ya can spend the night and make the most of it. I’ll leave ya be, so I will. But I’d rather stay here...with ya.”
Her stare locked on Shaun, and she watched him grab his bag from the foot of the bed and stride toward the exit. His muscular frame, dark features, and great sense of style had her knees knocking together. She couldn’t remember the last time she actually wanted a man. But it wasn’t like she’d chase after him. The day she did that would be the day she forgave her daddy, or rolled over dead. The latter was more likely to happen first.
The following excerpt has been edited to make it a PG-13 excerpt. Please keep in mind that the book does contain adult themes and language, and is not suitable for minors.
Pretentious, that’s how Rachel described the infamous Knightsbridge store where she worked. She loved her job, though. It meant she could let loose, make crazy-ass window displays, and stretch her imagination beyond the high street fashion trends. Usually.
“Effing yuppie fashion.” She stood, pin cushion in hand, staring out the huge plate glass window. The rain drizzled over passing shoppers who huddled and shared umbrellas with loved ones. She wished she could have someone she could trust to protect her when life pissed all over her, but she didn’t have anyone like that. The big brick wall she’d built had seen to it.
A flashback of running through a downpour with her father hit her hard. He’d thrown his coat over her, sheltering her and leaving himself open to the elements. They giggled all the way home, running late for a Mother’s Day dinner.
She closed her eyes to try and block out the past, but the darkness acted as a blank canvas for her memory to play out the scene until a rumble of thunder in the distance brought her back to the present.
She sniffled back her feelings and grasped a plastic body to steady herself. A teardrop trickled down her face, and she smeared it away. Time to buckle up and get over it. Once a fond memory, it now served as a bitter pill. He’d tricked her, tricked everyone with his gallant gestures. He could never again be the genuine, kind man she remembered from her childhood. At least not to her, anyway.
“Effing life.” She threw a knit over a male model’s shoulders and fluffed to give it a casual yet purposeful style. “What are they thinking, asking me to decorate the mannequins with this jumped up crap? Men don’t dress like Prince William. No man I know anyway.”
Her pocket buzzed. Rachel flipped her phone open. “Hello?” Nothing. “Hell-o?”
Still nothing. She pulled it from her ear and glanced at the digital display.
“Email, not a call. I’m never going to get used to this stupid, high tech phone.” She pressed a few buttons. Some wrong. Some right. Eventually, she managed to open up the message.
A last minute check, to make sure your 1NightStand goes as you desire. May I suggest you wear a corset, my dear, to flatter your curves. He’ll be there before you, and I picked a room especially with a double door entrance so you can have a Scarlet O’Hara moment. Please don’t wear green. He hates the color. A bottle of Jameson would make a wonderful gift, should you wish to bring something along to break the ice. And best of all, Rachel, remember why you wanted this and enjoy the experience. Good luck, dear, I hope he’s all you need.
Bien a toi, Evangeline
— Is he ALL she needs? There is only one way to find out…READ THE BOOK FOR FREE! St Patrick's Day Promotion, free offer for a limited time only.
This excerpt has been edited to make it suitable for a general, mature audience. Sweet Irish Kiss is not suitable for minors.
“Put this blindfold on,” he ordered, “if ya want a surprise.” He wanted to put it on her himself. But knowing she had trust issues, it didn’t feel right to do so. Instead, he went to the bathroom to clean the toys with warm, soapy water as the packet had said for him to do. He hoped she would be sightless and under his demand when he got back.
He wasn’t disappointed. Still on all fours, she had done as requested. He smeared lube over the beads and eased them into her. As an anal newbie, he had no idea how much it would turn him on and drive him insane. He wanted to rip them out and shove his cock inside her tight little hole instead. His hard on throbbed with need already, and it had only been minutes since he’d come. Sure he would be able to perform again, and probably too soon if he didn’t grab hold of himself, he grinned.
When the fifth and biggest bead was inside her, he whipped on a condom, slipped inside her bleep entrance from behind, and plunged all the way into her slick warmth . The bumpity-bump of the latex numbs rubbing against him through her thick layer massaged his length as he moved, and he couldn’t contain the growl that emerged from deep in his gut.
JoAnne Kenrick
JoAnne Kenrick, an ex-Ghost Tour Guide turned Romance Author, is a Welsh lass who has lived in various countries around the world. She now calls North Carolina her home, where she lives with her husband, two children and a lazy cat. When they aren't demanding her attention, she can most likely be found watching a vampire movie, reading or baking up a British favorite in her N.C. kitchen. That is, when she isn't writing or chatting up a storm on social networking sites.
