Her Grace’s Stable is now available in print on Amazon and following soon other places (official release date is June 3rd). To celebrate, I’m giving away a signed copy, along with a custom make-up-size bag filled with RT swag. I’ll mail these goodies anywhere on the planet. Enter via Rafflecopter below!
Happy Independence Day fellow Americans!
To celebrate, I’m going to giveaway a $20 gift certificate to winner’s choice of online book retailers. This giveaway is open to anyone on the planet, even if you’ve won something from me before. We’re going to keep it simple this time. No Rafflecopter or hoops to jump through.
I need your help.
I’m entering a Sex Scene Challenge! I need to supply the hottest 500 word excerpt for the contest. It needs to make an impression, even if you haven’t read the 10-30+K set up that lead to that scene. It doesn’t even need to be full-on activity if you know what I mean. It just needs to be HOT.
So help me out. What’s your favorite hot scene that I’ve written? Comment on this blog post by Friday, July 5th, midnight CST. I’ll use the Pick Giveaway Winner plugin to select one comment. Multiple comments are allowed and encouraged.
Thank you for your help and enjoy the holiday!
As part of our Scorching Summer giveaway, I’m thrilled to have New York Times bestselling author Mari Carr stopping by today!
I’m thrilled to be participating in a celebration of RED HOT reads with some of the most talented writers I know. On June 11, my book, Full Moon, will release alongside Joely Sue’s new story, Her Grace’s Stable, as well as books by Erin Nicholas, Harper Fox and Shelli Stevens!
Today, Joely Sue is allowing me to shanghai her blog to do a little shouting about Full Moon. In the two years since her divorce was finalized, Josie’s life has become one long, boring routine. Work, home, repeat. She has her hands full as a single parent, and while she’s not looking for a serious relationship, she sure wouldn’t mind getting laid.
When her friend Zoey challenges her to make a New Year’s resolution for a second chance at happiness, Josie goes one better and creates the “Howl List”. Every full moon, she will indulge in a different sexual fantasy. Right at the top? Sex without strings.
Fate leads her to the Blue Moon bar in January. After all, what better place to howl? And when she meets Jake Stewart, the sexy bartender, and engages in some red-hot sex with a stranger, her year seems to be off to a great start.
At least, until Jake declares he wants all her full moons…
Today’s Howl List item? Sex in Public
Jake let her take in their surroundings for a minute or so before asking, “Public enough?”
There was an undeniable thrill attached to the knowledge that anyone could come along at any moment. The chance of being caught combined with Jake’s hungry look was intoxicating. Perfect. “Yeah. It is.”
“Too cold?”
It was mid-February and there was a brisk breeze blowing. Regardless, after spending nearly an hour in the overheated club, the cool air felt good on her skin. Maybe the chill would clear her head, convince her this wasn’t such a good idea. She was starting to like Jake way too much.
Before she could reconsider, he pressed her against the back wall of the bar and kissed her. Josie melted into him as memories of their first night together drifted back to her. She hadn’t imagined any of it. He was an amazing kisser.
Jake took possession of her mouth like a man on a mission. She wrapped her arms around his neck, savoring the sweet taste of soda on his tongue. He was yummy and she wanted more.
His hands drifted to her jacket, parting it to squeeze her breasts through her sweater. He was rougher than she remembered, his passion fueling her own. She gripped his hair tightly when it appeared he’d stop kissing her, pulling his lips back to hers.
Jake groaned, so she pulled harder. Her aggression turned him on. He slipped his hands beneath her sweater and pinched her nipples.
Her head flew back against the wall as the sensual assault drove her higher. Her pussy grew wet. Or wetter. Her arousal had sparked and fired the moment Jake had whispered his invitation to fulfill her fantasy at the table.
“I want you so much,” she muttered against his cheek when his lips traveled along her throat, his tongue and teeth toying with her earlobe.
Full Moon is available for preorder from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Samhain.
Be sure to check out Erin, Shelli and Harper’s blogs as well because I’ll be sharing different Howl list items and excerpts! And don’t forget to enter the contest—lots of prizes, lots of chances to win!
As part of our Scorching Summer giveaway, I’m thrilled to have Harper Fox stopping by today!
Joely Sue, thank you so much for featuring me on your blog today. I’m very privileged to be sharing a Samhain Publishing release date on 11th June with four super-talented ladies – Mari Carr, Erin Nicholas, Shelli Stevens and, of course, Joely Sue, whose summer scorcher is called Her Grace’s Stable.
Brothers Of The Wild North Sea is a big departure for me – M/M of course, but my first foray away from contemporaries and into historical romance. I loved writing the book, though. It’s a tribute to my native Northumberland, England’s northernmost county, and the passionate spirits who helped form the land and its wild, beautiful culture in its earliest days. And a starred review by Publishers Weekly certainly makes me feel a lot more confident about unleashing the story on the world!
Brothers Of The Wild North Sea – what happens when the deadliest of enemies becomes heart’s desire?
Caius is working really hard to be good. He loves his life as a monk in the far-flung Christian stronghold of Farne, but he’s the son of a warrior chieftain, with hot blood in his veins. His biggest temptation is Leof, his sweet-natured friend – and, all too often, his lover.
When Vikings raid the monastery and Leof is killed, Cai questions his whole existence. All he wants is vengeance on the raiders. The last thing he expects is to find compassion in his heart for Fenrir, a young Viking wounded and left for dead. Defying his abbot, Cai uses his skills as a physician to save Fen’s life.
At first Fen tries to repay the kindness by attacking every Christian he can reach, but as time passes, Cai’s goodness to him reaches his heart – and Cai, who had thought he would never love again, feels the stirring of a profound new attraction.
But Cai and Fen are from different worlds. When old loyalties call Fen back to his tribe, can love be hold them together – and will they discover the ancient secret of Farne in time to prevent a catastrophic war to end all wars?
Here’s an excerpt:-
Up ahead was a crescent of rocks whose outer edge was turned to the storm-driven tide. A wave broke over it just as Cai and Fen fell into its sheltering curve, but it would do. The wind howled a little less fiercely there. The sea still stretched out its paws, but couldn’t drag them back. Sand was piled up here, strange rippled structures marked with kelp and a million fractured shells.
Cai pulled Fen out of the storm. They dropped to their knees, huddling against the rock. This time when Fen’s mouth sought his, he turned to him with a cry of joy and relief. Fen had been right—his blood was singing already, so loud the angels must hear. His skull banged off stone, and he reached up through exploding stars to grab anything he could of the Viking’s hot muscle and bone. Fen resisted him, tearing back to arm’s length, far enough to see him. “Caius.”
“My wolf from the sea.”
“Yes.”
“You came for me.”
“Well, none of your other lily-arsed brethren would do it. They saw you, and they ran around like headless chickens, but…”
“They’re not sailors. They’re not…” Not you, Cai wanted to finish, but his throat had seized up.
“Not pirates. Not vikingr.”
Cai nodded. Like their shelter, it would have to do. Another wave broke, spray arcing high, landing with a seething crackle all around. Fen’s mouth was salty with it when it next landed on Cai’s, and he moved like the thunder, bearing Cai down onto the sand. But Cai was full of newborn faith and certainty. He rolled on top, pinning him, and Fen looked up and whispered, “There you are,” as if in recognition. As if at the end of a long, lonely wait.
Cai shuddered. He straddled Fen’s thighs and ran a hand down over his stomach, over the hard plane that rippled and arched to find his touch. Fen was erect beneath the leather thong of his leggings. He moaned when Cai freed him, sea-chilled fingers clumsy on the lace. His cock lifted stiff and full into Cai’s grasp, a vision seared into Cai’s brain by the lightning. In the green-flashing darkness that followed, Cai plunged down on him, shifting to allow him access in return. He buried his face on the side of Fen’s neck. That great, strong hand was on him now, between their bodies, undoing him.
Brothers Of The Wild North Sea is available to pre-order from Amazon, Samhain and Barnes & Noble. Be sure to stop by and read Mari, Erin and Shelli’s posts on our blog hop – you’ll get the chance to win some great prizes, including a $50 gift certificate and my special prize for our tour, a signed coaster and mousemat featuring the fantastic Brothers cover art.
As part of our Scorching Summer giveaway, I’m thrilled to have New York Times bestselling author Shelli Stevens stopping by today!
Are you ready to get hot? 😉 Scorching Summer has arrived!
In case you don’t know me, I’m Shelli Stevens, and I’m seriously excited to be sharing an upcoming release day with some fun, talented authors! Check out these fantastic books releasing June 11th from Samhain Publishing.
Good Girl Gone Plaid by Shelli Stevens (that’s me!)
Her Grace’s Stable by Joely Sue Burkhart
Full Moon by Mari Carr
Brothers of the Wild North Sea by Harper Fox
She’s the One by Erin Nicholas
Today Joely is allowing me to hang out on her blog and share a bit about Good Girl Gone Plaid, and sneak you a pic of my prize! Thanks, Joely.
Let me say the title of this book came to me first, and I developed the series around it. I adore The McLaughlins, my imported Scottish family who now resides on Whidbey Island in the Pacific Northwest. And, seriously, I hope you adore the first in the series, too!
Falling for the bad boy is even more dangerous the second time around.
* * *
The McLaughlins, Book 1
In high school Sarah fell for her best friend’s older brother—one of the sexy, Scottish McLaughlin boys. But a painful betrayal showed her she’d been a fool to give her heart to a bad boy. At least it made it easier to leave him and move halfway around the world when her Navy dad got stationed in Japan.
Eleven years later, the death of her grandmother has forced Sarah back to Whidbey Island for a month. It’s the length of time she must stay in her inherited house before she’s allowed to sell it, take the money and run. But when she sees Ian, bad as ever and still looking like sin on a stick, she can’t keep her mouth from watering.
One look at Sarah stirs up the regret lingering in Ian’s heart—and never-forgotten desire lingering in his body. He should walk away, especially since divorced single mothers aren’t his style. But when she starts showing up at his family’s pub, he can’t resist a little casual seduction for old time’s sake.
One thing quickly becomes clear, though. The heat between them is causing an avalanche of secrets and betrayal and nothing will ever be the same.
WARNING
A bad-boy hero who’s good with his hands, a heroine who’s trying to be good. Contains liberal consumption of Scotch whisky, a Highland Games competition, men in kilts wielding large poles, and a potential Sarah McLaughlin of the non-musical kind.
Now available for pre-order on Kindle | Nook | Kobo | Samhain
Excerpt
“Give me a Glennfidich 18. Neat.” Ian kept his hands folded and his gaze on the bar counter, but he could still feel the surprise in his eldest brother’s stare.
The pub was near empty—apparently Old Man Cooper had gone home already as well.
“You do realize it’s just about lunch time.” Aleck made his way down the bar until he was positioned right in front of him. “And you’ve gone and ordered one of the most expensive spirits we have?”
“You think I’m daft, big brother? Shut your mouth and just pour it already.” Scowling, Ian lifted his head to make sure his brother hadn’t taken offense.
Aleck, the eldest of all the McLaughlin kids was now sole owner of the pub. He didn’t seem the slightest bit offended by his brother’s comments. He was used to Ian’s quick temper. Instead, his green eyes crinkled around the edges with laughter and his mouth was twisted into a slight smirk.
“Aye, I’ll give ya your drink. So long as you fill me in on why the fook you’re in such a foul mood.” Aleck’s accent had always been the thickest and slowest to fade.
“As if you don’t know.” Ian accepted the shot and glared at his brother. “Go bring Kenzie a tire, you say. As if you don’t know just who exactly you were throwing in my path.”
“No. I haven’t a clue.”
The genuine bewilderment on Aleck’s face convinced him that maybe his brother wasn’t lying.
“Look, Kenzie called and said she was in a bit of a mess and needed me to come out and bring her a tire. She didn’t say she was with anyone.” Aleck placed the bottle of scotch back up on the shelf with the other bottles of spirits. “Fill me in already. Who was with her?”
“Sarah,” Ian finally growled.
“Sorry, who? Tera?”
Ian tipped back the scotch and slammed the glass on the bar. “Sarah.”
“Sarah?” Aleck went still and tilted his head. “As in your Sarah? The good girl you shagged around with in your youth?”
“Aye. That’d be her.” He stared into his empty shot glass, not seeing the drop of amber liquid, but instead the image of Sarah half-naked in the back of his Camaro. “And I wouldn’t necessarily call her a good girl.”
“Wasn’t she now? One step from the nunnery from the impression I got.” Aleck grinned. “Though I’m sure any corruption she acquired back then came from your doing.”
“Hmm. Maybe.” The single malt scotch had warmed his insides and taken the sharp edges off the memory of his encounter with Sarah.
“So, how was it seeing her again?”
“Oh just fucking fantastic.” He gave a harsh laugh and pushed the empty glass to his brother. “Nearly as fantastic as taking a foot to the balls, I’d imagine.”
“That lovely? Was she mean? Did she go and hurt your feelings?” Aleck teased good-naturedly.
“No.” Ian hesitated, unable to share the humor. “More like I hurt her. I probably said some things I shouldn’t have.”
Aleck nodded. “Well, it wouldn’t be the first time either one of you has let your temper best you. You want another drink?”
“No.” Ian thrust a hand through his hair. “Wait, aye. One more.”
His brother grabbed the bottle and poured another glass. “I’m sorry. But let me guess. She’s fallen toward the ugly side and is as warm and cuddly as a porcupine?”
“Perhaps on the porcupine bit, but she’s not ugly.” He drank the second round. “She’s prettier now, if you can believe it.”
“Hmm. I’m trying to remember her. Short?”
“Petite. And she’d punch you in the stomach if she heard you call her short.”
“Which is probably as high as she can reach,” Aleck mused. “Long black hair, I think?” Ian nodded.
“Aye, I remember her hair. She was a pretty thing. Quite exotic. She had that hint of olive skin, but blue eyes. I’m surprised you captured her interest. Back then she was too innocent for the likes of you.”
And maybe still was. He’d calmed down considerably from what he’d been in his teen years. But he wasn’t an idiot. Ian knew his reputation on the island, and his bad boy image hadn’t fully gone away. Then again, he hadn’t done much to dissuade it.
“Will you see her again?”
“I doubt it. I don’t think she cared much for seeing me today, to be honest.”
“Aye, well you didn’t end on the best terms. Am I right?”
No. They certainly hadn’t. Just the memory of it was like taking a two-by-four to the chest. His jaw clenched against the wave of guilt and pain. Both emotions had been violently at war that day—as much as they still were now. Beneath those two emotions had been another one. Bitter disappointment. And it was always there. Hot and dark, running a river of anger through his blood.
He didn’t think about it much. Couldn’t go there in his head, because it was all such a mind fuck.
“There’s a reason the past is behind you.” Aleck’s quiet words resonated through the warm haze the Glennfidich had left.
“Aye. And it’ll stay there, no need to worry about that.”
Be sure to check out all the other gals’ blogs and don’t forget to enter the big contest—lots of great prizes and chances to win!
I’m thrilled to share a June 11th release date from Samhain with fabulous authors Mari Carr, Erin Nicholas, Shelli Stevens, and Harper Fox! To celebrate, we’re offering a really cool prize package, including a $50 gift certificate and individual prizes from each of us.
My offering: a Jane Austen Royal Mail stamp set I ordered from the UK, featuring images from Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice and more. It’s just gorgeous!
June 1-10 we’ll be hosting each other on our blogs, so be sure to visit for your chance to win. Entries will be managed via Rafflecopter. Note: the giveaway is already open and working, so I’m going to go ahead and post this so you can start entering! Just click through to Rafflecopter below.
To celebrate Vicki in print, I’m going to give away a signed print copy of Yours to Take and a $25 gift certificate to any online bookstore (AMZ, B&N, etc.) This time, I’ll try out Rafflecopter to manage the entries. One of the ways you can enter is to simply comment on this blog post.
I’m working on Mama Connagher’s book, tentatively titled A Hard Woman. If you’ve read any of the other Connagher books, what do you think about her? e.g. is there a particular detail you have in your mind? A habit or trait you’ve picked up from the other books? I’m just curious to see what people think of her, even though she’s never had a POV before.
Of course you can just throw your name in the hat by commenting on this entry too. This giveaway is open to anyone on the planet!
If you’re interested in winning a signed print copy of Yours to Take, I’m giving away 3 copies on GoodReads (open worldwide): (give it a day or so – the giveaway hasn’t been approved yet but it should be up soon)
Giveaway ends April 10, 2013.
See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.
I’ve also received the final ARC of Her Grace’s Stable (releasing June 2013). If pony play and menage doesn’t scare you (including M/M action) and you’re willing to post a review, drop me a note at joelysueburkhart AT gmail DOT com.
I need help. I’ve been typing [ship] every time I refer to Sig’s catamaran because I have no idea what it’s called. I’m *this close* to finishing the book and I’m going to turn around and work on edits very quickly so I can get it submitted as soon as possible.
So here’s where you come in.
I’ll list a few references about the ship. You guys suggest some names. If I pick one of the names to use in Lord Regret’s Price, I’ll list you in the dedication. Assuming it’s accepted for publication, I’ll also provide both an electronic and signed print copy once they’re available.
Wanna play? Here’s a few references to the ship from Lady Doctor Wyre. Remember, in Lady Wyre’s universe, the ships are referred to as he not she. ETA: You can enter as many times as you want!
In his one-of-a-kind mega catamaran built to cut through space like a hot knife through butter, he lived a life of luxury purchased by the blood of others.
…
“I know her well enough to comprehend that we’ll never understand her. Not fully. Oh, parties and clothes and such, yes, she’s entirely predictable. But as soon as I spend a queen’s ransom on the finest engines in the galaxy to tempt her onto my ship, she’ll throw me out on my face because she selected a colonial sheriff instead.”
….
“We’ll buy you a new gown.” Laughing, Gil swept her up into his arms. “This thing can fly itself, can’t it?”
“Of course.” Sig led the way toward his—their—bedchamber. “The finest technology in the galaxy at our lady’s fingertips.”
Sorry for the delay in picking the winning title for the next zombie romance (original post here). You gave me lots of great ideas! It was a close race, but it looks like The Mummy’s Captive Witch has the most votes.
The prize I intended to give away was a Hope for Joplin T-Shirt. Unfortunately, I found out that I’d have to order 12 of them since it’s been so long since the original fundraiser. Sigh. That’s a little out of my budget! So how about I offer a $15 gift certificate instead to the winner? I ran all comments through the pick giveaway winner and it kicked out….
Molly aka gutterball!
We had four people vote for The Mummy’s Captive Witch and I’ll list all of you in the acknowledgements. Once I write the book! 
Thank you to everyone who gave me ideas — this one’s gonna be lots of fun to write! However, the delightful red-haired witch is going to have to wait in line behind at least Sig, and maybe Mal and/or Mama Connagher too. My list is getting way too long….!
