Friday, June 8, 2018
Thursday, June 7, 2018
Pre-order: Theirs by Bond (Bear Mountain, 1.5)
Starting back in March, I started re-reading the Bear Mountain books one by one, one per week. As I shared in the "Hating on Tyler McCreary" post, I've been meeting with readers on Tuesday nights in my Facebook group to share insights, trash talk mistakes, answer questions, and basically just have a fun hour of talking shit...
We just finished reading book 15 this past Tuesday... so we're already past the 3/4 mark. (We've decided to do Project Zed books, too, as we've had so much fun. We might do other books after that.)
Along the way, I've noted any typos and have been slowly working to clean up and fix them before re-releasing.
I've also had moments where I could kick myself in the ass... "why didn't I..." do this or that. Or characters have whispered in my ear as I re-read, telling me a little more about themselves, more than they told me the first time around.
Honestly, I've also had a few awesome, out of left field questions from points of view that aren't mine. My readers are amazing and point out things I couldn't see from my own point of view.
A couple of ladies in particular ask me tough questions and keep me on my toes! They know who they are.
So I had all these new scenes and ideas swirling in my mind as I re-read...
And then I realized... I can do something about this.
I can write them.
Bound by Two Bears wasn't supposed to be a 20+ book series with two spin-offs. I had been working on a book that just wasn't coming together. I was frustrated. I decided to take a break from that story and write something else. Just as I was toying with the idea of writing some bear shifters, a reader asked me why I hadn't wrote any menage stories in a while—she wanted some moresomes, dammit!
BOOM. Bound to Two Bears came into my mind.
It was supposed to be a quick, insta-love story—heavy on the sex. I wanted something fun and fluffy to get my mind off of the book that was driving me nuts.
And then Bear Mountain became what it did, and I've regretted not giving that story a bit more world building. It also makes me sad many people didn't like Royce...
I have the power to fix that. It just took me a while to realize I had that power.
So Theirs by Bond was born.
In the epilogue to Bound to Two Bears, we see Carson big and preggers, nearly ready to pop.
What happened between the end of the last chapter and the epilogue?
Theirs by Bond will give you a little insight into this time period... when things were still new and Carson, Jared, and Royce were still figuring things out and getting comfortable.
And a little uncomfortable... as they were trying to turn that lust into love.
* * * *
Before the Book One Epilogue... get a peek into Carson, Royce, and Jared's early relationship...
Without much thought, Carson gave up his life in the human world to move to Bear Mountain and live with his mates, Jared and Royce. The bond he experienced with his two bears had felt so powerful, that he’d plunged in headfirst, ready for a new adventure.
As time has worn on, the potent insta-lust they felt in those first days fades some and the weight of a new, burgeoning romance falls on their shoulders. Adding in a new wrinkle, doubts form that threaten their chance at forever.
They all soon discover that a relationship demands work on all sides. It will take commitment to propel them from the lust of their animal mating to the love they all sensed was possible from the start.
Unless secrets tear them apart first.
Sunday, June 3, 2018
Sunday Spotlight - Evelise Archer and Eldridge’s Release
Welcome Evelise Archer to her first Sunday Spotlight! She's sharing a bit from her title, Eldridge's Release (Club Rebellion). Take a peek and enjoy!
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A world Eldridge was meant to be in.
Eldridge Cristoff worked hard and rarely played, always leery of letting himself go after the humiliation he suffered at the hands of his college boyfriend. Best friend Isabella Catana, submissive and lover of Johnson Petri, invited him to a night at an upscale BDSM club, Club Rebellion-owned and operated by Johnson and his trio of friends. All dominants.
Dalton Peters has never collared his own sub nor had the desire until he met Eldridge. Dalton was immediately taken with the skittish man, deciding to make it his mission to release Eldridge from his sexual prison.
Slowly Eldridge realized the world he was meant to be in. A loving man and master at his side; he discovered submission was not a weakness but a true testament of his strong inner spirit.
With Dalton's careful guidance, Eldridge had no choice but to give into his desires and heart, allowing Dalton to dominate his body and soul.
Eldridge’s Release Buy Links
Mlrpress * Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Kobo * iTunes
Excerpt
Eldridge parked his car, popped a wintergreen breath freshener in his mouth, and headed toward the entrance. He walked up to the nondescript, solid black door that had no peephole, nervously wiped his hands against the leather pants, and rang the bell.
The building was located in the swankier section of Philadelphia and sported its own parking lot, which was a rarity in the city as most establishments utilized city parking garages or the street. From that, Eldridge surmised that the place had been doing very well. By the layout of the parking lot, he could tell the area used to house a building that had been torn down to create the space.
He shouldn't have been sweating in the outfit he wore. Eldridge was told -- no, ordered -- to wear his black leathers. They were soft as butter to the touch and so skintight his package was outlined. He also wore a white close-fitting muscle shirt and a jacket. He'd tried to get underwear on; even a jock, but the pants were so tight that any seams showed through, so he elected to go commando. He couldn't believe that he'd been talked into the outfit. He'd bought the leathers as a joke for a party he'd attended. They'd been very expensive, so Eldridge never threw them out. But he never thought he'd be wearing them again. And definitely not to a club.
He waited less than twenty seconds after pressing the illuminated button before a very large man in blue jeans and a black T-shirt opened the door. After stepping over the threshold, Eldridge looked up and noticed the camera above the door. He handed the bouncer his invitation with the club's logo on it -- a raised CR in black with a muted gray picture of a flogger in the background.
The tattooed gentleman nodded and said, "Good evening, Mr. Cristoff."
How in the hell would he know me? I've never been to the club before. Although they did have his picture on file from the background check that the club had performed before sending the invitation.
The bouncer, Sam, according to the embossed name on his T-shirt, pointed to the next set of double doors and told Eldridge to go right in. But not before placing a red band on his wrist emblazoned with the word Guest.
Eldridge was amazed he'd heard nothing from the other side; not a sound. The walls must be soundproof. What the hell have I gotten in to?
Red leather covered the surface of the double-access, and Eldridge felt like he was walking into an alternate universe. The problem was, he had no idea what universe he'd ambled into. At first glance, it looked like any other club -- people sitting at the bar, tables, and booths while talking, laughing, and drinking. Then he got a better look at the clientele. Men and women appeared in various stages of dress and undress. He tried not to gawk, but it was difficult. While heading to the bar, he spied a woman attached to a long chain by her nipples and casually strolling with a man holding the other end. Shit.What the hell have I gotten into?
The club was beautiful and sleek. An artist would say the straight lines and dark, muted colors enhanced the desired atmosphere. Almost everything was leather -- sofas, chairs, barstools, even the edge of the bar. The color scheme was black or white with gray or subdued yellow accents. The lighting was low but sufficient to give a secure and homey feeling. Mirrors and abstract art adorned the walls. Eldridge didn't understand the point of abstract art, but from what he saw, the décor went perfectly with the club.
"Piña colada. Nonalcoholic, please." He leaned forward and spoke to the bartender. He loved a fruity drink, and that one was his favorite. Chunks of coconut and bits of pineapple. Was a piña colada cliché for a gay guy? He didn't care.
As he took his beverage, Eldridge turned around in hopes of finding Isabella and her boyfriend. He spotted Issy waving to him before he'd even completed the turn and walked toward the couple. The two were comfortably ensconced on a white leather sofa with Issy perched on Johnson's lap and her head tucked under his chin. Eldridge stopped in his tracks. The couple looked absolutely beautiful together and completely content.
Isabella hadn't had an easy life prior to meeting Johnson. Afterward, it took time for the Dominant/submissive thing to run smoothly. Their late-night talks had given Eldridge an earful regarding Issy and Johnson's relationship. He knew his friend had truly found peace in her life, whatever the lifestyle may've been.
He made his way to the couch where they were seated and could see what appeared to be a stage. Actually, there appeared to be three raised zones lit with various degrees of lighting. The center one was subdued, but the flanking areas were lit. One sported what looked like a large X-shaped structure. If Eldridge remembered correctly, Issy had told him that it was called a St. Andrew's cross. A woman was attached to it and was being flogged by a very large man. Eldridge was too far away to hear any of the sounds coming from the woman, but if her expression was any indication, she was enjoying herself very much.
As Eldridge leaned down to greet Issy with a peck on the cheek, he noticed the man sitting on the far end of the sofa. Yum. Scary. Dominant. It was easy to surmise based on the way the man carried himself even in a sitting position and the way he was dressed that he was probably a Dom. Once Issy had convinced Eldridge to visit the establishment and after he'd filled out all the necessary paperwork, he'd perused a few sites on the Internet so he could at least know the difference between a Dom and a sub.
The club sported the lifestyle, as Issy liked to describe it. It was a way of life that for some unknown reason Issy felt her bestie needed to explore. Issy was a submissive when it came to her home life. At work, she was a total go-getter that took a stance on designs and implementation. And she bossed around even the largest men. But in her domestic life, she allowed Johnson to rule the roost; from Eldridge's perspective, anyway.
The only problem was, Eldridge didn't know if he completely agreed with the lifestyle. How could a person give that much control to another? Although, if Eldridge really, really, thought about it, the idea did spark something inside him. He was always in control at work, but sometimes he wanted someone else to take the reins. He wanted to relax, but it scared the hell out of him to allow someone else to rule.
Eldridge wanted to sit at the feet of the man at the end of the sofa, which completely threw him for a loop, and he immediately locked the thought away in the recesses of his brain. The last time he wanted to sit at a man's feet, he was told that he was depraved and sick. Damn, Ned had done a number on him. He'd done unimaginable things to him. Ned had turned out to be sick in his physical and emotional treatment of Eldridge. Not that Eldridge desired to be physically hurt, but he did crave more. As confused as he was, he didn't know what the more was. Isabella thought she knew what he needed.
He kissed Issy on the cheek and shook Johnson's hand.
"El, this is Dalton. One of my partners in the club." Johnson spoke as he pointed to the man at the far end of the arc-shaped sofa.
Eldridge crossed over to stand in front of Dalton. Dalton stood and extended his hand in greeting. The grip was strong and solid. His eyes raked Eldridge up and down.
El supposed he was a good-looking guy. At least that's what Issy had always told him. She called him man-pretty -- not completely masculine and not necessarily feminine. Man-pretty. At times, he wasn't sure if that was an insult or a compliment. He'd always known he was gay. When their classmates were looking at the opposite gender, Eldridge always looked at the boys. He loved the hard and delineated lines of their chest; not soft mounds that protruded and got in the way. Girls' breasts, yuck.
His family knew he was gay. He'd come out to them in his early teens. His parents were supportive and accepting even though it probably wasn't the lifestyle they would've chosen for him. He never brought boys home as dates, so his parents were fine with his homosexuality as long as it wasn't flaunted in their faces. Sometimes Eldridge felt very lonely, but at least he had Issy.
He wasn't the biggest, tallest, or most talkative in their current circle of friends. In fact, when he wasn't in the boardroom and high-strung from all the intensive work he did to keep his clients rolling in money, he could've been classified as a wallflower; reclusive. Eldridge didn't mind going out for a drink or two with Issy and Johnson or his coworkers, but he very much preferred to be by himself.
Finding the right man to date was hard. Eldridge didn't know how women were on the prowl all the time. His introverted personality made contacting a stranger difficult. But there had to be someone out there for him, didn't there?
Eldridge gauged the man before him with rapt attention. Damn, he thought as he tilted his head back to get a better view. Large was the first word that popped into Eldridge's mind. An imposing figure, Dalton had to be at least six-feet six-inches tall. El wondered if the size of his cock matched his height.
His pants became tighter than they already were, and his face heated as he continued to stare from beneath his lowered eyelashes. Hair so blond that it was almost white hung past his shoulders, held back with a leather thong. The strands looked silky. But what really drew Eldridge were his eyes -- cobalt blue, piercing, and the kind that could look straight into a man's soul. Eldridge shook his head as if coming out of a fog and composed himself.
That was someone Eldridge would want to get to know better. Eldridge didn't even know if he was gay. There was no way someone that large and masculine could be gay.
Okay, maybe he was stereotyping but he was most likely a Dom to boot. Some woman would be very lucky to land this fine specimen of a man.
But Dalton held Eldridge's hand just a touch too long for a casual handshake, and something sparked briefly in his eyes.
"Nice to meet you, Dalton."
Eldridge’s Release Buy Links
Mlrpress * Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Kobo * iTunes
About Evelise
Evelise Archer is a wife, mother, and grandmother. She is a new-found lover of tea, and don’t look in her office because what you find may astound you. She currently has twenty tins of tea leaves just waiting to be brewed for her drinking pleasure. She is bilingual, lives in one of the original thirteen colonies, and is a lover of the cold weather and snow. It’s a safe bet that you may find her on the beach in the autumn and winter, but rarely in the summer. She’s been married for over thirty years to a loving man who puts up with her obsession to clean—she currently owns three vacuum cleaners—, read, and spin a tale when the voices speak to her. When she’s not in front of the computer, search her out in the local gym.
Email:evarcher5@gmail.com
Face Book: https://www.facebook.com/evelise.archer.5
Twitter: @EveliseArcher
Saturday, June 2, 2018
Special Saturday Spotlight - Victoria Vallo and The Dragon's Prize
Welcome Victoria Vallo back to Spotlight! She's here to share a bit from the 4th Shifters of Arizia book -- The Dragon's Prize.
Matthew finds himself at loose ends when the kind man he’s spent years serving passes away. He has few skills and fewer options, and he soon finds others wanting to take advantage of that. When help comes from the last place he’d have expected, Matthew puts his faith in a man he’s heard dozens of contradictory stories about.
Aiden has always been an outcast. He’s the illegitimate son who was loved more than the legitimate ones, and the fact he’s a dragon shifter and magic wielder makes some fear him and others hate him. He takes a chance when he realizes an old enemy has nefarious plans, and he ends up leaving with Matthew in tow, his heart unexpectedly joyful at the thought of making a new friend.
Surprises find them wherever they go, and soon both of them are wondering if the gods of Arizia are responsible for the winding roads that led them to each other.
Matthew hefted his trunk in both hands and left his room for the final time. He’d eaten breakfast as early as possible, not wanting to keep Aiden waiting. The halls were quiet, almost eerily so, as he made his way down to the foyer.
He stopped short when Olin turned a corner and spotted him. The advocate seemed to hesitate and then he looked around before striding over to him. Yet he kept his distance once they were face to face. Was Olin afraid of what Aiden might do? Part of Matthew hoped so.
Olin gave him a joyless smile. “Proud of yourself, aren’t you? I knew you’d submit easily enough for the right cock. And I hear the dragon has an impressive one, as I’m sure you learned last night.”
Matthew wanted to rush away but found courage somehow. “Don’t talk about him that way. He’s not like you. Nothing like that has or will happen.” The idea of being in Aiden’s bed had lingered with him the night before as he tried to get to sleep, but not because of anything Aiden had done or said.
“Oh, is that so? He’s a dragon, boy. A beast with a taste for rutting and young, tender flesh. They love to collect beautiful things, and I’d bet a golden-haired treasure like yourself just suits his tastes. I’m sure you’ll spend your days draped in the finest silks, your body oiled to gleaming perfection and always ready for his touch.”
Matthew set his trunk down with a loud clink and advanced toward Olin. “Why is it disgusting men like you can’t imagine that anyone in this world is good? He gave away all that money and property. And he helped me without knowing anything about me.”
“He saw you were beautiful and watched you. That’s how he noticed your name wasn’t called.” He crossed his arms. “There was no deal beforehand. I couldn’t prove it, but the look on your face now tells me I’m right.”
Matthew stood up taller and tried to adjust his expression, not knowing if something in his face really had given that part away. Perhaps Olin only suspected and was fishing for information. “He still helped a complete stranger. Why can’t you believe that some people are good? That they want to help others? Vane Reynard had the same good heart.”
“Good heart? Aiden? No dragon has a good heart, and Reynard? He likely desired you as well. Only problem was he became impotent in his last years.” A disgusting smile spread Olin’s lips. “But I’m sure he enjoyed looking at you. Keeping you all to himself, alone in his study.”
“Take that back. Vane Reynard was a good man. Like a father.”
“Everyone wants something, and I guarantee you, that beast only wants you to sate his lust. He will not be gentle as he uses you—creatures like him never are—and he will take his pleasure from every inch of your flesh and then cast you aside.”
Years of submitting to his supposed “betters” and Olin’s revolting words had his blood boiling, and Matthew lashed out before he could stop himself. He slapped the old man, who then came at him and grabbed him by the wrist, squeezing harder than Matthew had expected him to be able to.
“You impudent piece of gypsy trash!”
Time seemed to slow down as smoke billowed around Olin. When it cleared, Aiden stood there beside the advocate, his hand around Olin’s throat. Green scales faintly showed through his skin, and three-inch claws had extended from the tips of his fingers.
“Let go of him,” Aiden said in a voice that rumbled like thunder and seemed to echo the entire length of the hallway.
Friday, June 1, 2018
Thursday, May 31, 2018
Hating on Tyler McCreary... (Bear Mountain)
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| Tyler McCreary |
We still have six more books to go, and then we're going to do Project Zed, as well.
Week before last, I saw a post that said this person hated Tyler McCreary (A Beta for Two Bears).
It nearly broke my heart.
Tyler is my favorite of the McCreary boys... and quite possibly my favorite character next to Declan.
Now, my explanation as to why contains SPOILERS... so don't pass here unless you've read the WHOLE series...
**
***
****
*****
*******
1. Tyler IS the McCreary Clan.
He is the one male who stood up when it counted the most and he has made sure that the majority of his brothers stayed connected amid the chaos.
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| Dmitri |
Even in his darkest moment, his only concern was for the four little guys. He HAD to get to them in that snowstorm. He HAD to protect them. He HAD to step up and raise them.
3. Tyler even stood up for his miscreant teenaged brothers when no one else did
He convinced Barron and Dmitri to offer the middle boys a place to call home. He made sure his brothers were together, not set about to the four corners of the universe. He was THE GLUE that held them all together.
4. Tyler has stepped into the role of father to his brothers
As have Barron and Dmitri. Instead of running from responsibilities, he has taken them on without a second thought. To the younger boys, he has basically become their father
5. Tyler was tough on Jamie, Penn, and Colt when they returned
Because he loves them. Their supposed deaths had devastated him. To learn they were suddenly alive and had ran off broke his heart. He felt abandoned, when he would've never abandoned his brothers. Once he learned the reasons why and had time to cool off, he welcomed them back with open arms -- with the caveat that if they ever hurt the younger ones by running away again, he'd tear them apart. I think he deserved that one.
6. Tyler can be meddlesome and opinionated and gets into his brothers' business
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| Barron |
7. Tyler is an amazing father
Just look at the job he's done with his brothers... and the many babies he's had with Barron and Dmitri (who are pretty damned fine fathers themselves)
So all this Tyler hate needs to end. He is an amazing, rich, loving character who deserves to be loved right back!
Saturday, May 26, 2018
Damned Good Food - Tuscan Shrimp with Pasta
We have tried to live a pescatarian lifestyle, but have fallen off that boat and are back to eating all kinds of meat. But the positive side effect is that we're still eating much more seafood than other meats each week, which isn't a bad thing, health-wise.
We have shrimp a lot. A WHOLE LOT. I recommend buying fresh, if you can, as they have more flavor (which are often previously frozen, but can't help that much.) Frozen bagged shrimp often lack the same great flavor after they've been frozen for long periods of time, but many people not close to water sources have no other alternative if they want shrimp. (BTW - Whole Foods has had some great fresh shrimp on sale the last few weeks, so I've been in heaven.)
Also, wild caught is healthier than farm raised. Too many farms are feeding antibiotics, hormones, and animal feed to farm raised fish/shrimp, so they're often not as healthy as wild caught. Also, I NEVER buy wild caught from Asian markets, particularly China. Their waters are highly polluted.
Shrimp is very low in fat and calories, so it's a great addition to the diet. Of course, this recipe has heavy cream in it, so that's adding it back in, but it's all about balance, right?
Okay, off my soapbox about seafood and on to the recipe
(Oh, one last thing -- I've heard this recipe is really good with chicken cutlets instead of shrimp if you're not a seafood fan!)
Tuscan Shrimp with Pasta
Prep 5 to 10 mins
Cooking 15 mins
3-4 servings
Ingredients
2 tablespoons butter
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined
1/2 small yellow onion, diced
1/2 cup white wine (or broth, if you prefer)
6 oz. diced FRESH tomatoes (capriani are great in this)
1 cup heavy whipping cream
3/4 cup milk*
3-4 cups baby spinach leaves, washed and stems removed
1 1/2 cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon cornstarch mixed with 1 tablespoons of water**
1 teaspoon fresh diced/dried rosemary
1 teaspoon fresh diced/dried thyme
1 teaspoon fresh diced/dried oregano
Salt and pepper, to taste
About 9 -12 oz of your favorite pasta***
Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water
*I used 2% milk, but would likely do fine with full fat, too - skim might be too thin. If you really want to try skim, I suggest perhaps adding another half teaspoon of cornstarch to your slurry.
**Mixing cornstarch and water makes a slurry - make sure there are no lumps! Mix with a fork and break lumps up. The smaller your bowl/cup to mix in, the better - ramekins work great, if you have one. Warm water works best, and you can use some of the pasta water if you'd like - it has a little added starch from the pasta, too)
***Use 9 oz for 3 people, 12 oz if serving 4. We used rotini the first time, but I think linguini or fettuccine, or even a thin spaghetti, might be a better choice next time.
Instructions
Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Melt the butter and add in the garlic and fry until fragrant, about one minute.
Add rosemary, thyme, and oregano, sauté for just 30 seconds (if diced) to a minute (if fresh) to warm them through and enhance flavor.
Add in the shrimp and fry two minutes on each side, until just cooked through and pink. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
Fry the onion in the butter/herbs remaining in the skillet until near translucent. Pour in the white wine or broth, and reduce by half, deglazing the bottom of the pan (scrape the bottom).
Add the diced tomatoes and sauté for three minutes.
Reduce heat to low-medium heat, add the cream and milk. Bring to a low simmer, while stirring occasionally for about four to five minutes. Season with salt and pepper to your taste.
While the cream and milk is simmering, bring a 4 qt pot of salted water to boil. Add your pasta and cook using the instructions included, or to your taste preference. (Some like al dente, some don't) Drain when done and hold. Don't forget to reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta water!
Add in the washed spinach leaves to the cream sauce and allow to wilt in the sauce, stirring often.
And add in the parmesan cheese and blend.
Allow sauce to simmer for a minute or two, or until cheese melts thoroughly in the sauce.
Add the cornstarch/water slurry to the pan and continue to simmer while quickly stirring the mixture through until the sauce thickens.
Add the shrimp back into the pan and stir through.
Add the pasta back into the pan and stir through. If sauce is too thick, add a little bit of the pasta water, no more than a tablespoon at a time until you get the desired consistency.
Enjoy!
Original recipe was found at Cafe Delights and altered for our preferences with supplemental additions made to unclear instructions.
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