(Click on the Camera Eye and Eye Trees for bigger pictures.)
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Friday, August 12, 2011
New Cover!
An erotic sci-fi romance
Coming Sept. 15th
From Whiskey Creek Press Torrid
http://lindamooney.com/Deep.htm
Thursday, August 11, 2011
A BATTLE LORD'S HEART is an ARe Bestseller!
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Our Seven Day Forecast
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Mooney's Movie Review - SUCKER PUNCH
If you liked "300", "Watchmen", or "Sin City", then this flick is right up your alley.
The movie starts when Babydoll's mother dies, and the stepfather discovers everything's been left to Baby and her younger sister. Stepfather finds a way to have Baby committed in an insane asylum so he can get the money.
The asylum is run by a man who, with the counselor, have the girls perform onstage for "special guests", as well as in bed with the guests.
Babydoll "escapes" into the world of her imagination where she's given 4 keys which will enable her to escape the asylum. With the help of five of her friends, they "visit" via her dreams a steampunk version of World War II, a "Lord of the Rings" scenario complete with dragons, and a bomb on a runaway train.
The movie's look isn't just unique. Through Babydoll's visions, all of the girls have special abilities way beyond ordinary mortals, and their strengths and use of special weapons make for some very over-the-top action sequences.
I have to admit this movie was extremely entertaining, but there were times I found myself rolling my eyes. That's why I'm giving this flick a rating of
Monday, August 8, 2011
Caridad Pineiro is my Guest Author Tonight on Blog Talk Radio
Show time is 11 pm et/ 10 pm ct/ 8 pm pt
Don't miss it!
*****
Adam Bruno is no ordinary millionaire. The heir to an ancient race possessing a dark, powerful magic, he can shapeshift and create energy. His gifts make him a living weapon and have forced him to live in seclusion. But now an inhuman force hunts down Adam-just when he finds someone who makes him feel more human than he ever imagined possible . . .
Home from combat in Iraq, Bobbie Carerra wants only peace, yet soon joins Adam in a terrifying battle against paranormal enemies who hide in plain sight. She’s drawn to his strength of mind and body; he’s attracted to her courage and intoxicating energy. Their scorching passion can either transport them to the heights of ecstasy or-if Adam’s powers rage out of control-destroy them. But when an invisible brotherhood tightens its nets and someone Adam trusts betrays him, only a heartrending decision can save them.
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Six on Sunday - A BATTLE LORD'S HEART
A BATTLE LORD'S HEART
Book 3 of the Battle Lord Saga
A sensuous sci-fi, post-apocalyptic, futuristic romance novel
http://lindamooney.com/BattleLord.htm
Now Available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, BookStrand, and All Romance eBooks
1. Yulen was out among the small group of men. His back was to her, so he wasn’t yet aware of them being there. It was clear he’d already had a turn. His shirt was off, and his upper body glistened with sweat, despite the near-freezing temperature. Atty eyed the expanse of his shoulders, the hard muscles knotted like burled wood beneath the skin. So much strength, she mused to herself, and so much gentleness. Corianne was right. He does have great looking buns.
2. As many soldiers would later retell of that day, no one knew the wounded Blood was lying in wait in the nest. Atty never felt its presence, never anticipated it, and they figured it was because her immense grief had blinded her to it being in hiding. All they remembered was the screeching shriek made by the leathery creature as it reared up behind her, grabbed Atty by her thick length of braided hair, and pulled the Battle Lady backwards, bending her over the wall of the lookout. Drawn over the narrow ledge, her feet flailed uselessly as Atty struggled to right herself. Unable to scream, she reached behind her head with one hand, hoping to pull her long hair out of the thing’s clutches, but she couldn’t reach it. Neither could she reach her Ballock.
3. Before anyone could comprehend her swiftness or her anger, Atty snatched up her longbow from where she kept it propped against the wall on her side of the bed. Two arrows were nocked on the string. Standing before them, and looking every bit like an avenging angel, the Battle Lady drew back and took deliberate aim at the small group of people in her bedroom. Her lips were drawn over her teeth. Her eyes glittered with the fire of her determination as she hissed, “I am going to Bearinger. I will find my husband, and I will bring him back to Alta Novis. Anyone who tells me no will find an arrow in them. Don’t try to stop me, because I swear on the life of my and Yulen’s son I will shoot every one of you if I must. Cole? I am the Battle Lady. Therefore I order you to prepare the small wagon and have however many men we can spare to leave within the hour.”
4. “Yulen is alive, but seriously injured.” She clasped her hands in front of her and hunched as far over as she could with her rounded belly. “The reason I couldn’t sense him before was because he was unconscious.” She hesitated, searching for her next words. “There had to have been nearly a thousand Bloods descending on Bearinger. It was hard to get a more exact number in the darkness, but the troops managed to decimate a goodly number of them. There’s barely a little over three hundred of them left, and most of them, if not all, have some sort of injury.”
5. "There is one Blood,” she told them. She held one hand tightly fisted in front of her, the knuckles starkly white against the redness of her face. “He has the muzzle of snake. It’s wide and flat, and perpetually smiling. He’s tall. Thin. Whip-like. And he’s wearing a vest of human skin. When you see him, leave him be.” Her face literally turned crimson with hate. “He’s mine!”
6. His hands moved from her arms to her face. His thumbs traced little semi-circles beneath her jaw as he lightly kissed her. “Then you became pregnant. Your skin took on this incredible sheen that you haven’t lost. Your hair became thicker, your eyes brighter. Even the pitch of your voice dropped a little, so now it’s a bit huskier. Definitely, definitely more alluring. Yes, you still have a little paunch around your tummy. A little more roundness to your hips. Your breasts were perfect before, but now they’re incredible. My God, Atrilan. You went from sexy to breathtaking, and then several notches above that. Do I desire you? Damn right, I do. That’s why, at this very moment, I’m wishing I was still needing a few more days’ recovery time, because when I was too sick to do anything but eat and sleep, and my body had nothing to do except worry about healing itself, sex was way at the bottom of my list of necessities.”
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Check out Skylar Kade's Free Read This Week!
*****
On the verge of committing the next five years to a PhD in chemistry, undergraduate Betty goes out for a celebration, not knowing she'll be overtaken by the need to feel passion for something other than science, if only for one night.
Rated: Adult (18+)
Genre: contemporary erotic romance
Heat level: Erotic
Friday, August 5, 2011
New! A BATTLE LORD'S HEART, Book 3 of the Battle Lord Saga
Now Available!A BATTLE LORD'S HEART
An erotic sci-fi, post-apocalyptic, futuristic romance novel
http://lindamooney.com/BattleLord.htm
Now Available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, BookStrand, and All Romance eBooks
Forced to leave Atty behind under the protection of Alta Novis, Yulen D'Jacques takes his troops to his newly acquired compound of Bearinger to defend it against the increasing attacks by Bloods. But when news arrives that Bearinger's walls were breached, Atty knows she must risk the dangerous trek to find out whether or not her husband is still alive. And if so, to bring him back home, regardless of the consequences.
Warning! Contains a massacre beyond description, a mission of mercy, kitchen sex, secret Mutah compounds, pheromones, black linen, and a psychic link between two lovers that even death cannot sever.
Thursday, August 4, 2011
It's Called "The Border Between Heaven and Earth"
According to this website, "The world's largest salt flat is located in Uyuni, Bolivia. During the rainy season, the water turns it into the world's largest mirror. You can go here to see more incredible shots.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
The Ultimate UBoat
I found this fascinating! If I only had a spare million.
Found at Soup von necrowxrst.
Monday, August 1, 2011
Lisa Kessler is My Guest Author Tonight on Blog Talk Radio!
Show time is 11 pm et/ 10 pm ct/ 8 pm pt
****
He gave up his soul for a second chance to love her...
Two and a half centuries ago, Calisto Terana lost everything when a zealous priest murdered the woman he loved. Now, desperate for another chance to love her, he wants redemption for the mistake that cost her life.
She’s haunted by dreams of her own death...
After catching her fiance with another woman, Kate Bradley returns to San Diego to clear her head. The last thing she needs is romance, but after meeting Calisto she's drawn to him in ways she doesn't understand.
They’ve waited in the shadows for centuries...
Calisto has no doubt Kate is the reincarnation of his lost love, but the Fraternidad Del Fuego Santo has a new watcher with dark ambitions of his own. As old enemies reemerge and a new threat arises, the betrayal that enslaved Calisto to the night might destroy the only woman he’s ever loved again.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Six on Sunday - HER BATTLE LORD'S DESIRE
Coming in August, A Battle Lord's Heart, Book 3!
*****
1. The next morning they loaded her into a wagon, and with four escorts began the journey back to Alta Novis. As the days passed, Fortune could swear she appeared to gain strength, as if each successive mile renewed her. So that by the time they reached the outlying fringes of the compound, she was able to stand on her own and walk the rest of the way by herself, carrying her new longbow and quiver of arrows she demanded to have, for a reason only she understood. The disgraced hunter woman ready to rejoin her battle warrior husband.
2. “You were right. I’m famished,” she admitted, hoping to direct his attention back to their supper. Unfortunately, Yulen would have none of it. Lifting her off her feet, he claimed her lips again, and Atty felt herself succumbing to the intensity of his passion. Throwing her legs around his waist, he walked over to where the bedding was located and fell onto his knees into the midst of several pillows. There he pressed himself against her as he began to assault her neck and the erogenous zone below her ears. She could feel him grounding his hard erection into the seam between her legs, until she could feel his heat stroking her. Making her wetter and more excited. Weakly she beat on his shoulders and tried to wriggle free of his overpowering sexual energy. It was a battle she knew she would quickly lose if he didn’t heed her request.
3. “Enough of this! Enough, Twoson! Enough, Collier! I for one am sick and tired of the Council, with their insufferable male pride, making life or death decisions for us when we have no say in them! Time and again D’Jacques has come to us with hand outstretched, and every time you’ve slapped it away. You throw the fact that Atty is Mutah in her face, then you take away all her rights and freedom to be one. Together they promise us a future. A future with hope. A future not just for ourselves, but for our children as well. A future without fear or hunger...and you’re actually considering turning it down?”
4. The moment MaGrath entered the tent, it was more than obvious what had been going on. Near the center of the pile of disarrayed pillows and blankets Atty sat as if waiting for him. She lifted a face filled with defiance, her eyes flashing and daring him to make a hurtful comment when she heard him enter. At the sight of her love-tousled hair and slightly swollen lips, MaGrath couldn’t remember if she had ever looked more beautiful. Her long, shapely legs were bared to her thighs. Only a thin blanket covered her breasts and abdomen. The scent of sex clung to the night air.
5. As they discussed each separate issue he brought up, and compromises were met, Yulen kept one eye open for Atty. Last night and that morning had done little to assuage his hunger for her. On the contrary, making love with her had increased his need. He deliberately had left the scent of her on his skin and hair, although he knew it was risky. Some of these Mutah could probably tell how intimate they had been, but at the moment Yulen didn’t care. All he had to do was close his eyes and he could relive her like gentle strokes across his nerves. There were times when the mere sight of her was enough to turn him into a pool of lust.
6. He lifted his mug in the direction of the tree-shaded lovers. “But if you want to know the real reason why we’re here, or why Yulen chose to ally himself with your people, there’s your answer right there. Gaze upon it, gentlemen, but don’t interrupt it. And don’t ever do anything to try and come between them. Because if it weren’t for their love, this day would not have happened. Plain and simple.” Giving them a smart salute, the physician left to find a seat nearer the musicians. He was fond of a good song, and it had been a while since he’d enjoyed a concert.
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Check out Myla Jackson's Free Read This Week!
*****
I'm a big fan of Taylor Swift because she writes about her life and what she knows and the words resonate inside me. I'm an even bigger fan of the U.S. Military men and women who serve our country and those who stay behind waiting for their loved ones to return. This story is dedicated to our fighting men and women (Come home safe) and the families who man the home front.
Here's the link to Our Song by Taylor Swift http://youtu.be/Jb2stN7kH28
Rated - Adult - Appropriate for 18 years and older only
Genre - Contemporary
Heat Level - Sensual
Friday, July 29, 2011
Thursday, July 28, 2011
The Periodic Table of Storytelling
I think this is so cool! Click on for a much larger version that's easier to read.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Whipped Cream Reviews Loves THE TUB!
I have to admit this was my first time reading erotic horror and after finishing this story I’ll definitely be looking for more and more stories by this author.
This story opens quickly and the author does a great job at offering the ‘something’s creepy’ about Itsy that all good horror stories require. You know something bad will befall Amanda, and you feel more uneasy as the story progresses. By the time she arrives at the bed and breakfast you know she’s not checking out, but what exactly will happen to her? The author made it so entertaining that I wanted to read on. Her demise is the erotic part of this story, and there’s no man involved so it might not be for die hard romance fans. The dialogue is natural sounding, sometimes witty and the characters well drawn.
If, like me, you want to try reading erotic horror, this is a good pick.
~ Reviewed by Stephantois, Whipped Cream Erotic Reviews
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
CUT GLASS is Now at Fictionwise and 15% Off!
http://www.fictionwise.com/ebooks/b124448/Diamond-/Linda-Mooney/?si=0
Monday, July 25, 2011
Liz Fichera is my Guest Author Tonight on Blog Talk Radio!
Show time is 11 pm et/ 10 pm ct/ 8 pm pt
Don't miss it!
*****
Grace Mills craves being perfect almost as much as she craves raspberry scones. In fact, her life would be perfect if only she could lose ten more pounds, if only the pastry café she co-owns with her sister would turn a profit, if only the hottest guy at the gym would look her way...
And then "if only" comes true. Grace is suddenly straddling two lives: an alternate reality where she's a size two, weathergirl celebrity and being chased by the hot guy. Only Mr. Gorgeous isn't very nice, and she doesn't get to eat...anything, much less bake!
In her other life, she's starting to realize her sister is less than happy running the family café, and hunky Carlos, the gym's janitor, seems to have a secret crush on her. Maybe there's more to him than meets the eye...
Grace is living two lives and it's beginning to cost her. Is there a way to pick one...that's perfect?
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Six on Sunday - THE BATTLE LORD'S LADY
This sneak peek is leading up to the August 7th release of A Battle Lord's Heart, Book 3 of the Battle Lord Saga!
THE BATTLE LORD'S LADY
Book 1 of the Battle Lord Saga
A sensuous futuristic romance novel
Available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, All Romance eBooks, and BookStrand
http://lindamooney.com/BattleLord.htm
1.
That evening she walked about her old apartment and tried to figure out which items to keep and which to leave for the next tenant. There was so little that was personal enough to remind her of her parents and little sister. She packed all her clothes plus two of her mother’s sweaters that she’d always loved. Otherwise she left everything where it sat, including dirty utensils and bedding furs. In a world where lifetimes now were measured in years rather than decades or generations as they once had been, the luxury of owning property was almost nonexistent. A man owned what he could carry, which was usually the tools of his trade. A woman owned her personal skills, as her hands were usually full of children. The next abode would always contain a place to build a fire, a pot to cook in, and a bed to lie upon. One did not need to carry tables and chairs and other odd accouterments from apartment to apartment. Not only was it unthinkable, it was practically suicidal, especially when life hung in such a delicate balance.
2.
The first noticeable thing was the deep scar which ran down the right side of his face from his hairline near his temple to the tightly clenched jaws. It looked fresh and painful. Despite the injury, he had a strong face, the face of a man who bore the burden of leadership like pennants on a staff. His eyes were deep-set and dark. Atty wondered fleetingly if they were brown or blue. His hair was pulled back and tied, and what she could detect in the bad light was that it was orange-ish in color.
3.
When he bent over her wrists his head was turned away from her. She could see that she had been wrong about the color of his hair. It wasn’t orange-ish, but blond with red highlights, a shade she’d once heard referred to as strawberry blond. For a split second, before she could realize how perfectly she could slip a weapon into the back of his neck from this vantage, she wondered if anyone had brushed away the shoulder-length hair and dropped tiny kisses along the well-developed shoulder muscles.
4.
MaGrath couldn’t help but laugh—a short, humorless bark. “Oh, this gets better by the minute. A great and powerful Battle Lord who can no longer think for himself, who has severely underestimated the enemy, and a girl for that matter! Yulen, she killed sixteen of our best men! She faced down a bull ferret and lived! Not to mention pulled your fat out the fire. Do you honestly think she’s going to let a handful of our representatives stop her from returning to the only home she’s ever known? For once, get that sense of self-righteousness out of your butt where you’ve shoved it and start listening to your advisors. Screw them, listen to me!”
5.
“My hatred for mutants was as great as anyone’s, or so I believed until I met Atty. That’s what hurts the most, I think. That you never took a single minute to sit and listen to her. That you never watched her and Yulen together, and never saw that incredible power that binds them. I can’t even call it love because it’s like the two of them together is greater than the two of them apart. Well, I saw it. I saw the change that came over Yulen. I saw that black, bitter hole that he had dug after his father’s death nearly swallow him, and I watched Atty fill it with her smile and her sass and her naiveté and her sincerity. And her love for your son. And I watched Yulen heal and change because of her. Think back, Madigan. Think of the way Yulen was before we left on that last crusade. Now think of these past few days and tell me...I dare you to tell me Atty’s not responsible for any of it.”
6.
“You told me to let her meet the people. You almost had me convinced they might accept her after they talked to her and got to see what she was like,” he said bitterly, directing his comments more toward himself than at MaGrath. “Well, you were wrong, weren’t you? She could spend the rest of her life protecting this compound, and for what? They’ll never accept her. They’ll never get to know who she is. They’ll only see what she is.” Ramming his sword back into the scabbard from where he’d half-way drawn it before Atty had stopped him, Yulen turned and headed for the main lodge.
*****
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Check out Angela Kay Austin's Free Read This Week!
Check it out!
***
Tamara Blanden lost the love of her life in an accident. An accident she couldn't control or change. She made a promise that she didn't keep. Jerome Blanden knows he is the reason she won't keep it. But, he will correct his mistake. And Michael Armstrong will help him. Even if he doesn't know it, yet.
Rated -- PG13
Genre -- Contemporary
Heat Level -- Sweet
Friday, July 22, 2011
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Like Apocalyptic? Watch "Life After People"
One of my favorite series on TV is History Channel's LIFE AFTER PEOPLE. If you're not familiar with the show, it takes you from a few months to several hundred years in the future to see what cities, landmarks, and animals would be like if suddenly, one day, everyone on the earth vanished. I highly recommend this show!
From top to bottom we have Chicago, New Orleans, New York, and Houston.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Mooney's Music Review - HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON
If you're like me, and you want your music to sweep you off your feet with adventure, excitement, and dreams of derring-do, go buy the album. If you're hesitant and want to sample a track first, I strongly suggest you listen to "This is Berk", "New Tail", "See You Tomorrow" or "Forbidden Friendship".
Oh, and the movie is great, too!
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
BEQUEATHED Just Hit #1 for Red Rose Publishing on Fictionwise!
*****
BEQUEATHED
An Erotic Fantasy Romance
from Red Rose Publishing
(ebook) ISBN# 978-1-4543-0046-5
Word Count: 16.4K
Homeless and destitute, Claire Stines has no choice but to move into the log house bequeathed to her out in the Minnesota wilderness. Although she has little else to sustain her other than a few dollars and even fewer seeds of hope, she believes she can make a fresh start for herself, and if she’s lucky, maybe find a little romance.
But first she has to overcome the rumors of the house’s supposedly dark past. More importantly, who is that young man she’s seen in the woods, and why has he been watching her from a distance ever since she arrived?
And why does he both fascinate and terrify her?
Warning! Contains a decades-old curse, hidden compartments, dead fairies, spirits in the forest, unrelenting winter cold, and a possible explanation for people gone missing in the woods.
Monday, July 18, 2011
Dee Tenorio is My Guest Author Tonight on Blog Talk Radio!
Show time is 11 pm et/10 pm ct/8 pm pt
Don't miss it!
***
The mate he never wanted may be the woman he can never have...
After a series of murders is discovered along the trail of the Shifter Underground, wolf soldier Jensen Tate is assigned to find and protect a missing stray. But Lia Crawford doesn't seem to want his protection. When she eludes his watch and returns with mysterious injuries, Tate knows she's hiding something. To discover her secrets, he'll have to win her trust...and get closer to the woman he thinks may be his mate.
Lia has reasons to keep her distance. The killer is haunting her steps, determined to claim her. He will come after them both if he sees how drawn she is to Tate, though it becomes increasingly difficult to deny her attraction to him. Protecting Tate is vital – but will her deception cost her his love?
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Six on Sunday - AEQUANA
A sensuous fantasy romance novel
Available at Amazon, B&N, ARe, and BookStrand
1.
Watching her slipping into it was like watching her transform from a human being into a creature of mythology. Her feet slid into the tail-like lower portion. The skin encased her legs, holding them firmly together. It eased over her hips and buttocks, and the upper portion came up far enough to cover her small breasts, but no further. There was nothing around her neck or shoulders to restrict arm movement or block the flow of water from her gills.
2.
She’d have sweet dreams tonight. Dreams of a café a lait man with eagle wings swooping down to lift her above the waves. When he’d shown her the transmitter, just when she was about to break down crying, she couldn’t stop herself from hugging him. She wish, though, that he’d put his arms around her and held her. Held her and hushed her and reassured her they were safe, and they would always be safe as long as he was there to protect her.
3.
At some point she remembered the monofilament line. Invisible underwater, she traced it with her hands and began wrapping it around her palm as she climbed upward. She tried to pull it, signaling Talon for help. There was a sudden ragged jerk, pulling her sideways for a dozen feet before it abruptly let her go. The line wrapped around her hand went limp. One of the sharks had snagged it or bitten through it. There was no longer any way she could let Talon know what she was facing. A scream rose in her throat, and Æquana started swimming for her life, praying she could out-race their rushing attack.
4.
There was no way she could anticipate the soul-breaking happiness that flooded her senses when he took her mouth. Possessively. Hungrily. Every pore in her skin drank of his touch and his heat as his kisses sent her over the edge of sanity. A whimper died in her throat when she felt him roll closer to her, until her entire length was trapped beneath him... and the whimper became a low moan.
5.
“Shh!” Talon threw up a hand to stay the man’s barrage of questions, waiting for his call to be answered. When it was, Talon held back none of his outrage from his voice. “Slaw. You’d better listen very carefully because I’m only going to say this once. You have kidnapped my wife, you sorry son of a bitch, and I want her back. You have two hours to deliver her to me at the Bellagio or I swear to God I will bring down full retribution on you. Do you understand me? You’ve made the last mistake you’ll ever make. Two hours, Slaw.” Before the man could respond, Talon ended the call. Then he made a second one.
6.
From somewhere Shipp produced a thick collar with a sponge-like coating on the inside. He snapped it around her neck, checking to make sure it was loose enough to where it didn’t impede her gills, but tight enough to keep her from slipping out of it. A small padlock secured it. Once he was satisfied, he let her go, and Æquana felt her body slide backwards until it came to rest on floor. She watched him climb out of the tank and go over to the wall where a hose ran from the side of the tank to a faucet.
*****
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Beautiful But Scary Roads
Check out this link for pictures of some fantastic sites and roads you may (or may not) want to travel if you ever decide to visit abroad. Some of them are just to beautiful for words.
(Note: This one reminds me of ribbon candy.)
(Note: This one reminds me of ribbon candy.)
Friday, July 15, 2011
Looking for a Place to Stay During Your Vacation Travels?
Thursday, July 14, 2011
My July Foodzie is Here!
Included in this month's package:
Fleur De Sel Peanut Brittle
Organic Olive Oil
Black Truffle & White Cheddar Popcorn
Dried Cherries
Fennel Pollen Shortbread
Organic Heirloom Emmer Farro
The first casualty? The peanut brittle, natch!
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
The Art Cars of Burning Man
If you think this is phenomenal, check out over 100 such Art Cars at the yearly Burning Man competition.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Christine d'Abo is my Guest Author Tonight on Blog Talk Radio!
Show time is 11 pm et/10 pm ct/ 8 pm pt
Don't miss it!
*****
No man in the galaxy inspires more fear than Korbin, the Admiral of the Black. His life as leader of the pirates leaves little room for trust, so when Korbin’s second-in-command disappears without a trace, he suspects the worst.
Zain Strand has left his life as a sex slave behind and risen within the pirate ranks. But he’ll abandon it all to rescue an old friend from recapture by the slavers—even if that means a suicidal confrontation with his old master. He doesn’t expect Korbin’s arrival, doesn’t want Korbin’s help…but Korbin gives Zain no choice.
Posing as Master and slave to infiltrate a slave auction, Korbin and Zain embark on a journey of lust that rapidly reveals their deeper feelings. When Zain’s old master discovers their ruse, Korbin must do everything in his power to save both their lives and their newfound love.
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Six on Sunday - HEALER OF THE HEART
Today I'm spotlighting HEALER OF THE HEART, a fantasy romance novel available from Red Rose Publishing."
http://redrosepublishing.com/books/product_info.php?products_id=622
1.
At first she saw the manse as a dark and dismal place, where torches lined the walls which were covered with intricately woven tapestries and cloths. The walls themselves were constructed of thick rock, and the rooms had furniture made from massive pieces of carved wood. Yet she found she quickly grew accustomed to the place, especially her bedroom. Despite the gloominess of the hallways, the main rooms were kept brightly lit. In her own bedroom, ten tall paned windows opened up to let in air and sunslight. A fireplace graced one wall near her bed that was so big, she could have slept in there with a team of horses and never known it.
2.
Querl folded the letter as he stared out into the darkening twilight. These past weeks the nights had been filled with dreams--dreams framed in bright yellow sunscrystals and eyes as dark as a stormy sky. He felt a hunger not in his stomach, but deeper, more primitive, and much more consuming. Day or night, he fantasized how she looked beneath her robes and remembered how she felt in his arms that day he carried her to her chambers. He recalled how she looked at the banquet, sheathed in the sheerest gossamer, ethereal and achingly beautiful. It all paled in comparison to how his hands remembered every dip and curve of her waist, her hips and buttocks, and the lift of her small, perfect breasts when she'd comforted and soothed his emotional distress. His cheek echoed the heat of her body through the thick, scratchy material of her robe, and the scent that was distinctly hers.
3.
Querl angrily snapped back. "A life, any life, cannot be taken 'too seriously'. In the time she's been here, Mareesa has served you far beyond what is required of a Healer, but you've been prejudiced against her ever since the day she arrived. You've never stopped grieving for Cintas, and that's why you've never forgiven her for taking his place. Isn't that it, Uncle? Isn't that the real reason why you're willing to let her die? In the hopes that someone like Cintas will take her place? Well, Cintas is dead, too! And he won't be coming back, ever!"
4.
A sudden heat flushed Garabanth's face. The venom in his voice became unmistakable. “Since her thirteenth summer, when he came to live at the fortress, that boy has berated her, ridiculed her, harassed and tortured her. He's made her life unbearable. I cannot begin to tell you of the abuse she has suffered because of him. Her only salvation was her entry into the Healers' Circle, where she could escape him for short amounts of time. Because of him, for years Mareesa's believed herself to be unfit, unclean, and undesirable to be husbanded.”
5.
Mareesa giggled, poking him in the ribs. Stepping back, her expression changed. "Speaking of, might I suggest, kind sir, that it's time you applied a little soap and water to yourself? Another hour or two, and we could repel those advancing hordes simply by placing you upwind of them!"
6.
Later, when Patar came to tell them that Horan was doing well but would need an extra day or two to fully recover, all Querl could think of was the way Mareesa had felt in his arms so many weeks ago, and the look of absolute trust in her smoky eyes when she had awakened from her self-induced, healing coma. He had known then, without a doubt, that she would become his whole world.
Saturday, July 9, 2011
50 Writing Tools
I. Nuts and Bolts
1. Begin sentences with subjects and verbs. Make meaning early, then let weaker elements branch to the right.
2. Order words for emphasis. Place strong words at the beginning and at the end.
3. Activate your verbs. Strong verbs create action, save words, and reveal the players.
4. Be passive-aggressive. Use passive verbs to showcase the “victim” of action.
5. Watch those adverbs. Use them to change the meaning of the verb.
6. Take it easy on the -ings. Prefer the simple present or past.
7. Fear not the long sentence. Take the reader on a journey of language and meaning.
8. Establish a pattern, then give it a twist. Build parallel constructions, but cut across the grain.
9. Let punctuation control pace and space. Learn the rules, but realize you have more options than you think.
10. Cut big, then small. Prune the big limbs, then shake out the dead leaves.
II. Special Effects
11. Prefer the simple over the technical. Use shorter words, sentences and paragraphs at points of complexity.
12. Give key words their space. Do not repeat a distinctive word unless you intend a specific effect.
13. Play with words, even in serious stories. Choose words the average writer avoids but the average reader understands.
14. Get the name of the dog. Dig for the concrete and specific, details that appeal to the senses.
15. Pay attention to names. Interesting names attract the writer and the reader.
16. Seek original images. Reject cliches and first-level creativity.
17. Riff on the creative language of others. Make word lists, free-associate, be surprised by language.
18. Set the pace with sentence length. Vary sentences to influence the reader’s speed.
19. Vary the lengths of paragraphs. Go short or long — or make a “turn”– to match your intent.
20. Choose the number of elements with a purpose in mind. One, two, three, or four: Each sends a secret message to the reader.
21. Know when to back off and when to show off. When the topic is most serious, understate; when least serious, exaggerate.
22. Climb up and down the ladder of abstraction. Learn when to show, when to tell, and when to do both.
23. Tune your voice. Read drafts aloud.
III. Blueprints
24. Work from a plan. Index the big parts of your work.
25. Learn the difference between reports and stories. Use one to render information, the other to render experience.
26. Use dialogue as a form of action. Dialogue advances narrative; quotes delay it.
27. Reveal traits of character. Show characteristics through scenes, details, and dialogue.
28. Put odd and interesting things next to each other. Help the reader learn from contrast.
29. Foreshadow dramatic events or powerful conclusions. Plant important clues early.
30. To generate suspense, use internal cliffhangers. To propel readers, make them wait.
31. Build your work around a key question. Good stories need an engine, a question the action answers for the reader.
32. Place gold coins along the path. Reward the reader with high points, especially in the middle.
33. Repeat, repeat, repeat. Purposeful repetition links the parts.
34. Write from different cinematic angles. Turn your notebook into a “camera.”
35. Report and write for scenes. Then align them in a meaningful sequence.
36. Mix narrative modes. Combine story forms using the “broken line.”
37. In short pieces of writing, don’t waste a syllable. Shape shorter works with wit and polish.
38. Prefer archetypes to stereotypes. Use subtle symbols, not crashing cymbals.
39. Write toward an ending. Help readers close the circle of meaning.
IV. Useful Habits
40. Draft a mission statement for your work. To sharpen your learning, write about your writing.
41. Turn procrastination into rehearsal. Plan and write it first in your head.
42. Do your homework well in advance. Prepare for the expected — and unexpected.
43. Read for both form and content. Examine the machinery beneath the text.
44. Save string. For big projects, save scraps others would toss.
45. Break long projects into parts. Then assemble the pieces into something whole.
46. Take interest in all crafts that support your work. To do your best, help others do their best.
47. Recruit your own support group. Create a corps of helpers for feedback.
48. Limit self-criticism in early drafts. Turn it loose during revision.
49. Learn from your critics. Tolerate even unreasonable criticism.
50. Own the tools of your craft. Build a writing workbench to store your tools.
(I can't remember who sent this to me, but thanks!)
Friday, July 8, 2011
Floating Slinky
Double click the picture to see larger versions of this. It's called a "floating slinky", and it's a futuristic archetectural version of a hotel or miniature city. Found here. I love artistic renditions of such things!
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
I Now Have Print Copies of POSSESSION!
Great news! I now have print copies of POSSESSION to autograph!For your copy go to my secured order form here.
Monday, July 4, 2011
Tonight on Blog Talk Radio, It's a New Release and Giveaway!
Don't miss it! Show begins at 11 pm et/10 pm ct/ 8 pm pt
****
On a parallel world, a woman with extraordinary healing powers, and a man who would be the next ruler of his country, are thrown together to save their lands from warring nations and to solve the mystery of two brutal deaths within their own fortress, despite the danger to their own lives.
Through it all, they find a love that defies all odds, and becomes the symbol of hope for the future of their world.
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Six on Sunday - CUT GLASS: JEWELS, BOOK 1 - DIAMOND
Today they're from CUT GLASS: JEWELS, Book 1 - Diamond
A dark erotic urban fantasy available from Whiskey Creek Press Torrid
http://www.whiskeycreekpress.com/torrid/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=4&products_id=587
(Photo: Detective David Fellowes)
1.
Cutler blinked. The man was staring at her in shock, and the first thing that came to mind was that he hadn't been expecting a female to slip through their guard. At the same time, she couldn't help but take in the man holding a Walther PPK parallel to her nose.
2.
Without having to drop her gaze she could already tell the man was built, sporting a wide chest, slender waist, and powerful thighs. He was strong, without an ounce of flab, and resilient. And too damn good at his job. Worse, he was exuding something warm and wonderfully erotic. A fragrance, and aura. Hell, it was impossible to tell with everything else that was going on. Still, Cutler could feel her body reaching for him, her female hormones lured toward the possessive power he'd netted her in. Stunned, she tried to fake him out as she felt herself oozing through her jeans.
3.
“Yes, Detective. I was there to put it down. Not him, not Jonas Poll, but the creature he'll become once his brain has turned to mush. My job is to stop the disease from spreading, and Poll knows that. The thing inside him is not a cancer. It's a living organism, like a virus, but it's also sentient. It infects indiscriminately. The company I work for tracks the disease. Yes, I need to kill Poll, but not because he's infected. I have to do it to save the lives of the people he'll kill, and then the lives he'll take once he leaves Poll's dead body to find another host. The infestation's already at stage four, which means he's primed to kill. And he'll keep on killing if no one stops him.
4.
"What good is the shard to anyone? As an actual gemstone, any half-ass decent gemologist will tell you it's not real. Once they're dead they're more like-like rhinestones. You know that, Bar," Cutler pointed out. "Unless the thief has some sort of vendetta against me or something."
5.
She winced against the bullet of pain piercing her brain. This wasn't happening. All this crap that Bar was telling her was a joke. No, it was a nightmare. She was dreaming this, and any minute now she was going wake up in David's arms, or with him cuddled up next to her. And he would hold her and shush her, and then make love to her to erase the last bits of horror left clinging to her psyche.
6.
A feeling of intense emptiness came over him. Numb, he watched as halfway down the block the ambulance finally turned on its lights. Two more blocks away, it hit its siren. David watched the diminishing red taillights until the ambulance finally disappeared around a corner, taking away the last bit of hope he had of ever seeing Cutler Glass again, alive or dead.
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Friday, July 1, 2011
New! HEALER OF THE HEART, a sensuous fantasy romance novel.
HEALER OF THE HEART
A sensuous fantasy romance novel
by Linda Mooney
From Red Rose Publishing
http://redrosepublishing.com/books/product_info.php?products_id=622
On a parallel world, a woman with extraordinary healing powers, and a man who would be the next ruler of his country, are thrown together to save their lands from warring nations and to solve the mystery of two brutal deaths within their own fortress, despite the danger to their own lives.
Through it all, they find a love that defies all odds, and becomes the symbol of hope for the future of their world.
Warning! Contains bloody swordplay, dungeon indoctrination, a covert meeting in the kitchen, challenging authority, repeated attempted murder, total disregard for traditions, and the ultimate Seven Joys.
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