A Perfect Match - hot new release from Kelli Wilkins

Hi everyone! My new Amber Heat romance, A Perfect Match was just released on Sunday. I blogged a little bit about the book before on my personal blog (http://kelliwilkinsauthor.blogspot.com/), but now I’m sharing an excerpt and some insight into the book in general.

A Perfect Match is a contemporary romance set in the world of professional wrestling As anyone who knows me will attest, wrestling has always been a part of my life, so it was only natural that one day I’d write a book with wrestling as the backdrop.

People who have read the book have asked me to questions: 1. Which wrestlers are the characters based on? and 2. How do you know all this stuff about wresting?

It’s easier to answer the second question first. Wrestling has always been a staple in my family. (I like to say it’s our family tradition.) Years ago, I was fortunate enough to be on friendly terms with a bunch of wrestlers. My husband and I would go to matches and hang out with the guys after the shows. (No, I wasn’t a ring rat.) I picked up a lot of terms and got a real feel for what they did and how they experienced life on the road. I wasn’t even thinking about writing then, so I had no idea that one day I’d use what I learned in a book. When I got the idea for the book, I was able to incorporate much of what I knew into the plot, through Danni’s point of view.

The male characters in my book (Vinnie, Ev, Thorn, Nick) aren’t based on any one wrestler or real person. Like characters in any story, they’re a combination of real and invented personalities and have their own individual traits. I specifically made sure that Vinnie and the others aren’t linked to real wrestlers, because it would take away from the story. Also, since I’m writing fiction, I was able to invent whatever character flaws and backstory info that I wanted!

Here’s a short summary & a hot excerpt:

A PERFECT MATCH

Falling for the wrestler she had been assigned to interview wasn’t part of Danni’s plan, until Vinnie Valentine pinned her heart in a flash.

Disgruntled with her job as the office gopher for a national sports magazine, Danni Stone impersonates a reporter to prove herself to her boss. Her assignment? Spend thirty days on the road with Vinnie Valentine, a sexy professional wrestler.

Life isn’t going well for the Heavyweight Champ. Vinnie is struggling with a manipulative boss, prepping for the most important match of his career, and feuding with his arch-enemy, Thorn. The last thing he needs is a nosy reporter following him around—even if she is hot.

Thrown together in close quarters, Danni can’t help falling for Vinnie. Their mutual attraction grows, and Danni gives in to the lustful feelings she’s repressed for years. As their relationship deepens, she finds herself drawn into Vinnie’s world and becomes a key player in his title bout. But before Danni can tell Vinnie that she isn’t the reporter she claims to be, he discovers her deception. Her lie threatens to destroy everything between them. Is their fragile love destined to fail, or are they a perfect match?

***

Danni hurried down the hall to the locker room. She hadn’t meant to be late picking up Vin tonight, but the moron lot attendant wouldn’t let her back into the parking area. She pushed open the locker room door and rushed inside. “Vin, I’m sorry I—”

Her tote bag slipped through her fingers and dropped to the floor. Vin stood less than three feet away, soaking wet. A white towel barely covered his waist.

“Oh, my God!” Her entire body flushed as a tingling sensation built deep in her belly. Vin was practically naked and dripping wet from the shower.

“I…um…you’re…I…oh God,” she muttered and whirled around. Why wasn’t he saying anything?

Vin’s warm hand settled on her shoulder. He gently turned her to face him. Beads of water dripped down his chest, and she longed to lick them away. “Um…you…you’re wet.” She glanced at the towel and prayed it would fall off his waist.

“And you’re not?”

She squealed as Vin drew her to his chest. His mouth covered hers, and she lost all sense of reason.

A wet heat built between her legs as Vin’s tongue entered her mouth. Her body surged beneath his touch. She clutched him tight and dug her fingers into the solid flesh of his back and ribs. He smelled like soap and water and yet there was a hint of something manly, musky about him.

Vin moaned and cupped her buttocks through her sundress, melding her body against his. A high-pitched mewing sound escaped her throat as a long-denied lust flared within her. Was this really happening? She’d had this fantasy for so many nights, would she wake up and discover it was only another dirty dream?

She slid her hands down Vin’s flat stomach to the edge of the towel. For a second, she hesitated, unsure. Did she dare do what every instinct commanded? Vin’s tongue plunged deeper into her mouth, wordlessly urging her on. She groaned and traced the outline of his rigid cock through the towel. Hard and thick, it was exactly what she craved.

Without thinking, she tugged the towel away, freeing his penis. Vin moaned as she ran her hand along the length of him. It was so huge, it would never fit inside her—but that didn’t matter—she wanted to try.

Vin scooped her into his arms and carried her across the room. She kept her eyes closed as he set her down on something padded. Her knees hung over the edge of something sturdy. Was she on the massage table?

“You sure you want it?” he asked, his voice raspy.

“Yeah. God, yeah.”

Wide hands pushed up under her dress. Vin massaged her wet sex through her panties and she lifted her hips toward him. She needed him inside her—now.

“Please, hurry,” she begged.

***

The book link is: http://amberquill.com/AmberHeat/PerfectMatch.html

I hope you’ll check it out! I’ll be sharing more about it on my blog: http://kelliwilkinsauthor.blogspot.com/ and I’d love to hear what readers think about the book, the story, and the characters.

Until next time,

Kelli

LOVE MATTERS - m/m gay

Love Matters
by Christiane France
ISBN-13: 978-1-61124-081-8 (Electronic)
Cain Carpenter has it all—looks, money, a beautiful home, and a successful business. What he doesn’t have is someone to share it all with, someone he loves and who loves him in return.
In spite of the belief that if Cain kisses enough frogs he’ll eventually find the prince of his dreams, the search is proving far from simple. As owner and manager of The Peony, the town’s classiest restaurant, Cain doesn’t have much time for a social life. He’s tried all the usual avenues for meeting people, including a dating agency, and he’s about given up...
But then Cain accepts an invitation to a singles masquerade party and meets a masked man in an elaborate headdress of black feathers who sends his thoughts and senses reeling with excitement. The stranger invites Cain to dance, and from the instant they touch, Cain truly believes, at long last, that this is the special man he’s been waiting for.
A few minutes later, however, the man answers a phone call, mutters something about an emergency and disappears, leaving Cain in a complete panic. The rules of the masquerade include no removal of masks and no exchange of names. If you can’t somehow figure out the identity of the person who sparked your interest, you lose. And Cain doesn’t want to lose, but without the man’s name and no idea what he looks like, he feels hopeless. All he knows about “Black Feathers” is that he’s a little taller and heavier than himself, but that could describe half the town’s male population.
Will Cain be able to track down the alluring stranger in order to determine if they’re truly destined for a future?
Excerpt:
...One of the guests, who was dressed as a pirate and standing right next to Cain, said, “I take it you’ve never been to one of these singles masquerades before tonight?”
Cain laughed. “I didn’t even know there were such things. I thought with a costume ball you’re supposed to try to figure out who the other people are, but at some point in the evening, everyone’s identity will be revealed. Is the not telling part something new?”
“No, I understand it’s the way these things first started. The whole point of a masquerade is to pose as something or someone you are not and this, in turn, creates the magical feeling of mystery and romance. In my opinion, any telling of names destroys the magic completely.”
“You’d rather be kept guessing?” Cain hazarded.
“Of course. And it’s almost certainly the reason why masquerade parties are gaining in popularity on the singles’ scene. It’s bad enough being footloose and fancy free, but attending those boring get-togethers where you sit around the host’s pool or living room and watch people hook up, then wonder if it’s just for tonight or forever, has definitely passed its sell-by date. These parties are a much better idea.”
“In what way? Say, you’d like to get to know someone better. It would be impossible if you don’t know their name.”
“Ah, but that’s where the mystery and romance comes in. You don’t know them, and they don’t know you, but think of all the fun you’ll have trying to figure out who the person was who caught your attention. Or perhaps it was you who caught theirs. Maybe you talked for a few moments, or even better, you danced together, but whatever happened, it was enough to set sparks flying or work up a little chemistry. You can even be a little outrageous if you wish. After all, who’s to know?”
“Oh right, thanks.” Cain hadn’t thought about the mystery angle; he’d been too concerned about opening his mouth and putting his foot in it. Now he realized it worked both ways. Both parties were at a disadvantage when it came to figuring out who said what to whom.
Just then, the band began to play another set. Cain felt someone touch his arm, and a voice said softly, “Would you care to dance?”
Something about the honey-on-velvet voice, which he thought might be a man’s but he wasn’t one hundred percent sure, caught Cain by surprise. It was rather like being touched without warning in a sensitive spot, and Cain’s body reacted accordingly.
He turned toward the speaker, someone a little taller and at least a few pounds heavier than himself, who wore an enormous headdress composed entirely of long black feathers. A gold half mask surrounded by a fringe of small black and white spotted feathers covered the eyes and forehead, while the lower half of the face was painted chalk white. A black velvet jacket and knee britches, white stockings and black, buckled shoes completed the outfit. The area between the chin and the collar of the jacket was swathed in purple chiffon patterned in silver.
“Well?” The voice pressed a little louder, confirming the speaker was a man.
At that precise moment, everything the other man had said about the mystery and romance of masquerade took over Cain’s imagination. “Yes, of course. Absolutely. I’d love to,” he replied before the stranger got the idea he wasn’t interested and moved on. “Sorry, you’ll have to excuse me,” he continued as the man took his hand and led him onto the floor, “but your headdress is quite amazing. How on earth do you manage to keep it in place?”
“It weighs less than a pound,” his partner replied, “so it’s really no problem. I barely remember I have it on.”
As they began to dance, he brought Cain just close enough so their bodies were touching from knee to chin in a hold that was light yet struck Cain as possessive. It was clear the man was a good dancer, and while there was nothing overtly sexual about his movements or the way he held Cain, there was something so sexy about the man himself it made Cain’s pulse race and sent his imagination into overdrive. He was having difficulty with his breathing. He was also highly aroused, and since his partner’s stiff cock was pressing hard against his thigh, he knew the reaction was mutual.
Cain had no idea if the anonymity afforded by the mask was responsible for his physical reaction, or if it was the result of the whole mystery-romance thing the other partygoer had explained. Whatever the reason, he was beginning to appreciate the appeal of a masquerade. It felt like the start of something exciting; quite what, however, he had no idea. Something he just knew would be both wonderful and different. Something he wished could last forever...
www.chrisgrover.ca

Shannon Leigh Interviews Cassandra and Cray

Shannon Leigh:
“Good afternoon everyone. Glad you could make it. Joining me today is a couple of the Characters from Lycan Lore, Cassandra and Cray.”

Shannon turns toward the pretty young woman with hazel eyes and fiery red hair that hangs in soft waves about her shoulders.

“Let’s start with Cassandra. Tell us how you ended up in Prairie Creek Park.”


Cassandra:
“My best friend Heather thought camping would be the perfect place for me to meet a guy.” She rolls her eyes. “Of course she was right, but not quite in the manner she’d intended. The only men I saw were either sporting a spare tire around their midriff, or a female counterpart and a succession of kids. Not exactly the Tarzan I had in mind.”


Shannon Leigh:
Chuckles as Cassandra’s sarcasm. “So how did you finally meet Cray?”


She casts a quick glance at the man seated on Cassandra’s right, her gaze taking in his muscled frame from the bottom of his large, weathered brown work-boots to the dark chocolate curls feathering his brow.


Cassandra:
“Cray was gracious enough to save me from my tent disaster,” she explains, interrupting Shannon’s wandering thoughts. “I’d just about given up, resigning myself to sleeping on the ground on my blowup mattress and pink camouflaged sleeping bag, despite the fact I’d be a smorgasbord for the mosquitoes and God only knows what else crawling about.”


Shannon Leigh:
“So he stepped in and rescued the damsel in distress. Looks like you discovered a Tarzan after all. Let’s move on to Cray. “


Shannon leans forward in her seat. “I’m going to skip all the small talk and get to the nitty-gritty. You claim to be a werewolf, is that right?”


His striking green eyes bore into hers, causing her to catch her breath. The stark hue of Spring leaves, they didn’t look real, rather, ethereal. Surely Mother Nature herself had gifted him with those eyes, Or perhaps the devil had granted that soul-startling stare, for there was certainly something feral within those neon depths that made her heart pound with a mixture of excitement and fear. She feels a flutter in the pit of her stomach as she returns his gaze, taking in all the striking details of his handsome face: the day’s worth of near black stubble covering his square chin and sharp jaw, and the appealing tilt to his firm mouth.


Cray:
Shrugs. “I suppose I am.”


Shannon Leigh:
Regains her composure. “But you’re not just any werewolf, are you, you’re a hunter. Can you enlighten us on what you do?”


Cray:
“I hunt and kill my own kind,” he replies bluntly.

Shannon Leigh:
Cringes at the lack of sympathy in his tone. “Seems a little hypocritical, don’t you think?”


Cray:
“Does it? Only lycans—werewolves—born into their fate can control their feral urges, their change. Those who are made are nothing more than vicious killers. They can’t control their bloodlust and the moon dictates their physical shift.”


Shannon Leigh:
“So you’re a protector of humanity, despite your own lycan heritage. That must be very difficult for you.”


Cray:
Shrugs again. “I can’t say it’s something you get used to. I don’t like my job, but someone has to do it.”


Shannon Leigh:
“Cassandra, what do you think about all this werewolf business?”

Cassandra:
Laughs. “I never believed in werewolves or vampires, or anything paranormal. I—”


Shannon Leigh:
“Hold on a minute, she says, interrupting Cassandra. “Are you saying there’s vampires, too?”


Cray:
Chuckles as though amused by her naiveté. “There’s a whole lot of things most humans don’t know about. Lucky for you, there’s guys like me trying to keep it that way.”


Shannon Leigh:
Looks pointedly at Cray. “You said you can change at will, right? Would you…change for the audience?”


Cray:
Gives her a wolfish smile. “Maybe at the end of the interview.”


Shannon Leigh:
Her heart leaps to the back of her throat as she basks in the potent sexuality radiating from Cray’s smile. Clearing her throat, she attempts to regain her composure. Tearing her gaze away from his handsome face she turns her attention back to Cassandra.


“Let’s get back to your feelings on all of this.”


Cassandra:
Gives Shannon a knowing smile. “As I was saying, I never believed in any of this stuff before. I did a study in college on Therianthropy, the mental transformation of a human into some sort of animal form where the subject displays characteristics of both—boy was that a wasted $500 bucks! Anyway, what I learned was that Lycanthropes were people who believed they were werewolves. During a full moon, they would carry on like the animal they thought they were—crawling about on their hands and feet, snarling, growling, clawing at the air, even eating raw meat—but none displayed any physical change. In those studies, all subjects were diagnosed with schizophrenia.”


Shannon Leigh:
“But Cray has just confirmed that he’s an actual werewolf. Were those studies wrong?”


Cray:
“No, they were right, those people were nuts.”


Shannon Leigh:
“Then how do you explain your claim?”


Cray:
“They weren’t studying the real thing.”


Shannon Leigh:
Starts to feel like Cray and Cassandra are pulling her leg about the whole werewolf bit. She’d believe Cray was a werewolf when saw it. Until then, she’d just play along.


“So Cassandra, you’re dilemma now is that you have a rabid wolf after you, is that correct?”


Cassandra:
Nods, her expression somber. “Unfortunately, yes.”


Shannon Leigh:
“But you have this strapping werewolf hunter to protect you. That must make you feel safe.”


Cassandra:
Smiles at Cray, her eyes full of warmth and love. “Yes. I do.”


Shannon Leigh:
“Why won’t this other lycan stop hunting you? You’d think he’d be afraid of Cray. Afterall, he does hunt and kill feral wolves, right?”


Cray:
“Fear won’t deter him. Once a wolf scents its prey, it won’t stop until it makes the kill. That’s why they have to be stopped. This time it’s just more personal.”


Shannon Leigh:
“What makes you different from these mindless killing machines, as you describe them?”


Cray:
“I was born a lycan. I can control my bloodlust. Though, it takes time and constant practice.”


His green eyes take on a faint glow, a look of hunger in their smoldering depths.


Shannon Leigh:
Swallows against the sudden dryness in her throat. “How long have you been alive, Cray?”


Cray:
Grins. “Longer than I care to admit.”


Shannon Leigh:
Smiles in return. “I think that pretty much wraps up this interview. Cassandra, I wish you the best of luck. I hope your hunter does his job. Cray, I think the audience would like a demonstration, I know I would.”


Cray:
“If you insist. But don’t freak out. It’s not a sight many people see and live to tell about.”


Shannon Leigh:
“I’m sure I’ll be fine, she replies. Shannon leans forward in her chair, anxious to see this for herself.


Cray stands and begins removing his boots. His blue and red plaid shirt and white tank top are the next to go. A nest of dark curls cover his massive chest. Shannon has the strange urge to run her hands along his bulging pecs and taut abs. He reaches for the button on his worn jeans and she’s suddenly grateful her show is rated mature. Yanking off his pants, he’s left standing before her completely nude.


Shannon feels desire claw at her insides as she takes in his full, luscious form. “Is that really…necessary,” she squeaks, unable to tear her gaze from his semi-erect cock. She longs to tangle her fingers in the dark wiry curls shrouding his thick rod. Her hands ache with the need to wrap around the base of his—


Cray:
“I like those jeans,” he replies, breaking in to Shannon’s bawdy thoughts.


Obviously, being nude in front of an audience doesn’t faze him at all.


Cassandra:
Giggles. Ostensibly amused by Shannon’s distress.


Shannon Leigh:
“Well then,” she says, clearing her throat once again, this time to swallow her own drool. “Let’s get this demonstration going, shall we?”


Cray:
Nods his head, then holds his arms out at his side. Dropping his head back, he lets out a ferocious bellow as his body begins to morph.


Shannon Leigh:
Holds back a scream as bones crack and muscles swell. His gorgeous form quickly changes into something she’s only read about in fiction books or seen on a movie screen. No longer human, his hunkered form resembles a strange mix of dog and Hell beast. Her gaze rivets on the razor sharp teeth lining his massive jaw. Gulping with terror, she leaps from her seat and backs several feet away.


Shannon holds her hands out before her as Cray—now a hideous creature that will surely haunt her sleep for years to come—takes a step toward her, his black lips pulled back in a snarl-like smile.


“I think you’ve provided an adequate demonstration, Cray. I’d like for you to return to your human form now. If you don’t mind.”


Cray:
Let’s out a chilling howl that rattles the walls. A deep growl rumbles in his chest.


Cassandra:
“Oh stop showing off. You’re scaring her to death.”


Cray:
Gives Shannon another fang-filled grin before quickly changing back into his prior, handsome self. Once again in his human form, Cray picks up his discarded clothes and begins putting them back on. When he’s finished, he drops back down into his chair and smiles.


“Believe me now?” he asks with a sardonic grin.


Shannon Leigh:
Despite her trembling limbs, manages to retake her seat. “Y…yes,” she stammers, hating the quiver in her voice. Can’t animals sense fear? She’s lucky she didn’t piss her pants.


She turns to her audience, wondering if they’re as shaken up as her. “One things for certain, this was an experience none of us will soon forget. Thanks for joining us folks, sleep tight. Don’t let the…werewolves bite.”


“Cray and Cassandra will be around for a while if anyone has any questions for them.

New Release: Byzantine Provocateur

Good morning and Happy Sunday! I'm doing a happy cha cha today in celebration of my naughty new tale, Byzantine Provocateur. Set in the exotic city of Istanbul,is an erotic tale about a woman who engages in a make-you-sweat, down and dirty forbidden vacation fling. Sounds like fun, doesn't it? Here's a hot little sneak peek to give you a taste of the delights to be found between the pages.

Synopsis

An ancient city sparks forbidden desire…

Thalia Burton arrives in Istanbul to relax and enjoy the company of her old friend. Hoping to forget the boring rut her life had become, she never imagines one encounter with Fadi's brother re-igniting the dim flame of passion inside her. Captivated by the heat in his golden eyes, Thalia finds herself tempted beyond reason...

Murat Bahar had only intended to meet Thalia as a courtesy to his family. One look at the lovely American incinerates his intentions. She is an exquisite morsel he longs to taste, a taboo treat enthralling him like a siren of myth. Perhaps just one night…

Once is not enough. Thalia and Murat embark on a fiery, secret affair that could burn them both, costing them friends and family.

Excerpt

The lock clicked into place with a muted sound, enclosing Murat and Thalia in their own private world, somewhere out of time. A million half-formed thoughts flitted through her mind, her stomach tightening with a flurry of nerves.
We are really going to do this.

Her gaze darted around the sumptuous room, barely registering the decor until her attention halted on the queen-sized bed. Covered in indigo silk, it was inviting and intimidating all at once—a plush, opulent love nest that made her large bed at home seem like a bunk in a youth camp.

She looked over her shoulder to find Murat regarding her with a contained expression as if he were waiting for a sign. Her pulse jumped under the weight of that stare and the enormity of what she was about to do. All her bravado in the salon fled. She was completely out of her element now. Aside from a couple of drunken gropings in college, all her sexual history, brief as it was, had been in relationships. This would be her first official one night—make that one day—stand.

He moved in, sliding his arms around her waist and drew her against him. “If you are unsure, we can halt this,” he murmured against her hair, brushing his cheek along the top of her head.

“No,” she choked out, closing her eyes as his warm breath feathered the shell of her ear, sending tiny thrills all the way to her toes. “I’m just a little nervous, that’s all.”

“Then I will relax you.”

Entertaining the Delaneys

Hello to all! Just popping in to let you know that the second in my m/m/m erotic Delaneys series, Entertaining the Delaneys, is now available from Amber Allure.

Since his initial encounter with the Delaney twins, Liam’s thoughts have turned back to them time and time again, and he can’t help hoping for another meeting. His chance happens one night when Mark Delaney rings and tells him to get into the car waiting outside. Liam does so at once, eager to see the twins again.

Once at the Delaney estate, Liam is at first overawed by the grandeur and style of his surroundings, the lush gardens replete with nude statues and the opulence of the residence itself, but seeing Mark, together with Johnny, focuses his mind on the entertainment to come. And it looks as if entertainment is certainly what’s in store. A business associate of the Delaneys, Mr. Buchanan, has agreed a deal with the twins, and part of that deal is Liam himself!

How will the evening end, and will Liam be able to handle the salacious challenges thrown at him this time? 

Here's an extract to whet your appetite:

“Liam,” Johnny said again in nothing more than a whisper, “you’re beautiful.”

He trailed his hand down my face as he spoke, and I took his finger inside my mouth and kissed and licked it. Not wanting Mark to be left out, I turned my head so I could gaze at him as I wrapped my tongue round his brother’s finger, and I tried to show him with my eyes exactly how hot he was. It seemed to work, too, as he increased the speed of his strokes to his cock. God, I could be good sometimes, especially when thrown in at the deep end, as it were.

Speaking of which, Mr. Buchanan had now reached the bottom of my spine, and I heard the soft thud of his knees as he landed on the carpet. I wasn’t quite sure what I’d anticipated him doing, but I felt my cheeks being opened and then the warmth and wetness of his tongue circling my hole.

Crying out, I lost my balance and almost fell, but Johnny held me in his grip. I was shaking with the ripples of pleasure spreading out from my arse and all through my body. At the same time, my cock was so hard it actually hurt. It was so long since anyone had done this to me and, in fact, it had only ever been twice. The first time was with my second boyfriend and it took me precisely three seconds to come, and the last time, I was so drunk I fell asleep and the boyfriend (the same one) dumped me. Really, I should be ashamed.

Anyway, in the here and now, I was sure I was going to come at any moment, and Mr. Buchanan hadn’t even stuck his tongue inside; he was only licking my rim. If the Delaneys were hell-bent on making me into some kind of hooker for their favored business associates, I certainly wasn’t acting in any way near professional, but, thank God, they didn’t seem to mind.

Johnny grabbed my chin and turned me to face him. By this time, I was gasping and moaning and couldn’t even speak, had I wanted to. Especially as Mr. Buchanan had just pushed his tongue inside me. Really, it was a miracle I was still conscious. The Delaneys certainly knew how to party ...

You can read a 5 star review at MichelenJeff Reviews, in which Jeff says: 

“Wow! Where do I begin? Firstly, I need to say that this story provided every single element that the first of the series lacked. Although the first installment offered a glimpse of the awakening that was occurring within Liam, part two explores it in depth ... I’m not sure how an author like Anne Brooke has such a keen understanding of the psychology of BDSM, but honestly, she nailed it! I loved this story, and I sincerely hope this is not the end.”

You can find out more at the Entertaining the Delaneys webpage and you can purchase the story at Amber Allure - happy reading!

Anne Brooke