Decadent Thursday Spotlight: Seal the Deal by JoAnne Kenrick

Genre: Paranormal Romance, 1Night Stand

Isle of myth and magic. Destined mates. One extraordinary date.

After being ditched at the altar, Finn Kneale isolates himself at Port St. Mary’s magnificent lighthouse. A violent storm ravishes the coastline, pitching the maritime tower into the Irish sea and transforming Finn into a seal. Carefree at first, he soon longs to walk as a man again. When leap year arrives, bathing land and sea in magic, Finn temporarily regains his human form. If he can’t find his soul mate in twenty-four hours, he’ll be back to cavorting among the waves.

Anne Ward—resident midwife and newcomer to Port St. Mary, Isle of Man—guards some wild secrets of her own while avoiding entanglements with married doctors. A believer in fate, she seeks out Madame Eve’s exclusive agency to help find her destined mate.

1Night Stand matches these two lonely souls. But will their extraordinary date allow Finn and Anne to open their hearts to magical possibilities and Seal the Deal?

Excerpt:

Finn Kneale slid from his watch-point rock a few miles out from the little tourist trap where he had lived for most of his life. Under the miraculous February 29th lunar eclipse, he delved into the depths of the Irish Sea. The orb hanging over the ocean like a dimmed lantern held his last chance to undo the spell shrouding him in misery. Water lapped, and he twisted, clapping flippers over the sea foam. Waves crashed over his mottled gray-and-black seal self. Excitement rushed through him and exited in a loud, brassy roar. Then he unleashed another and another, each increasing in volume for the benefit of his aquatic friends. The barked announcement told the world Finn hoped to meet his mate tonight.

He floated in the shallows, waiting, watching as the old, white lighthouse fluctuated in and out of existence. The sliver of moonlight cast a silvery glow over the once-in-ruins building sitting proud again, high on the cliff’s edge. Its beacon shone bright, yet the gray sky pitched gloom below. He had all of twenty-four hours to seal the deal—as long as the lighthouse stood—then the energy balance would return to normal along the rocky shores of the Isle of Man, the historical maritime building vanishing once again. At least, that was the story his father had relayed every morning for the last four years.

Shimmying his slippery body across the pebbled beach of Port St. Mary, he took cover between tall, bulky rocks for the transformation. Safely hidden, he squeezed his eyelids closed and tried to envision his human self. Too much time had passed; he wasn’t sure his memory was close to the mark.

Think, Finn, think.

Soft cotton towels against his whiskers, the warm touch of the sun on his shoulders as he worked the farm, tasty homemade soup tangy on his tongue. Soft flesh of a woman beneath him. Oh, to be admired for his manliness rather than his cutesy seal features and bubble-blowing talents. Fragmented recollections of the little things were all that had survived years of watching the shoreline.

Buy Links:   Decadent Publishing       Amazon       Barnes & Noble

JoAnne Kenrick is a multi-published author who writes both contemporaries and paranormals. Her Irish Kisses series earned her the title of a Bookstrand bestselling author, and contemporary romance bestselling author at ARe and Amazon.When JoAnne's not writing, she enjoys creating book adverts and crafting.

She lives in North Carolina with her husband, two kids, and two puddy cats. When they aren't demanding her attention she strums away on the keys of her little laptop, creating worlds and adventures she could only ever dream of. Come across the pond and faraway....with JoAnne Kenrick. Get exclusive sneak peeks at her new and upcoming releases by signing up to her quarterly newsletter here: http://tinyletter.com/joannekenrick


Author Links:  Facebook   Twitter    Pinterest   Website

  

Decadent Thursdays Spotlight: The Governess and the Beast by Karyn Gerrard

Title: The Governess and the Beast
Author: Karyn Gerrard
Genre: Historical romance
Publisher: Decadent Publishing
Buy: Decadent

Hiding secrets and a past she longs to forget, Hortense Jennings answers an ad for a governess and embarks on an adventure she did not expect.

Concealed in a gothic, crumbling manor on the edge of a North Sea cliff, Baron Simon Wolstenholme is hiding from life. Horribly scarred from battle wounds, he lives up to his name “The Beast of Stonecliff” in both appearance and attitude until he realizes how lonely he has become.

Simon propositions Hortense for a singular night of passion. Raging weather and storms of anger clash between a lonely man and a distrustful woman to reveal secret desires in an emotional crescendo. Can the Governess and the Beast find calm amid the storm and admit their true feelings, or will pride destroy the fairy tale before it begins?


~Excerpt~

“Do you have courage, Miss Jennings?”

The question confused her for a moment. “I suppose as much as the next person....”

Baron Stonecliff reached behind his head, untied the knot, and unwound the scarf until he exposed his face. Utter ruin. She fought back the gasp of shock but could not prevent her physical recoil and stepped back. Mottled, puckered skin and a maze of nasty wounds, some of them burns, covered the left side. Scars crisscrossed his cheek and disappeared into his hairline. How miraculous his lips and jaw remained intact. What made the destruction harder to bear was the breathtaking masculine beauty still visible on the right. Lord Stonecliff must have been devastatingly handsome at one point. She kept her gaze steady, and she hoped, her emotions well buried. With swelling evident, she surmised his injury must have occurred in the last several months. The skin was red and raw. Would it be it sore to the touch? The scarring continued down his neck and disappeared under his collar. So, not only his face received injury.

“Have you looked your fill?” Stonecliff snapped in annoyance. “You must be able to gaze upon the horror that is my face. When I am in my own home, I do not cover it. The doctors recommended leaving my visage free to breathe in order to aid healing. Since am I told it is not as red as before, I suppose their theory has merit....”

He frowned and shrugged with slight indifference. The words were probably the most he had spoken to anyone in some time, and no doubt more than he wanted to share.

Hortense swallowed and took a step toward him. “Regardless, you are free to do as you wish in your own home. Since I did not run screaming from the room, there should be no difficulty.”

Did one corner of those full, sensuous lips quirk into an almost-smile? Oh, Lord, why was she thinking of his lips?

He bade her to sit again and took the chair opposite. Stonecliff crossed his long legs and regarded her closely.

“What I am about to say may well have you scream and run from the room. I did not bring you here to be governess to my ward. In truth, he is eleven years old and away at school. I lied. I brought you here to be—my companion.”

Author Bio:

Living in a small town in a corner of Ontario, Canada, I while away my spare time writing, reviewing and reading romance. As long as I can avoid being hit by a runaway moose here in this wilderness paradise, I assume everything is golden. Originally from the east coast of Canada, I love to set some of my stories in the Maritime Provinces.

Happily married for a long time to my own hero, a teacher that braves everything that is thrown at him. His encouragement keeps me moving forward.

Decadent Thursday Spotlight: Curve My Appetite by Melissa Kendall

Genre: Romance

  Part of the Decadent Publishing 1Night Stand Series

Sally Austens’ sexual experience is limited and unsatisfactory at best. Now, as she turns thirty, it looks like the relationship train has missed her stop. When a friend tells her about 1Night Stand and suggests it might just change her life, she’s skeptical but shoots for the stars when asking for her perfect date. Go big or go home, right?

Dean Martorino lives in the public eye. Surrounded on a daily basis by society’s idea of stunning beauty, he longs for a woman with curves he can get lost in. At the suggestion of his long-time friend and manager, Dean shares his secret with Madame Eve hoping she can find him a match to fill his arms and satisfy his desires.

Can Sally accept the beauty Dean sees in her long enough to curve his appetite or will they both go home hungry?

Excerpt:

For the umpteenth time, Dean checked his phone. Still no text. He sighed in frustration. Thirty minutes after they’d agreed to meet, and no sign of his date.

His misgivings about the 1Night Stand concept weren’t eased by the fact she hadn’t arrived yet. He longed for something different, but one-night stands were not his usual idea of fun. He preferred long-term relationships. Jerry, his best friend had assured him Madame Eve’s services were more love matches than sex.

He’d laughed, at first, finding the whole idea ridiculous. He doubted even the mystical Madame Eve could find his perfect woman. Jerry had laughed, too, but then he got serious and asked, “What do you have to lose?”

Dean’s regular fitness regime kept him in shape and looking good for thirty-five. The women he met were stick-thin, self-obsessed, and semi-plastic, typical of the industry he worked in. Most of them were pretty, and though he’d dated a few, they weren’t what he fantasized about. No, in his dreams, the ladies all had natural and much curvier figures.

Big, curvy women had always fascinated him. Because he lived his life in the public eye, he’d been reluctant to go after what he wanted. At his age, though, with his career on the downhill slide, he realized he didn’t care anymore. He’d had his time in the spotlight. He wanted to settle down and have a family. Hence, he’d decided to find someone who loved him, not his public persona. He’d spent too long denying his true identity.

A knock made his heart skip a beat. She’s here. After a quick check in the mirror, he steeled himself and opened the door.

His mouth went dry and all coherent thought fled. Even if he had the words to express how she blew him away, he didn’t think he could find his voice. He ogled the gorgeous, buxom brunette standing in the doorway. His admiration cut short, as her face paled.

“You’re—” She stopped talking mid-sentence, her eyes rolled back into her skull.

Reacting on instinct, he reached out and wrapped his hands around her waist, trying to catch her before she hit the ground. However, instead of stopping her from falling, he was pulled to the carpet, too, both of them crashing in a heap.

Women fainted around him all the time. It no longer freaked him out. It was, however, the first time he’d fallen to the floor with one. Her pulse thumped strongly under his fingers. Relief washed over him; she was okay. The ridiculousness of it all hit him and a deep belly laugh escaped his lips.

Even with the less than successful start to his date, the feel of her in his arms had parts of him standing to attention. His curiosity dictated he find out more. Madame Eve had made an excellent choice. She might have found the perfect woman after all.

Buy Links: Decadent Publishing | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | ARe

About The Author:

Melissa is a 37 year-old stay at home mum and part-time Software Support Consultant. She lives in Perth Western Australia the most isolated capital city in the world. 

She’s always loved to read and write and spent most of her teens scribbling poetry and short stories on any scrap of paper she could get her hands on. Over the years as daily life pressures got in the way she lost the passion for it. After her son was born, she discovered online books and her interest in writing was rekindled. It has been a large part of her life ever since.

Author Links:   Site    Twitter    Facebook

Decadent Week: Eternally Yours by Kelli Scott

Title: Eternally Yours
Series: Edge
Author: Kelli Scott
Genre: Paranormal, contemporary, erotic, BDSM, Vampires
Publisher: Decadent Publishing
Pages: 29
Rating: 4/5
Buy: Decadent Publishing

Years after Luke’s sweetheart was ripped from his arms on prom night, Meri’s loss still haunts him. Searching for her everywhere, he finds her only in his dreams and on the pages of a dark comic book he created in her image. But on the anniversary of her disappearance, she shows up on his doorstep without having aged a day. What can he do but invite her in?
Meri’s nights are all about surviving alone on the dark, seedy side of life. Once a year she treats herself to a night of tasty passion with her one true love. Is this the year to seal the deal and make their love eternal, or will she walk away to become just another fantasy?

~Excerpt~
A chill ran the length of his spine in spite of the warm air swirling around him. The dark, grainy picture looked overexposed where other areas seemed underexposed. But the resemblance to Meri appeared unmistakable. Her translucent skin against the dark background leapt off the screen. Her eerie red eyes, caused by a flash photo at night, haunted him, preying on what little hope remained after year upon year of heartache and disappointment. Touching the screen, he traced her features with his index finger.

Gooseflesh rose on his arms seconds before the doorbell sounded. The buzz jolted him to his senses. Anyone who knew him—really knew him—would leave him alone tonight.

Crossing the room, he opened the door, preparing to give someone a piece of his mind. Freezing instead, his extremities tingled but everything else numbed. Including his brain. Especially his mouth.

“Invite me in before you faint.”

“Meri?” Her whispered name on his lips barely registered due to his pounding heart.

“Luke.” Her tone mocked him. She peeked around the door and held out a bouquet of blood red roses like the ones he’d given her for Valentine’s Day way back in the day. “I guess we know who we both are.” Her eyebrows arched up. “Invite. Me. In.”

“I….” Teetering on wobbly legs, he staggered backward a few steps. Spots danced in his peripheral vision and a flash of heat swept through his trembling body.

“Don’t you dare pass out, Luke.” Her blurry finger waved as blackness closed in. “Invite me in, damn it! Can I come in, please?”

“Yes.”

“That’ll have to do.”

~Review~
Your probably thinking...a paranormal? Really for Valentine's Week, there is a method to my madness. I love the paranormal genre. Eternally Yours is so much more than that though, at it's base is that one person you can't forget, your first love. Meri and Luke both haven't forgotten each other over the years. And the anniversary of their Prom Night, is the one night a year, Meri allows herself to be with Luke. The love scenes are smoking white hot, you find yourself drawn into the story, and falling easily into Luke's shoes.

I give it a four out of five stars.

Author Bio:

Left for dead in an enchanted forest, Kelli was raised by wolves, which explains her thick coat of fur and keen night vision. As an adolescent, she was exiled from the pack due to her love of well-done steak smothered in ketchup (her penchant for blackened beef has also caused her ejection from several fine eateries). On her own, she roamed the streets, eating from dumpsters and sleeping in abandoned dog houses. Cold, starving and destitute, Kelli turned to the oldest profession—writing. Since her fall from grace, she has penned several smutty stories for which she has received many accolades. And despite her limited vocabulary, inability to punctuate properly and her well-documented spelling disability, Kelli has collected an assortment of awards (some of them for her writing). But what she wants most in the world is to return to the enchanted forest and her pack. As soon as she figures out north from south and east from west, she will do just that. Until then, happy reading.

* I received a copy of the book from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review.*

Now all this week, any comment left will be entered into our giveaway, any Decadent ebook (bundle packs not included) of your choice. So drop your email into a comment, and come back tomorrow for another chance to win.

Decadent Thursday: Thunder by Taryn Kincaid

Title: Thunder

Series: Sleepy Hollow #2 | 1Night Stand

Author: Taryn Kincaid

Genre: Paranormal, erotic romance, urban fantasy

Publisher: Decadent Publishing

Format: Ebook

Pages: 36

Purchase: Decadent Publishing | Amazon |

Lonely young witch, Veronica Hardwicke, has struggled to get on with her life after the death of the elderly husband who’d left her a fortune and a sprawling estate in mystical Sleepy Hollow. When frightening things go bump in the night on a stormy Fourth of July, who better to call than the sexy developer and contractor, Sean Jones, who's been renovating her mansion for months?
Sean may grace the tabloid pages with a different supermodel on his arm every night, but it's Veronica who drives him nuts. Ignoring his instinct to stay away, he answers her summons.
Will the thundering passion of their 1Night Stand tear down the barriers between them?

Excerpt:

Veronica paced back and forth in the grand entry foyer of the Belmont mansion, the kitten heels of her Prada mules clacking on the marble floors.

The rest of the place might not be finished, but she’d insisted on having a few rooms completed, so at least she felt like she was living in a home, rather than a massive, never-ending construction project. Well, her contractor had insisted, even though working around the main entrance and central hallway created more work for him and his crew. But she was forced to admit he was right.

Her cell phone chimed on top of the antique credenza shoved flush against one wall. She leaped for it. Probably Geneviève, to regale her with all the fun she was having inParis. Or Sean, to advise her he couldn’t make it after all. She sighed and read the text message on the small screen.

Congratulations, Veronica. 1Night Stand has found your date. Have a good time.

With both anxiety and mounting excitement, she stared at the screen and waited. No other info. Outside in the night, thunder boomed. She jumped then laughed at herself.

Ghosts are one thing, but freaking out at the weather now? Cripes, you really do need this date!

She let her imagination run wild, then texted back for more details:

When? Where? Who?

An insistent pounding at the front door jarred her out of her fantasy. She swung the door open on another explosive crack of thunder.

Sean stood on her doorstep, his soaked T-shirt molding sculpted pecs and abs, his drenched hair flattened over his brow. Rain poured down as he fiddled with his iPhone, a bemused expression on his face. Behind him, jagged arrows of lightning tore the dark sky. He glared at the screen, glanced at her in confusion, then back at the screen.

Veronica’s own phone pinged again. Thunder roared. She read the message in disbelief.

You’re looking at him.

Review: 
Thunder by Taryn Kincaid is Sleepy Hollow #2, each stands alone, though they are so much better together.

Thunder is a slow burn, shown through the eyes of Veronica and Sean. Both shocked to learn they are each other's One NightStand. Each secretly desiring the other, it is the perfect match. As things start out slow, Thunder sure packs a punch, as the lovers get used to one another in scorching hot scenes that pop right off the page.

Madam Eve does it again, a perfect match with a perfect five stars out of five. Go pick it up today and heat up your night.


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About the Author:

TARYN KINCAID is a multi-published author of sensual romance. Her 1Night Stand series stories, LIGHTNING and THUNDER are available from Decadent Publishing and wherever eBooks are sold. Her Regency romance, HEALING HEARTS, for Carina Press; her  erotic paranormal, SLEEPY HOLLOW DREAMS, for The Wild Rose Press, are also available wherever eBooks are sold.

Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Facebook Author Page | Amazon Author Page |

Decadent Thursday: Birthday Bash

Juli Falzone is stuck at home for her thirtieth birthday after the TSA puts her on the no-fly list…until her doorbell rings and she finds two hot cops standing on her porch with a warrant for her arrest.

Are they a practical joke from her well-meaning friends, the best birthday gift ever, or has her identity been stolen? Wanting answers and maybe a little more than curious, she lets them in. Can she talk her way out of the situation or will they make her come along peacefully?



~Excerpt~

“No, sweetie. I’ve got to go. But I did send you a little gift. Enjoy.” Dara hung up.

Juli held the phone out, staring at it, bewildered by the abrupt brush-off.

Another knock brought her to her senses.

When she opened the door, phone still in hand, a summer breeze blew along her skin. Two police officers, completely opposite in appearance, stood on her stoop, stone-faced serious. The taller, darker cop had a white-knuckled grip on his nightstick. The other, shorter and fairer of hair and complexion, wore a pair of intimidating, mirrored sunglasses despite the darkness.

The taller officer cleared his throat. “Ms. Falzone?”

“Y-yes.”

“May we come in?” the shorter—just shy of six feet—blond man asked.

Her instincts said, no, don’t let them in. But she hadn’t done anything wrong, and they were peace officers. Maybe a crazed killer ran loose in the area, and they wanted to search her backyard, secure her locks and ensure her safety. But after the harrowing day she’d spent at the airport that morning, she was a quart low on trust, dubious of authority figures, and testy in general.

Oh, what the hell.

She opened the door wider, looking past them to the curb. “Sure.” A streetlight shone bright on a sedan. No other cops appeared to be canvassing the neighborhood. The uniformed duo filed in, but she wasn’t in the mood to make a pot of coffee or answer a bunch of inane questions. She’d filled her quota for the day.

“What’s this about?” She closed the door.

“We have a warrant.” The tall man whipped out a tri-folded piece of paper like he meant business.

She scoffed. “A warrant. For what?” She put on her tough girl act, but had visions of spending life in prison. “I haven’t done anything wrong.” Ever. Someone must have stolen her identity. First the no-fly list, now this.

The blond whipped off his shades, treating her to sky blue eyes. “Haven’t you?”

Dara always encouraged her to take a walk on the wild side. But every potential one-night stand date had struck her as a prospective serial killer or would-be stalker. She didn’t want to have regrets for living a boring life, but she’d seen too many friends, family members and co-workers make tragic mistakes in judgment. Unplanned pregnancies. Bad marriages. Worse divorces. Bankruptcies. She avoided all of the above.

“What’s the charge?”

Officer Tall-Dark-and-Handsome’s upper lip quirked. “The charge is being too sexy to be thirty.”


~Review~
The Edge Series is known for smoking hot scenes and memorable characters. Birthday Bash is no different, smoking hot scenes packed into such a short amount of time. Birthday Bash is a wonderful menage, with quite the different background, It sits at 30 pages, it leave you wanting more at the end, but in a very good way. Go pick up Birthday Bash today and steam up your night. I give it 4 out of 5 stars. 

Author Bio:

Left for dead in an enchanted forest, Kelli was raised by wolves, which explains her thick coat of fur and keen night vision. As an adolescent, she was exiled from the pack due to her love of well-done steak smothered in ketchup (her penchant for blackened beef has also caused her ejection from several fine eateries). On her own, she roamed the streets, eating from dumpsters and sleeping in abandoned dog houses. Cold, starving and destitute, Kelli turned to the oldest profession—writing. Since her fall from grace, she has penned several smutty stories for which she has received many accolades. And despite her limited vocabulary, inability to punctuate properly and her well-documented spelling disability, Kelli has collected an assortment of awards (some of them for her writing). But what she wants most in the world is to return to the enchanted forest and her pack. As soon as she figures out north from south and east from west, she will do just that.

Until then, happy reading.

Buy at Decadent 

Decadent Thursdays: Overnight Sensation

Title: Overnight Sensation
Series: Naughty Sleepover
Author: Desiree Holt
Publisher: Decadent Publishing
Rating: ****
Cover Art: Nicole Austin
Source: Received from publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewer: Lacey Wolfe
Buy: Amazon | B&N | All Romance | Decadent


At the end of a long, hard week, Abbie Lawlor’s feet hurt, her head ached and she just wanted one cosmos with her best friend, then home to soak in the tub. She sure wasn’t looking to hook up with anyone. Her luck with men was worse than bad. Too bad with visitors flooding San Antonio, the bar at The Menger Hotel was so jammed a sheet of paper would barely fit between two people. So when Sam Burdette ended up pressed against her, she felt every detail of his big, hard body.

The heat that flared between them could have set fire to everyone in the bar. But it was the invisible link that occurs between Dom and sub that made Abbie forget all about her aches and pains. Letting the very sexy Texas Ranger coax her out of the bar and up to his room for some very off the wall sex could turn a casual “Hello” into an overnight sensation.


~Excerpt~

“Some of our men serve as guards, so I know a lot about it.”

“Guards?” She frowned. “I know we have Texas Rangers who pull sentry duty.” “Yes, ma’am,” he drawled. “Samuel J. Burdette, Texas Ranger, Company E, El Paso, at your service.”

Ohmigod!

Many people, both in and out of the life, claimed they couldn’t tell a Dom or a sub outside the arena of play. Unless of course they were in a committed relationship and then the signs were there, if one knew what to look for. But Abbie had been on her search for so long she had finely tuned radar.

In all her fantasies of finding the Dom she sought, how many times had he taken the form of a Texas Ranger, the state’s elite crime fighting organization? They were powerful men, self-assured, part of the oldest law enforcement agency in North America, with statewide jurisdiction. And for her, the ultimate symbol of the kind of Dom she kept looking for.

Maybe, just maybe….

She mentally shook her head. No, she was an idiot to hope that—

“You do like Texas Rangers, right?” Sam watched her, one corner of his mouth kicked up in the hint of a smile. But what glittered in his eyes was no smile. Instead she saw heat, hunger, lust, need. And something indefinable that made her breath catch in her throat.

“Yes, I do,” she finally answered. She’d better get her brain in gear or he’d think he’d found an idiot and a simpleton and dump her back in the bar. “As a matter of fact, they’re my favorite kind of man.”

His look nearly melted her soaked thong.

“Good.” His thumb brushed gently over her knuckle, as much a gesture of possession as desire. “My kind of woman.”

Oh, yes, please. Please.


~Review~
Abby is a natural submissive and has been looking for a certain type of Dom and relationship. She's explored other routes, but they aren't for her. But one evening as she hangs out at a local bar, she meets Sam...a ranger...a hot ranger! And even better, he's a Dom and he might be the one she's been looking for.

Abby feels comfortable with Sam right away, as he does her. With this being a Naughty Sleepover series, the two wind up at his house for just that, a sleepover. But they didn't do all to much sleeping. *wink wink*. Sam is honest with her that he's a Dom and is thrilled to know that she knows about this lifestyle and is interested in playing.

After that, the book gets hot and steamy. Desiree Holt definitely delivers! The reader gets several scenes that aren't too hardcore, so if BDSM is a new genre for you, you'll get a good feel of what to expect. And in the end, it gets the HEA that we all love.

Be sure to pick this one up!

4 stars

About the Author:

Desiree Holt’s writing is flavored with the rich experiences of her life, including a long stretch in the music business representing every kind of artist from country singer to heavy metal rock bands. For several years she also ran her own public relations agency handling any client that interested her, many of whom might recognize themselves in the pages of her stories. She is twice a finalist for an EPIC E-Book Award, a nominee for a Romantic Times Reviewers Choice Award, winner of the first 5 Heart Sweetheart of the Year Award at The Romance Studio as well as twice a CAPA Award for best BDSM book of the year, winner of the Holt Medallion for JOY RIDE, multiple winner of the Whipped Cream Book of the Week Award and is published by five different houses. Romance Junkies said of her work: “Desiree Holt is the most amazing erotica author of our time and each story is more fulfilling then the last.”

Decadent Thursday: Sugar Girl

Title: Sugar Girl 
Author: Nicole Austin 
Series: Naughty Sleepover
Publisher: Decadent Publishing 
Source: Recieved from publisher in exchange for an honest review
Reviewer: Lacey Wolfe
Buy: Decadent 

A guy walks into a bar…

And finds the sweet girl he shouldn’t have left behind.

While book smart Candy Dillon went to college and embarked on an engineering career, Jeremiah Lange became a rodeo champion and country music icon. Their differences have kept these childhood friends apart until finally, the twists and turns in their individual paths lead them right back where they belong.

All work and no play has Candy aching for a thrill. Jeremiah is the perfect man to help check a few things off her bucket list. From bungee jumping to making out on a Ferris wheel and an emotional spin beneath bright spotlights, Candy’s having the time of her life.

But in the harsh light of the morning after can she really hold on to a shooting star?

~Excerpt~

Unruly black hair had been tamed to silky waves above big blue eyes she’d gladly drown in. His face was rough-hewn with sharp angles, and a rugged beard shadow softened the intensity of his square jaw. He’d grown into that coltish boy’s body and then some. Broad chest, powerful arms roped with corded muscles, lean hips….

Calloused fingers grazed her cheek, drawing her focus back to his smiling eyes.

“Of all the gin joints….” he prompted, beginning a familiar greeting they’d shared a million times over while growing up.

She grinned up at him. “In all the towns, in all the world….”

“She walks into mine.” He finished the famous movie line, cupping her cheek, his thumb repeatedly gliding along her bottom lip. “I can’t believe it’s you. What are you doing here?”

“At the hotel? Guest speaker at a conference. In San Antonio? I moved back to be closer to my mom. Dad—”

Her voice choked up, unable to say the words. It had only been three months since her father’s fatal heart attack. The wounds were still raw.

Strong arms wrapped around her, pulling her in to that incredible body, one hand holding her head cushioned against a delicious chest she wanted to lick, the other rubbing soothing circles over her back. He smelled good—sandalwood and leather.

“I heard about your dad.” His voice rumbled through his chest and into her, Candy eagerly soaked in the delicious vibration. “I’m so sorry.”

In his arms, she felt safe and loved, never wanting to leave. All too soon, he broke the embrace and stepped back. “Come on, grab your drink. Let’s find a table and catch up.”

With a nod, she turned back to the bar, got another glass and a bottle of the chocolate wine nestled in an ice bucket from the crestfallen Luke. She gathered her belongings and followed Jeremiah to a small table at the back of the bar.

Once they’d settled into seats, she turned his question back on him. “So what are you doing here?”

“Had a bad injury last year and can’t compete on the circuit anymore. Got tired of constantly being on the road with the band.” He shrugged. “So here I am, spinning my wheels while I wait to close on a ranch in the Hill Country.”

She’d known about the injury. It had been all over the news. That damn ornery bull’s horn had come disturbingly close to gelding Jeremiah. But the band? She hadn’t heard about him leaving Branded.

“A ranch? Wow! I thought you never wanted to be tied to one place?”

“I grew up. Had to happen sooner or later.” Shifting his chair closer, he reached out and placed his hand over hers on the table that suddenly seemed a lot smaller. He made a blatant point of checking her out, head to toe, a lascivious smile curving his lips. “You’ve certainly grown up.”

~Review
In the mood for a romance with a man that will do anything for the woman he wants? Well, you've got your read. Candy walks into the bar at the right time and comes across the man she's always loved and in return, he feels the same way. She tells him about the things she's always wanted to do, and Jeremiah makes those dreams come true.

This is a short story, so I can tell to much without giving away the whole story. But you will swoon over their romance and the author really heats up the scenes in the bedroom. If you love a story about past loves reunited, you'll want to pick this one up.

Five Stars

Author Bio:

Nicole Austin lives on the sheltered Gulf Coast of Florida, where inspiration can be found sitting under a big shade umbrella on the beach, sipping cold margaritas. A voracious reader, she never goes anywhere without a book, but started looking for something more. Something hotter.

A passion for erotic romance led to Nicole’s creation of sizzling characters and boundary pushing stories. Now she lives in an incredible world where fantasy comes to life in bold, vivid detail. Well, until real life intrudes and she has to share the computer with the rest of the family.

Decadent Thursday Special Announcement

Decadent Publishing is hosting a giveaway. Now we're NOT giving anything away, you need to go to the Decadent blog here to enter. We're just sharing the awesome giveaway that's going on.

Share your love of eBooks this holiday season.

Give a Reader a Reader from Decadent Publishing!

Do you have a friend who doesn't yet know the ease and fun of an eBook reader?

Enter to win a Nook 'Simple Touch with Glowlight' that you can give to a friend this holiday, plus 45 Decadent Publishing eBooks for each of you from participating authors!

You have many chances to win every day from November 15 through December 15. Tweet it, Facebook it, follow the blog hop and comment daily for a chance to win this amazing prize valued at around $400.

Go here for the grand prize
And here is the daily schedule

Good Luck!

Decadent Thursday's : Back in the Saddle by Ashlynn Monroe

Welcome to Decadent Thursday's! 

It's Tamaria here today and I'm reviewing a 1Night Stand story that stole my heart! Back In he Saddle by Ashylnn Monroe

Title: Back in the Saddle
Author: Ashlynn Monroe
Genre: Erotic romance, shapeshifter, paranormal
Heat Level : 4
Pages: 25
Price: S1.99





All Jesa wants is peace from her father and aunt meddling in her life. When she decides to use 1 Night Stand to find a date, she never imagines she’d be matched with the very type of man she’s trying to avoid.

David is a werewolf. As the oldest male in his family he must battle the inner violence that his wolf begs him to unleash. His sister’s meddling leads him and Jesa to a meeting that will rock their worlds, bringing them an emotional connection and ecstasy neither expected.


~Excerpt~

I never thought I’d be in Montana of all places when 1NightStand matched me. Jesa stood at the entrance to the restaurant feeling ill.

In front of the cute, open-air cafe, she took a deep breath, ready to face her date.

“I'm here to meet Mr. Jenson.”

“Follow me, miss.”

She sat down at the empty table the host indicated, looked at her watch, and scowled. Early as usual, oh goody. I wish I hadn’t hurried. More time to be nervous and second-guess my choice.

She fidgeted with the napkin and utensils, wishing her date would arrive. Should I just get up and leave? Her thoughts were distracted as a tall, gorgeous, young blonde woman sat down. What’s going on? Where is David Jenson? Kinky didn’t appeal to her, so whatever. I’ve never even had sex.

Before a word of protest escaped her lips, a handsome waiter appeared. The blonde glanced up and smiled. “I'll have a glass of iced tea and the Cobb salad. What would you like?”

She knows my name. Not fair, I've no clue who she is.

“I'll take the same.” Interest in how things would play out kept her in her seat.

When the waiter left, Blondie spoke again. “I'm sure you want to know where your date is. I'm his sister, Madelyn.”

Eww, sister, I’m not into that kind of thing.

“Don't worry.” The woman laughed.

Do I seem that scared?

“I'm here because I adore my brother, and I want to make sure they’ve sent the right girl.”

Decadent Buy Link

~My Review~

I adored this story. Both Jesa and David are tortured souls. Jesa seeks out Madam Eve's Service for a date so her father will stop trying to fix her up. David doesn't like what he has become and refuses to date. His sister decides to intervene and sets him up on a 1Night Stand.

This story is both heartfelt and steamy! Miss Monroe takes you on an amazing journey of self discovering and redemption. 

If you haven't read a 1NS story yet I highly recommend this one. I give Back in the Saddle 4 stars!

About Asylynn Monroe:

Ashlynn Monroe is a busy wife and mom. She’s been writing since she was a teenager for her own pleasure but in her thirties, she decided it was time to share her stories. She enjoys writing about anything and everything paranormal or fantasy related. She spends most of her time daydreaming up her next tale of romance. She’d love to hear from you at authorashlynnmonroe@gmail. Visit her website at http://ashlynnmonroe.com/ to learn more about the worlds she imagines.

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Decadent Thursday- The Landscaper

The Landscaper by Stephanie Williams

Series: Edge

Publisher: Decadent Publishing

Pages: 24

Reading Level: 18+

Source: Received from publisher for an honest review.

Reviewer: Viari Rose

Lauren needs more than her backyard plowed. When she sees her new hunky gardener, she wonders if he wants to plants seeds in other places. Hot and horny, from being on a dry spell for months, she realizes that the Summer sun isn't the only thing that’s got her hot.

I just have to mention that little one had me grinning and giggling in the beginning. It was a smoking hot read. I was happy about the ending but, I wanted more. This is a solid 5 star book, an absolute must read.  

My favorite part? When Nate says “I’ll take real good care of you, baby.” And he completely does take care of her. 

Lowering the spyglasses, she ran upstairs, grabbed her wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses from the dresser. She made a mad dash downstairs and out the back door, approaching him from behind. She stood a moment, appreciating the view of his firm ass and wide shoulders.

“Ahem. Hello there. I don’t think we’ve been introduced. I believe my personal secretary hired you to take care of my much-neglected landscape?”

He stood bent over a patch of high, thorny weeds, but his shoulders bounced with silent laughter.

“That’s a clichéd greeting if I ever heard one.” He straightened and glared at her with intensity hotter than the sun—on a day when the temperature soared past a hundred and two. He made her think of a fallen angel. A bit hard, but a man who looked like he knew what he wanted, when, and how!

She wanted him—now!

“Hello. My name is Nathan Sheers.” He stuck out his hand. His eyes roamed from the top of her head, to her sandaled feet.

She shivered. So this is what a bug under a microscope feels like.

My name is Stephanie Williams. I am a native of Los Angeles, born 45 years ago. I am a full-time home business owner in the export/import trade as well as a contract Purchasing Agent for a medical facility. I enjoy opera, classical music and am a huge history buff. Reading is my passion and it’s not unusual for me to read a book a week whether it’s War and Peace or short stories by Poe and of course romance and erotica. I’ve traveled extensively and it’s not unusual to find me celebrating Christmas in the Land Down Under with a shrimp on the barbie.

Website 

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Decedent Thursday's: To Feel Again by Valerie Mann and some history on the 1Night Stand Series

Welcome to Decadent Thursday's! It's me Tamaria here today and I though we would take a look back to the very first 1Night Stand book, To Feel Again by Valerie Mann!

I also asked Valerie Mann for some information on how the series got started.

From Valerie Mann...

This series was developed by me, Kate Richards and Olivia Starke in the summer of 2010, with the idea of farming out our stories to a publisher. We wanted a common thread running through our three stories, and I came up with the idea of a dating service run by a mysterious Frenchwoman. Madame Evangeline (Eve) was born. We also wanted a central location where Madame Eve could direct her clients for their rendezvous and we thought a luxury hotel chain would work.


I knew my book was going to be the launch book, and since Latin men are very sexy, I decided my hero would be a Cuban-American hotelier. I think surnames should be authentic, so I googled "common Cuban surnames". Scrolling down the list, I saw "Castillo". I thought that was a regal-sounding name. Even better, when I looked up the meaning, I found that it meant "Castle". Wow! This guy's last name is Castillo and he owns luxurious hotels (castles)? It was meant to be!


At that time, Decadent Publishing's doors were not open yet. Shortly thereafter, DP put out a call for editors, Kate and I hopped on board the DP train, and the stories got buried during the excitement, LOL


In January of 2011, I emailed Kate and Olivia and said, "Hey, do you want to see if DP will take our stories?". They thought that was a good idea, so we submitted them and they were contracted. I asked Decadent's owners, Lisa and Heather, if we could ask some of our trusted author friends to see if they were interested in writing a one-night stand. Lisa said "sure!" and within a month, I think we had five authors on board. Who doesn't think the idea of romance resulting from a one-night stand is a wonderful idea? They all did!


In early April 2011, To Feel Again was released. A week later, Kate's The Virgin and the Playboy (still selling like hotcakes after all this time!), was released, with Olivia's, Familiar Desires, a couple of weeks after that.


And a few months later, we were overwhelmed with submissions. Kate and I do all of the content editing for 1Night Stand, and Lisa had to hire two line editors and a senior editor for the series, as well. It's been a crazy, fun, unbelievable success story that we never anticipated.

~ To Feel Again By Valerie Mann ~

Genre: Contemporary romance, erotic romance, interracial
Pages: 27
Heat Rating: 4

Blurb: When Leah loses her fiancé, Mark, in Afghanistan, it takes nearly a year to get to the point where she’s ready to live again. Although she doesn’t want an emotional commitment, a night of consensual sex, even with a stranger, might help bring her some closure after Mark’s death. Enlisting the services of Madame Evangeline’s high-end, online dating service, One Night Stand, promises exactly what Leah is looking for—sex with a man she doesn’t have to see again, but one who will satisfy her physical needs now that she's ready to move on with her life.

Jackson Castillo has no desire to go on a date with one of Evangeline’s clients. One Night Stand uses his hotel for its client’s rendezvous, but otherwise, he never gets involved. When Eve threatens to take her business elsewhere unless he helps her with a particular case, he’s no fool. He’ll go on the date. But he won’t sleep with the woman.

When one thing leads to another, his good intentions to stay out of the bedroom with Leah are shattered. The sex is phenomenal, but there’s more to Leah he wants to explore. After she leaves the next morning without a goodbye, he’s both disappointed and royally pissed. Will he let her go or find a way to convince her she’s ready…to feel again?

~My Review~

This was the first 1NS I read and it made me want to read more from the series! I fell in love with Jackson instantly and it was easy to adore Leah!

To Feel Again ignited many emotions within me as I read it. I laughed, cried, and swooned! If you haven't read a 1Night Stand story yet, what are you waiting for? Go buy To Feel Again!

Without a doubt I give To Feel Again 5 out of 5 stars!

~Excerpt~ 

Leah slipped the plastic card in the lock, entered the hotel room, and blew out an impressed little whistle. She ran a hand along the watered silk wallpaper near the door. Luxury and Castillo Hotels were synonymous, and this room didn’t disappoint, all part of the expensive-and-hopefully-worth-it 1NightStand experience. Madame Eve promised only the best for her clients.

A one-night stand...not something Leah ever contemplated she’d experience, let alone pay for.

“You can do this,” she whispered, fighting the intense urge to make a run for the elevator and ditch the whole rendezvous.

Tossing the key card on the nearby secretary desk, she took stock of the large suite. Cream, beige and chocolate browns dominated, both warm and inviting. She spied an enormous bathroom through an open door off to her left and wandered over to peer in. Heavens, the Jacuzzi was big enough to swim laps in. Turning back, she found the heavy drapes open to reveal the entire city of Las Vegas glittering below. Underneath the gigantic flat screen TV on the far wall sat a fully-equipped wet bar.Perfect. Maybe a cocktail or two could persuade the butterflies in her stomach to land. What had she been thinking, signing up for a night of sex with a stranger? If her therapist knew what she’d arranged for the evening, he’d probably fire her.

Did therapists even do such a thing?

What she couldn’t ignore any longer was the room's focal point, a California-king, three foot high bed. As big as the room was, the bed dwarfed it—in spades. And, at some point in the next few hours, she’d be on that bed, in that bed, rolling around having hot, sweaty sex with a man she didn’t know.

Bending down, she stepped out of one of the stilettos she’d earlier thought were such a great idea to wear. Easing the other one off, she groaned and wiggled her toes in the plush carpet. The evil things weren’t touching her feet again before she left. Not even four-inch stilettos hid her short stature—vertically challenged as the women in her family liked to call their common genetics. And what did it matter when you spent the evening horizontal? That’s how the evening would end anyway…horizontally. She shivered.

Eyeing the bed again, she approached it and frowned. How on earth would she gracefully get on that thing? Easing the oversize purse off her shoulder, she laid it on the ocean of mattress and climbed up. Her legs dangled over the edge and she resisted the urge to swing them like a kid. Instead, she pulled the bag closer and unzipped it, staring in at the contents. Wallet, cell phone, breath mints, passport.

Condoms.

Lucky Stiff brand—when opportunity strikes, we’ve got you covered!

Leah winced at the gift from her sister. Leaning over, she yanked the nightstand drawer open and tossed the box in where it landed next to the Gideon bible.

Oh, the irony.

You Sexy Thing sang from the bottom of her handbag, piercing the quiet. She jumped, fumbled for her cell phone then jabbed the talk button.

“Since you answered, I’m assuming you’re alone and still dressed.”

Leah had to laugh. If anyone could find the humor in this ludicrous and completely out-of-character-for-Leah situation, it would be her sister, Lana. “Yes, on both counts.”

“No sign of Prince Charming yet?”

Leah laid back on the thick coverlet and stared at the ceiling. “No. But, I got here early.”

Lana’s hesitation echoed over the airwaves. “It’s not too late to call this off, you know.”

Leah shook her head. “Not happening. I need to let Mark go and move on with my life. This is how I choose to do it.”

Lana sighed. “Sleeping with a stranger isn’t the most ideal way, honey.”

God, how many times would she and her little sister have this same conversation? Leah tuned out the same-shit-different-day dialogue and began to count the number of tiles in the ceiling.

“…afraid this will hurt more than it helps,” Lana droned.

A firm knock on the door jolted Leah out of her distracted state. Bolting upright in alarm, she dropped the phone before tumbling gracelessly off the gargantuan bed.

“Damn.” She tried to breathe around the sudden hammering of her heart. Lana’s voice continued somewhere under the bed and Leah fished around past the dust ruffle for the phone before locating it near the wall. She clutched it to her ear like a lifeline, and cut her sister off mid-sentence. “Oh, my God, Lannie—he’s here.”

Lana waited a beat before replying in a rush, “It’s not too late. Tell him you’ve changed your mind.”

Another knock sounded and Leah jumped again. Pressing a hand to her heart, she whispered, “No. I need to do this.”

“Don’t be silly! He’ll understand if you don’t—”

“I’ve got to go, Lannie. I’ll call you tomorrow.” Flipping the phone shut, she muted the volume and set it on the nightstand. Then, on auto-pilot, she crossed the room and unlocked the door.

Buy Links:  Decadent Publishing          Amazon         Barns & Noble

About the Author:

Valerie Mann has lived from sea to shining sea and currently resides in Raleigh, North Carolina. She has her own romance hero husband, five children, and two lazy cats. She has more fun than is proper as the promotion director for an online bookseller, owning a romance review site and editing for an electronic publisher. She loves to hear from her readers! ValerieMann09@yahoo.com

For more information, please visit this author's webpage.