Cookies and Margaritas with Sharon Kleve

The holiday celebration of food and fiction continues with a delightful cocktail hour with Sharon Kleve, another fellow Passionate Cook, who has just released a new Christmas novella at the perfect time.  Help yourself to a blackberry margarita and join us for a chat about writing and good food!

Tell us about your new publication.

I've written a series of books called, 'The Corny Myers Series.'  Josey's Christmas Cookie is my second Christmas story but it's my first stand alone book.

Was there a special inspiration behind it?

All I can say is; I love animals. I know for certain they'll be in all my books. A sad, homeless dog seemed perfect for a lonely, workaholic girl.

Do you have a favorite passage you’d like to share?

It's where Josey meets the dog of her dreams.. ha ha!

A glob of drool hit the top of my shoe. He let go of my pant leg and licked the goo off my shoe. I wanted to say, "gross," but instead I said, "thank you."

I was hooked. His fur was a reddish brown and soft as silk. Not caring about drool or dog hair, I sat down on the floor next to Cookie, wrapped my arms around his neck and finally felt at peace.

I know exactly what you mean!  When I got my sweet puppy (although this is quite some time ago), we knew we were right for each other from the start.  I’ve never felt that kind of love at first sight with a person.  What’s next for you in your writing?

The fourth book in The Corny Myers Series, "A Bunch of Blarney' is with my publisher and I'm working on the fifth book in the series. I've started a Valentine’s story, yet to be named.

I hope there’s chocolate in it!  Could you tell us the name of a writer you’d like to invite to dinner and what would you serve her/him?

I would love to have, the one and only, Janet Evanovich over for dinner. I'd serve her my Lip Smacking Pork Roulade. It just so happens this particular recipe was chosen to be in the Passionate Cooks, All Romance Cookbook. My recipe, pictured below, is on page 110 and is available here.

Describe a favorite drink that makes life a true pleasure. 

I'm a true connoisseur of margaritas, so I'd also serve Janet Evanovich a couple of Mouth-Watering Blackberry Margaritas. One's never enough…

12 oz. Agave Tequila
6 oz. fresh squeezed lime juice
3 oz Agave nectar
3 oz water
¼ cup blackberries, frozen will work if they're not in season.
A pinch of rock salt

Shake vigorously and pour over crushed ice.

Makes about 6 servings, depending on the glass size

Janet is one lucky writer, but I think we can all enjoy a luscious fruity cocktail at week’s end.  I will definitely be trying this recipe.  Thanks so much for sharing, Sharon, and best of luck with your series.

Sharon Kleve was born and raised in Washington and currently lives on the Olympic Peninsula with her husband.  She loves romance. She loves reading romance, living romance, and especially loves writing about romance. She gets no greater feeling than watching her characters come alive in each other's arms. Most of all, she loves giving her characters the happily ever after they deserve—with a few bumps and bruises along the way. One of her favorite things to do is picking up a new book and sinking into the story, immersing herself in the emotions between the characters. She hopes to inspire her readers the same way her favorite authors have inspired her. When not writing, she can usually be found either curled up in her recliner with her cat and a good book, or in the kitchen baking sourdough bread or bagels.

You can buy Sharon’s books here:

Amazon US
Amazon UK
Barnes and Noble
Smashwords

Find out more at Sharon’s website, blog, Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads

Rhonda Laurel and the Love of the Game

Twelve-twelve-twelve is a lucky day on the calendar of many cultures, and it’s very good luck here as I welcome Rhonda Laurel to talk about writing, romance and the pleasures of comfort food.  Rhonda and I both have recipes in Passionate Cooks, the delicious—and absolutely free—cookbook from All Romance Ebooks.  So without further ado, here’s Rhonda!

Tell us about your new book.

For the Love of the Game was released in November and is my second novella.  It is the story of Morgan and Seth, a couple who literally run into each other on a tropical island!

Do you have a favorite passage you’d like to share?

For the third time that evening Morgan regained consciousness. The pain medication the doctor had given her made her euphoric and sleepy. When she’d come to, a nurse had informed her she had a bruised rib but nothing was broken. She lay in bed watching the white ceiling fan above her rotate, thinking of how quiet and sterilized the office seemed. She heard a sound from the corner of the room and turned to see the muscle head guy who had run into her on the beach, sitting in a chair opposite her, watching.

“Good evening.”

“What are you doing here?” she asked, confused.

“I just wanted to make sure you were okay. I’m sorry about running into you like that. I didn’t see you.”

“I don’t take it personally. Nobody ever does. Besides, you were too busy flexing for the beach bunnies,” Morgan said, flashing a condescending smile. So what if he was six foot three and gorgeous? That didn’t give him the right to steamroll over people on the beach.

“Was not,” he scoffed.

“If you weren’t, then you had a bad case of tunnel vision. Ever think of trying out for a team? I could be your reference to confirm that you could tackle someone pretty good.”

“You know football?” he asked with an amused smirk.

“Steroid-pumped overgrown men on a field trying to throw a ball back and forth and scoring points.”

“Well, that’s the layman’s explanation for it. It’s more complicated than that, though. And minus the steroids.” He coughed. “I can explain it to you.”

Men and their posturing about sports. Morgan held up a hand. “No need. First you injure me; now you want to bore me to death. I have no need to fill my brain with random trivia about things I don’t care about.”

“Well, sports are a meaningful way of exercise, keeping in shape, strategizing, and it has a place for those of us who weren’t selected for the IQ Olympics.” He chuckled as he leaned back in his chair, crossing his leg over his knee. “What slogan will tomorrow’s shirt have on it? Your SAT scores? I’ve rather enjoyed reading your T-shirts the past three days.”

“I wouldn’t want to make the rest of the island feel inferior to me. Especially since they’re a bunch of muscle head jocks running around. I would fear for my safety.”

As he shifted slightly in the chair, she noticed how finely sculpted his body was and reaffirmed why he was out running around like an idiot. Every inch of exposed skin was muscled, well-defined, and lean. His shoulders were wide, but his waist narrowed, and he looked as if he ate five pounds of pasta for breakfast. But the face was in great contrast to the body. He had soft, striking features and piercing green eyes, giving him a hint of a boyish look, but she knew he hadn’t been a boy in a long time. And his smile was perfect and rehearsed, like he’d practiced it a lot. It seemed more controlled than natural. Did he feel the need to put on a pleasant mask all the time? Smiling on command wasn’t an easy thing. She’d ruined many a family photo because her two-second freeze frame would expire before the picture was taken. She wondered what would make him smile genuinely.

“Did you know that you moan in your sleep?” he asked in a low Southern drawl, surprising her.

“I do not.”

“I was wondering if your husband told you that.”

“I’m not married.”

“Hmm. Then maybe that’s why you moan in your sleep.” He smiled.

Morgan returned the smile. “I think I know what tomorrow’s T-shirt is going to say.”

“What’s that?” He leaned in closer to the bed.

“Up yours.”

I love the dynamic between Morgan and Seth—spirited sparring mixed with undeniable attraction!  My husband also taught me to appreciate football, so I know that can be a surprisingly romantic way to bond.  How do you find time to write your novels?

When the ideas start flowing I stop what I’m doing and write!

That’s really the only way to do it, isn’t it?  What’s next for you in your writing?

I am currently working on a few projects.  I have an outline for the sequel to For the Love of the Game titled MVP.  MVP is a further exploration of Morgan and Seth’s budding relationship.  We also get to meet Seth’s brothers!  His has a little brother that loves to get into trouble.

I am also working on Vendetta, which right now is teetering on the brink of being a full-blown novel.

Can you describe a favorite food that makes life a true pleasure?

One of my favorite dishes to make is baked ziti.  I enjoy the melding of the flavors of the pasta, sauce and cheeses.  The combination is divine.  This dish takes some time to prepare because I always want to make it better than the last time.  It’s an elegant comfort food and I love making it for parties.

Sounds delicious—and perfect for a cold winter’s evening.  Thanks so much for stopping by, Rhonda, and best of luck with For the Love of the Game.

Rhonda’s novel is available at:

Amazon
Barnes & Noble
All Romance EBooks

You can learn more about Rhonda and her work at her blog, Facebook, Twitter, Amazon and Goodreads

Kay Jaybee and the Pleasure of Waiting

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Magic Mice and the End of an Era

Five years ago, I wrote my first installment of my ERWA column, "Cooking Up a Storey."  This month, I'm posting my last column, "The Writer's Ultimate Secret: Making Magic with Words and Cookie Dough."  It's the end of an era, a blend of my special themes of food, erotica and writing.  I'll still be sharing my thoughts on writing on the ERWA blog on the 18th of every month, but the format doesn't really lend itself to including recipes.  Still, it was a good run, and I'm ending on a very magical note with my recipe for Holiday Cookie Mice.  This is as much an art work as a baking project, and it's guaranteed to delight adult and child alike.  Give it a try--and count the compliments! 

Lisabet Sarai's Very "Nasty Business"

I'm delighted to welcome Lisabet Sarai to my blog to share her newest release, Nasty Business, a BDSM erotic romance, published by Books We Love.  And what a lovely cover indeed!
 
Here's more about the novel and a very steamy excerpt from a master--or should I say "Mistress"?--of the genre who knows her business:
 
All's fair in lust and business
 
Ruby Maxwell Chen, lovely and ruthless CEO of a huge British business empire, is used to getting her way. When she encounters the strangely charismatic American entrepreneur Rick Martell, though, she wonders if she hasn't finally met her match. 

From the trendy clubs of London to the Hollywood Hills, Ruby and Rick compete for ownership of a strategic factory in Malaysia. Neither has any qualms about using sexual wiles to smooth the path to success. Neither anticipates that their mutual attraction will turn into something far more intense and difficult to control.

As their struggle for dominance escalates, they draw their employees and associates into their outrageous power games. The stakes could scarcely be higher, as Ruby and Rick play for the ultimate prize: a night of total physical surrender.
 
Novel-length book includes “Shades of Red,”a bonus story about Ruby's introduction to BDSM! 

As good as I am at this game, I'm finding it difficult. I know, intellectually, that ignoring her, pretending to honor my promise, will heighten her frustration and ultimately, weaken her defenses. If I came on to her, she'd resist. By seeming to hold back, I draw her to me.
I can feel the arousal emanating from the trim form strapped into the seat next to me. Her body language speaks volumes, though she struggles to silence it. She's dying to have me touch her, or to touch herself.

The problem is, I have to struggle myself not to reach for her. I have to resist this nearly overwhelming urge to slide that designer skirt up her slim thigh, exposing her smooth flesh. My fingers itch to stretch across the console and tweak those ripe nipples poking through her blouse. My half-hard dick presses uncomfortably against my zipper.

I watch the pavement twisting in front of my hood. I push the roadster a bit harder. Obedient, she races around the curves, graceful and powerful. An extension of my body, my will. Ruby's lips are parted. Her hair has come free from its clasp and flows around her face in jet waves. I want to control Ruby the same way I control my car. I want to feel her respond when I press the pedal a bit closer to the floor.

A sideways glance tells me that she's looking at me. I risk a few seconds of inattention to turn and grin at her lasciviously. "Take off your blouse, Ruby. Go ahead, you know you want to." The wind tears my words away, but I know she hears me. There's defiance in her eyes, mixing with the lust. "Come on. I dare you."

A contest, then. Briefly, emotions war on her face. Her lust wins. She smiles at me, provocatively.

"Keep your eyes on the road, Martell. You'll get us killed."

She's right. I switch my focus a second too late and barely miss grazing the inside guard rail. When I can afford another look, she's naked to the waist. Her fingers are torturing her plump, rosy nipples. Even in that quick instant, it seems that I can see them thicken and grow darker as blood surges into them.

Now Ruby cups her flesh in both hands, kneading, stroking. Her breasts are pale, perfect hemispheres tipped with flame. I would have thought the wind would blow her scent away, but no, her musk permeates the open car. My cock stirs and demands to be set free. I look back at the road, my heart slamming against my ribs as another curve whistles by.

My next glance shows me her parted thighs. She fidgets on the leather upholstery, though her hands are still massaging her tits. Crudely, I jerk my thumb upwards, then wiggle my middle finger at her.

She is already pulling up her skirt, not waiting for my suggestion. Looking me straight in the eye, she spreads her legs wide, pulls her panties out of the way, and sinks four fingers into her glistening cunt.

My dick jerks to full attention. I watch, fascinated, as she grinds herself feverishly against her hand, pummeling her clit, pinching those scarlet lips until they are almost purple. Her eyes are shut. Her back is arched, pelvis thrust forward to provide maximum access. She's a tiger, tearing at her own flesh in hungry fury. Her scent rises around us, drowning out the eucalyptus that always lingers in the southern California air. There's an ache in my chest that mirrors the one in my cock. I've never wanted anyone so much.

At the last minute, I swerve, barely avoiding the shiny Cadillac coming at me from the other direction. Adrenaline courses through me at the near miss. Ruby doesn't even notice.

There's a turn-out ahead. Hands shaking, I pull into the semicircular parking area and shut off the engine. Now I can hear Ruby as well as see and smell her. She moans and cries as she thrashes around on the seat. Her mouth is open, her teeth clenched. She sounds as though she is in pain. Her harsh grunts become rhythmic and rise in pitch as I watch her ascend the final slope to her climax.

I stroke myself through my trousers, in time with her climb. I'm back in control, turned on but pacing myself. I know that I'll get what I want eventually. Ruby twists and writhes. Both her hands are deep in her cunt. Her juices run down her wrists. It's unbelievable how hard she is on herself. I remember her flogger, wish that I had it with me now. She wouldn't even feel it, but it might help her over.

Then, without warning, Ruby screams and arches up off the seat. Her whole body convulses, then abruptly collapses. Little tremors continue to shake her frame for long minutes. Her eyes are closed; she seems unconscious.

She looks fragile, porcelain skin misted with sweat, tangles of hair stuck to her forehead. I suddenly want to take her in my arms, cradle her, brush those tangled locks away and kiss her eyelids until she awakens. At the same time, I have a perverse urge to loose my cock and sink it into her passive, defenseless flesh. To finally make her mine.

Buy Links:

Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/257146

ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-nastybusiness-1006067-144.html

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Nasty-Business-ebook/dp/B00AB3KM8Q/

Bio: More than a decade ago LISABET SARAI experienced a serendipitous fusion of her love of writing and her fascination with sex. Since then she has published five single-author short story collections and seven erotic novels, including the BDSM classic Raw Silk. Dozens of her shorter works have been released as ebooks and in print anthologies. She has also edited several acclaimed anthologies and is currently responsible for the altruistic erotica series COMING TOGETHER PRESENTS. 

Lisabet holds more degrees than anyone needs from prestigious universities who would no doubt be embarrassed by her chosen genre. She loves to travel and currently lives in Southeast Asia with her highly tolerant husband and two cosmopolitan felines. For more information on Lisabet and her writing visit Lisabet Sarai's Fantasy Factory (http://www.lisabetsarai.com) or her blog Beyond Romance (http://lisabetsarai.blogspot.com).