Sandy M’s review of One Weekend by Sasha White
Erotic Short Story published by Samhain 5 Apr 10

Because of  one of a reader’s favorite saying — too many books, not enough time — I’ve not not read a huge amount of Sasha White’s books as of yet. That’s not for a lack of want either. The few I have read to date I’ve enjoyed. She’s one of those authors for me who can do most anything and I will end up enjoying it. That definitely happened in One Weekend, especially because I’ve become super picky when it comes to reading menages or m/m stories. Most don’t make the grade for me, but Ms. White has the touch in this short story.

Rick and Mark are best friends, but since Rick and Angie became a couple, Mark only hangs with them now and again. He’s visiting when Angie comes home after work one scorching day. She strips down to her undies before she realizes Rick is not alone on the patio where it’s cool on that hot summer evening. Shrugging, she walks out to join the guys, and the night suddenly gets hotter.

All three of these characters are sexually adventurous, so when talk turns toward Mark joining Rick and Angie in their bed sport for the weekend, they all go for it. A weekend for the three of them has never been hotter. Ms. White makes them sizzle right off the page. But then she goes even further.

I didn’t think I’d like the direction the story was going when it sunk in where Ms. White was heading with Rick and Mark. But I have to say, because she made them really like them first, that made all the difference when Angie gets worked up thinking about the two men together and then seeing it in reality. I didn’t think the sex in these few pages could get any hotter. I was flat out wrong.

And that’s all I’m going to say. It works. Find out if you’re as adventurous as Angie. She’s having the time of her life and then some. I’m glad I joined her. You may too.

Grade: B

Summary:

Three lovers. Two days. One bed…

Angie Wilson is a lucky girl. She loves her job, her life, and her man, Rick Craig. What red-blooded woman wouldn’t revel in the attentions of a good-looking, athletic boyfriend who’s secure enough to encourage her most adventurous appetites?

One of the worst heat waves in memory has hit town, and by Friday Angie is ready to really let loose. Craig and his best friend, Mark, are chilling on the patio with cold beer when she gets home from work, and the three get comfortable. As the night moves on and the talk turns to sex, Angie longs for more than just cool air on her bare skin.

And the heat’s making her just crazy enough to go for it…

Read an excerpt.

Thanks to Sasha White for a terrific back during her Duck Chat with us!

Sasha offered four books as a giveaway, so here are the very lucky winners!

Two copies of Primal Male:

Ilona (1) and Crystal GB (5)

And two copies of My Prerogative:

kh (12) and Fedora (14)

Congrats, ladies! Please send your snail mail addresses to lighthousetagger (at) gmail (dot) com and we’ll contact Sasha for you!

We’re glad you could make it back to another day of Duck Chat! Welcome!

We’re going to have a fun and interesting day today – Sasha White is here!

Sasha has one extensive backlist, and if you haven’t read a Sasha White book yet, you’re missing out. Even if you haven’t read her latest, Most Wanted, do check out her web site and I know you’ll find something there that you’ll want to read! Sasha is going to talk about Most Wanted and a number of her other books today.

Her site is also full of such interesting facts about her, i.e., one of her hobbies is bookbinding, she has a black belt in karate, she’s worked as a bodyguard, has ridden an elephant in Nepal and an Ostrich in South Africa, and a whole host of other fascinating tidbits. Sasha is a native of Canada, single, has a cat named Mystery, and still loves to live out of her backpack if time allows.

She will be popping in and out today to visit with us, so be sure to leave Sasha a meaningful question or comment, and we’ll put you in the running for two copies of Primal Male and two copies of My Prerogative. Now let’s chat!

DUCK CHAT: Sasha, you’ve led such an interesting life! The thing that piqued my interest the most from your website – well, aside from your books! – is the fact you were and still are on occasion a bartender. You have to have gotten some great ideas for some of your stories while tending bar. Any examples you can give us so far? Anything you’re tossing around for the future you can share with us?

SASHA WHITE: Hey Sandy, thanks for the invite! I have to say that right now I haven’t gotten anything planned that I’m willing to share. You’ll just have to sign up for my newsletter for news updates.

DC: If you could retire any question and never, ever have it asked again, what would it be? Feel free to answer it.

SW: Where do your ideas come from? I hate that question. LOL If I knew where they came from I’d never feel uninspired or less than creative. But, to answer I’m going to steal from one of my posts at Genreality on this very subject.

“The honest answer is I Don’t Know – usually. Sometimes a song will inspire me or a person I meet or even another book. Yeah, I know, authors aren’t really supposed to admit that reading other books can inspire them, not in the way I’m about too. Carrie touched on it briefly yesterday when she said she’s watched the second Pirates of the Carribean, and thought, “I can do it better.” Well, I read a lot, and when I’m done, sometimes I think, “I can do it better.” That’s not to say everyone agrees with me, or even that I can do it better. But that story I just read sparked something inside me, and that’s one of the ways I can get inspired.”

DC: I’ve heard writers often say their stories take them in surprising directions, or dialogue flows from some unknown place. Is it the same with you? Do your characters surprise you sometimes?

SW: Almost always. Mostly because I’m not much of a plotter, so I only have a vague idea of the things that will happen in the story. However, even when I think I know what’s going to happen, stories and characters often take a left turn on me – and I love it. To me, that’s part of the magic of storytelling.

DC: Let’s talk about Most Wanted, which was released in June, and is an anthology of three of your stories. First, why an anthology of this type for these three stories, and, second would you tell us a little about each one?

SW: The three novellas in Most Wanted are all sequels to previous releases from Aphrodisia. Stories that had characters that readers kept asking for, and I wanted to revisit. The whole idea for it came about because I kept getting reader emails, and readers do have powers.

Lexy and Devon from The Crib in the Pure Sex anthology are together again in Hidden Cravings. Detective Jackson Barrows watched his partner fall for a thief in Sex as a Weapon in The Cop anthology, and in Unrestricted Access, he does some falling of his own. No Angel continues my paranormal Hunter series with Gabriel Mann, the work hard-play harder younger brother of Caleb Mann from Sexy Devil, and demon hunter Anna Blair.

Excerpt from all three novellas in Most Wanted:

HIDDEN CRAVINGS EXCERPT

Devon’s gaze practically burned a hole in her back as they left the club. And it felt good. Lexy was sorry that his cousin was missing, and she was going to do everything she could to find out what happened to Theresa, but she wasn’t sorry Devon was back in her life, and would soon be back in her bed.

Anticipation of a long sleepless night wrestling between the sheets with Devon had her insides trembling in eagerness as she drove back to her apartment. Once inside, she closed the door to the apartment and leaned back against it, just taking in the sight of him in her front room.

Cell phone in hand he stood in the middle of the room, staring at the floor as he dialed. Tension built in the lines of his body as he dialed the phone and waited. He closed his phone and raised his head, his turbulant gaze meeting hers.

“Still no messages?” she asked.

His lips pressed together and he shook his head once. He took a deep breath and deflated in front of her eyes, dropping onto the sofa with a big sigh. “I have to call my family.”

Lexy’s chest tightened and her heart went out to him. He was beating himself up over Theresa’s disappearance. She could almost see the blows land. I was too late. Why didn’t I ask what what wrong? What am I missing?

Pushing off from the door she walked over to the sofa and climbed onto his lap. Straddling him with her knees next to his hips, she rested her hands on his shoulders. Their eyes met and she smiled.
“It’s nice to see you again,” she said softly.

He didn’t answer, just looked at her, hunger slowly taking over his expression. God, it was good to feel him beneath her again. Devon had always been like magic to her. Sexually inexperienced she wasn’t, but the man touched her in a way no one else ever had, and she wanted that again. She wanted his touch, his taste. She wanted to feel him buried deep inside her body, she needed that connection again. But more than that he was hurting, and she wanted to take that pain away. She might not be able to do that completely, but she was sure as hell going to take his mind of it for a while.

She shifted closer, so close that a deep breath would make her breasts brush against his body, and cupped the back of his neck. Pulling him down for a kiss she whispered, “It’s more than nice to be touching you again.”

Their lips met and opened. It was as if the last year had never happened, as if they’d never been apart. There was no adjustment period. Devon’s tongue speared between her lips and took control, dueling with her, stroking her to a fever pitch within seconds. She clutched at him, her fingers gripping his silky hair as she tried to get closer still.

Large male hands covered hers, stilling them as he pulled back with a groan and buried his face in her neck. He nuzzled her neck for a minute, and a shiver ripped down her spine as she fought for some semblance of control over her body. Devon kissed her behind the ear, and then stood up and set her on her feet, letting her go completely.

“I’ll take the sofa.”

She gaped at him. “Excuse me?”

“I’ll sleep on the sofa, tonight.”

Chaos reigned within as her brain tried to make sense of what she was hearing. “What? Why?”

“You don’t ‘do’ relationships, and I want more than sex from you, Alexis.”

She noted his flushed cheeks, his rising and falling chest as he struggled to breathe, and there was no denying the hard-on pressed aggressively against the button fly of his jeans. What the hell? “Are you telling me you haven’t slept with anyone since me?”

“That’s not what I said.”

Of course not, she thought. Confusion turned to anger and she snapped,“So it’s just me you won’t fuck?”

He started toward her, hands out, then stopped short. “It’s just you that I want more from. Don’t you get it? You’re special. Do I want to fuck you six ways from Sunday? You bet your sassy ass I do. But even more important than that is the fact that I like you, Alexis. And I think we can have something really good together.”

She planted her hands on her hips. “Sure, we can have a damn good time.”

Devon’s mouth turned down at the corners and he shook his head. Something tightened in Lexy’s chest and she stared at him blankly. He was serious, he was going to sleep on the couch, and leave her alone in her bed!

She left him there, in the middle of her living room with a sheet, a pillow, and no more words. It was all she could do not stomp her feet and throw a temper tantrum that would do her Italian heritage proud.

Damn the man, it always had been all or nothing with him. She stripped off her clothes and threw herself on her bed. She tossed and turned, until finally, she lay there staring at the ceiling.

Kane’s comment on her outfit had reminded her that she’d actually been on a date earlier that night. A boring date, but what did she expect? Dating was new to her, and it showed. She wasn’t used to sitting across from a guy and playing twenty questions unless she was trying to get specific information out of him for a case. That’s not to say she was inexperienced with men, just with dating.

She’d never dated Devon. She’d met him and within hours they were rolling around naked and sweaty. Sure they’d talked some. Not as much in person as they had after she’d come back to Vancouver and they’d only had the phone as a way to connect. But they’d talked a bit. She certainly felt like she knew him, and he knew her. Which is why his saying no was so fucked up. He knew what she was like. He knew she wasn’t exactly your typical girl who wanted dinner dates with flowers and goodnight kisses.

Dating had never been a priority for her before, she’d had other things to deal with. First it had been hunting down her parents killers, by the time that was done, she was focused on her solitary life of helping those who needed it. When she wanted sex, she went out and found a man who could give her what she wanted, and that was that.

Only recently she’d started to wonder about what she’d been missing out on with her single minded lifestyle. What would it be like to have friends, fun, and a man around for more than just sex?
It was all Devon’s fault. She’d been just fine living her life her way until she’d met him. Even that brief stint with him in Edmonton had been okay, but he hadn’t left it at that. Oh, no. He’d called, and they’d talked. He’d given her hints at what it would be like to share more than her body with someone. He’d created this freaking yearning to have more in her life.

But he’d been so far away, and yet in other ways, too close. So she’d started dating. God, what a mess that was. It was so not worth the effort. Which was maybe a good thing because if her date earlier that night had been going well, it wouldn’t have been very nice of her to dump a guy the minute she saw Devon on her doorstep.

And there was no doubt in her mind she would’ve done exactly that. Not just because the man only had to look at her to get her to get her heart pounding, but also because he’d been there for her when she’d needed back-up. There was knowledge of each other between them, a trust that went beyond that of a lover.

She flipped over again and punched her pillow before burying her face in it. But they were lovers. And he still wanted her, it had been clear in his eyes. She wanted to connect with him again because she knew he was hurting. She wanted to comfort him in the only way she knew how and he’d thrown it back in her face!

“Screw this,” she muttered and jumped up from the bed. She was already talking as she strode into the living room and flipped the lights on. “I don’t do relationships because I’ve never had one. I don’t know how have a relationship!”

Devon sat up on the couch, completely awake. “Tony? Jimmy D? Those are relationships. And what about Michaels tonight? You have some sort of relationship with him.”

She tried not to notice the fact that he had no shirt on. Devon was by no means a boy, he was man’s man all the way through and it showed in his body. Lean hard muscles, a light pelt of hair that enhanced those muscles and made her fingertips burn to touch. Giving herself a mental head-slap she focused on what he’d said.

“They’re my uncles! And Kane is married, it’s not what you think.”

He stared, his eyes burning in a way that suddenly reminded her that she was completely naked. She slept in the nude, and she hadn’t even thought about it before storming into the living room.
Finally, Devon stood to face her, his voice rising to match hers. “They’re still relationships, Alexis. You share yourself, your life with them. Sleeping with a person doesn’t make it a relationship, sharing does!” He scrubbed and hand through his hair. “Hell, we were well on our way until you decided to clam up and shut down.”

“Family is different and you know it.” Anger fueled her arousal as she moved forward until she stood directly in front of him, chest–to-chest. Her heart was pounding and hot blood was racing through her veins. “Relationships aren’t my thing, Devon. Especially a long distance one.”

“You saying you don’t “do” relationships is just an excuse. You cut me out of your life because I was getting too close. You were starting to care, and that scared the shit out of you.”

He waved an angry hand around her apartment. “Just look at this place.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Her apartment was hardly a penthouse, but she kept it neat and clean. What the hell was he talking about?

“You’re place is full of photos of family and people you’ve loved. I see Tony and Jimmy, you and your parents when you were a kid. I’m guessing that’s you and your first boyfriend.” He pointed to one of her and Mike. “You know how to have a relationship, Alexis. You’ve proven you understand what family is, and loyalty is a core part of you. You’re just too damn stubborn.”

Desperate to make him understand, but too angry and aroused to try and form coherent words she just grabbed him by the head and pulled him down for a kiss.

Like putting a lit flame to gasoline, they were ablaze within seconds. Strong male hands roamed over Lexy’s body, pulling her closer, stroking down her back, cupping her ass and squeezing, lifting. She wrapped her arms and legs around him and whimpered.

So good, he tasted so damn good. Felt so damn good, so right. They fit together perfectly, hearts pounding in time as Devon moved, turning and setting her on the sofa, sliding to his knees on the floor. He dragged his lips away from hers, nibbling, sucking and biting his way across her jaw to the sensitive spot behind her ear.

“Ahh,” she cried, arching her back and tilting her head to give him better access. “God, Devon. I’ve missed you.”

UNRESTRICTED ACCESS EXCERPT

The heat from the August mid-day sun was nothing compared to the heat that washed over Jillian Furst when she pulled into the driveway and put her shiny red SUV in park.
She’d glimpsed her neighbor’s mostly naked body as she’d pulled in, and that had been enough to tweak her need. Shit, who was she kidding? All she had to do was think of him and her body tightened with a yearning she couldn’t deny. It had been that way for the last ten months, ever since she’d moved into the cute bungalow style house on Parker Road.
She shut off the ignition and, of it’s own volition, her head turned. Like a woman dyeing of thirst, she drank in the sight of Jackson Barrows mowing his lawn.
A couple of inches over six feet tall, he was all lean sinewy muscle and fluid grace. Wearing nothing but long boarding shorts, sunglasses, and flip-flops, the sun gleamed off his sweat-slicked skin. If that wasn’t enough to make her mouth water, the tattoos that covered a good portion of his body did the trick. They hinted at a dangerous edge, a craving for adrenaline, and maybe even the need for a little bit of pain. He was her ultimate fantasy.
If only he weren’t such a complete macho alpha dog.
If only the cocky grin he flashed her as she climbed out of her Jeep Liberty didn’t make the butterflies in her stomach take flight.
The man was totally hot, and he knew it. It wasn’t just his looks – though the dark chocolate hair, bright green eyes, and athletic body definitely did their part – it was his confidence. He was strong and sure of himself in every way … and the challenge of him was almost too much to resist. But resist she did.
She’d made it clear when she first met him that she’d found him attractive, and he’d been nice, but distant. Friendly, but not flirtatious. So she’d respected the invisible wall he’d put up and stopped sending out the ‘I’m interested’ signal and they’d become friendly neighbors who exchanged casual conversation about workdays and the weather over a drink on someone’s deck every now and then. She was friends with his partner’s wife, and they occasionally crossed paths socially. Never once had he been without a date on those occasions.
That didn’t stop her from fantasizing about him when she was alone in bed with her favorite vibrator though.
After giving him a casual wave she opened the back door of her Jeep Liberty and reached for the three brown paper bags full of groceries. Once they were balanced in her arms she used her hip to shut the door. She took two steps toward her door, one of the bags shifted and an orange jumped for freedom. Then a second one hit the pavement running…well…rolling as it were.
“Shit!” She shifted the bags again, and chased the little suckers only to stop sharply when two large male hands swooped down and grabbed them.
“Thanks.” She hadn’t heard the mower shut off, but Jack was definitely standing in front of her in all his sweaty glory.
“No problem,” he said with a lopsided grin. “Happy to be of service to a damsel in distress.”
Clearing her throat, she ignored the drop of sweat that was trickling down the center of his naked chest and focused on the playful tone of his voice. Then replied in kind, “I was hardly in distress.” And of course, that’s when her cell phone went off.
They stood there looking at each other for a moment, and then Jack spoke, his voice full of suppressed laughter. “Your ass is ringing.”
“Gee, thanks,” she said with a laugh. “You going to help me out here or what?”
“Of course.” He reached a hand out, but instead taking a bag from her, he turned her a little bit and reached into the back pocket of her denim skirt himself. His hand wiggled and pressed against her ass. Her pulse fluttered, and she bit her lip against the moan that rose in her throat.
What the hell was going on?
Jack had always been friendly, even flirty, but this behavior was taking things to a different level.
Finally, he pulled her phone out and flipped it open before holding it to her ear.
“Hello,” she said, blushing at the breathlessness of the one word. Her pulse was racing and suddenly, breathing was hard because every time she inhaled the scent of his clean male sweat, her head got a little lighter, her body a little tighter.
“Hi Jillian, it’s Vanessa. And I need a favor.”
The pleading note in her friends voice would’ve been a clear warning, if Jill had been paying attention. But she was too aware of the grinning man in front of her, and she answered automatically. “Of course, Vanessa, whatever you need.”
“I need you to do a show for me at the club.”
That snapped her brain back into gear. “No way.”
“You said whatever I need, and I really need you to do this.”
“Uh uh. I’m sorry, Vanessa, You know that’s not my thing.”
Her friend rushed on, as if Jill hadn’t uttered a word. “O’s giving a private party for some of her friends- friends that have never come to the club, and for whatever reason she wants to have someone on stage who can be trusted to read each volunteer and not take things too far. Mistress Miranda was supposed to do it, but she had an accident when she was hiking yesterday and is now laid up with a broken leg for six weeks. The party is in three weeks Jill! Please? I wouldn’t ask you if there was anyone else with even half as much talent as you, but we both know you’re the best.”
The pleading in Nessa’s voice was clear and Jill squeezed her eyes shut for a moment. She knew she wouldn’t say no to her friend, not when she begged. But there was no reason why she couldn’t make her work for it a bit more.
“If I’m the best why did you have Miranda scheduled in the first place?”
“Because I do know how you feel about public shows. I wouldn’t even ask you now if it wasn’t really important. Pleeeeaase?”
Jillian sighed and opened her eyes, surprised that for a moment there she’d forgotten about Jackson standing in front of her.
She really didn’t want to do a show. But she’d been so busy with her web design business that she hadn’t been out to play in over a month. It would feed her spirit if not her soul to visit The O Club and spank a few virgins.
“Fine, I’ll do it,” she said. “But you owe me.” She told Vanessa she’d call her later to set the details, and said good-bye.
Jackson’s full lips twitched as he closed the phone. “What exactly are you the best at?”
“Wouldn’t you like to know.” She smiled and put a little sass in her tone. “If you want to know what exactly, you’ll have to find out for yourself.”
His smile didn’t change, but something subtle flickered across his face and she wished his mirrored sunglasses didn’t hide so much from her. Something had just shifted between them, she felt it, and tried to get it back.
“As you’ve seen, one of my skills is not carrying a bunch of groceries without dropping some,” she said lightly.
He took the hint and moved quickly. Dropping the rescued oranges and her cell phone in one of the bags, he plucked them all out of her arms. “Your wish is my command.”
Her pussy clenched and she had to close her eyes and take a breath for a moment. Those words, from that man… God, the images that started flashing through her mind had her creaming in her panties.
“Thank you,” she said. He stood, waiting patiently, until she jerked herself back to the present and headed up the walk to her front door.
“No problem. You’ve got a lot of food here for one person.” His smile was crooked and cocky, and his voice still playful, but it didn’t ring true.
Deep-seated instinct had Jill biting back the invitation for him to come in once she had her door unlocked and open. Instead, she just smiled and shrugged. “I’m not much of a cook, so I tend to buy big once a month, cook a bunch of stuff, and freeze it for later.”
His brow puckered and Jill got the impression he wanted to say something, but that invisible wall was back, leaving her slightly bereft. Talk about mixed signals.
Jackson set the bags he was carrying down just inside the front door and bowed his head to her before backing away.
“My work is done here,” he said, a ghost of his earlier flirtatious smirk playing at his lips. “The runaway oranges are caught, the phone is answered, and the damsel is no longer in distress. Have a good afternoon, Jill.”
“Thanks again, Jackson,” she called out to his retreating form.
He waved his hand, and kept on walking.
Jill shut the door and leaned against it. What the hell had just happened? She’d flirted with him before, and it had gotten her nowhere. Yet, for a few minutes there, he’d been flirting with her, heavily too. The cocky smile, the playful manhandling – God, his hand in her back pocket had just about make her knees give out. The vibe he’d been putting out had definitely been a “let’s be more than friends” one.
It seemed that maybe, just maybe, her pulling back these past couple of months tweaked some sort challenge reaction in him. One he’d been unable to resist. But then he had resisted. Sure, his parting comment had been playful, and even flirtatious, but his invisible wall had been firmly back in place making her wonder just what kind of game he was playing.
Jillian’s interest spiked higher than it had ever been, and a plan began to form. She loved to play games, especially those of the erotic sort.

NO ANGEL EXCERPT

Ten minutes later she stomped into some dingy pub on the corner of Bernard and Wilson. With big screen televisions over the bar, team jersey’s of all sorts hanging from the walls and two pool tables in the middle of the room instead of a dance floor, she got the hint. It was a sports pub.
The waitress who wondered over to the booth Anna had slid into and stood at the edge of the table. She wore a tight white V-neck T-shirt that showed off impressive cleavage and too much make-up. The bright red nametag on just above her right breast said Sally. Sally cocked her hip out and smiled wanly. “What can I getcha?”
All she needed to do was snap her gum and she’d be a total cliché. “Pint of draft and three shots of Tequila. Gold if you have it.”
Sally’s eyes widened and she looked at the empty bench space on either side of Anna. “Expecting company?”
Anna smiled, baring her teeth. “Nope, it’s all for me.”
Sally walked away, shaking her head and Anna bit back a sigh. It didn’t matter that she showed her teeth, shit, she could curse and growl and threaten, and people just looked at her and shook their heads, or worse …laughed.
It was her Mom’s fault. The silky blond hair and fair skin came from her. Mom said the full mouth, and foul language came from her Dad, but since he’d died before Anna was born, she didn’t see how. Whatever. She was what she was, and she’d long since given up on caring what people thought about her.
Sally came back with her drinks and Anna paid cash, making sure to tip the girl. She’d waited table before, and knew it wasn’t an easy job. She slammed the two shots of tequila immediately, one right after the other. The burn down her throat and into her stomach was not so welcome, but the warmth that spread through her veins and mellowed the throbbing pain in her head was.
Anna sat there, staring at the empty shot glasses and wondered if the supernatural bounty hunters would ever leave her alone. She felt like crap. Her jaw hurt, there was a good sized knot on the back of her head, and thanks to that sappy movie and lovely demon attack, she was feeling lonelier than ever.
It didn’t seem to matter what she did or where she went, they always found her. She’d only been in Pearson for two days!
Sipping her beer she scanned the pub. The crowd was sparse, and the clientele seemed to be made up mostly of the blue-collar type. The mean wore jeans, T-shirts, and steel toed boots, the few women wore denim shorts or skirts, tank tops that ranged in color but helped showcase cleavage, even the ones with little to showcase. No one stood out as particularly dangerous, and even though most glanced her way at some point in those first few minutes, no one approached her table.
Anna watched two men move up to the pool tables and get ready to start a game. In all honesty, it wasn’t until the blond one kept glancing her way, that she really took note of him.
He was good looking, in a cocky, king-of-the-world sort of way. His well-worn jeans hugged him in all the right places, his T-shirt was mostly clean, and his smile was seductive.
Anna watched him bend over the table to line up his next shot and a little tingle went through her. He had a very nice ass. Round, and firm. She could picture her hands on it, her nails digging in and urging him on as they flexed and filled with every thrust of his hips.
Ohh, she thought. That would feel so good right now.
He sank three more balls and then he was lining up the black eight ball. With a smooth sure stroke, he put that one in the corner pocket. He straightened up, looked over his shoulder at her, and winked.
The tingle in her belly spread lower and she smiled. He was just what she needed. Too wrapped up in himself to want more than one night, he would be the perfect distraction from her dismal thoughts.
She took a sip from her beer, and put a little sparkle behind her smile the next time he glanced her way. His swagger increased as he moved around the table and Anna chuckled silently. Oh yeah, he was definitely what she needed to get her mind off her life.
When the second game was over, he set his cue stick down and made his way to her booth. He moved with a smooth liquid grace that had her blood heating and her mind stripping him naked.
“Hi there,” he said. “Can I get you another drink?”
She glanced down and realized not only had she finished her beer, but the third shot glass was empty too. She didn’t even remember drinking it, and her headache was pretty much gone.
“No, thanks,” she replied. She better not drink anymore. Safety first, and alcohol slowed her reflexes and dimmed her control over her powers. “But you should join me anyway.”
“I’m Gabe,” he said as he slid into the booth. “How are you doing tonight?”
“Better every minute,” she replied honestly.
His eyes widened and she noticed they were a nice deep blue. Very pretty eyes for a man. When he chuckled his white teeth flashed and she thought they were pretty too.
Funny, she’d never thought of teeth as attractive before. Maybe it wasn’t his teeth, it was the lips that surrounded them. They were nice. Yes, very nice and full. Very kissable.
Without another thought she leaned forward and pressed her lips against his.

DC: Do you ever argue with your characters while you’re writing? Who usually wins?

SW: Only once, a long time ago. I learned to trust them, so I don’t argue anymore.

DC: You put hot sauce on your popcorn??

SW: YES! Don’t knock it until you try it. Louisiana Hot sauce is my favorite, but Frank’s Red Hot is good too.

DC: What is sure to distract you from sitting down and working/writing?

SW: Life, movies, tv, phone calls, the desire to sleep in. Everything. Anything.
Being a writer is all about choices. What do you want to do more? Sometimes writing wins, sometimes it loses.

DC: Primal Male sounds quite intriguing with a male empath and a female shape shifter. Please tell our readers about them and their book.

SW: Primal Male is connected to Sexy Devil and the novella No Angel from Most Wanted. Drake Wheeler is an ex-military sniper who likes to keep people at a distance because he’s an empath. Only when he meets shapeshifter Melissa Montrose he can’t keep his distance. There’s a touch of suspense, a bad guy, and some romance and hot sex.

DC: You are a daredevil, parachuting, jumping from a bridge and cliffs into rivers, white water rafting, among other things. Is there some extreme sport you haven’t done yet and would like try?

SW: Scuba Diving. Maybe. If I was younger I’d like to get into skateboarding or something like that, but, well, that’s too much for me now. I did not get more graceful with age. LOL

DC: Another interesting tidbit from your web site is all your traveling you’ve done. You basically lived out of your backpack for a while. Where’s the one or two places that’s etched in your memory because of something unusual that happened or just because?

SW: All of them. I know it sounds cliche, but like everything else, it’s cliche for a reason. I’ve had wonderful and unique experiences in each place, and all hold special places in my heart. I could tell you stories about each place that would make you smile and tug at your heart strings.

DC: What one place would you like to go back to over and over again?

SW: That’s a very tough questions. Like I said, I had wonderful times in all of them, but I’m not really someone who believes in ‘going back.” I tend to think that if I go back to some place/time that was unique and special, that it will lose its shine. So, I tend to always try to move forward, go new places, that sort of thing.

DC: What has been your favorite book cover from all of your releases and why?

SW: Hmm, I’d have to say My Prerogative. I just love the white cover, the read and black, the look on the woman’s face. The cover personifies the title and story perfectly.

DC: How about your least favorite cover? Why?

SW: Yikes, I guess I’d have to go with the cover for one of my old eBooks, Losing It. The book isn’t available anymore, so chances of you finding it are small. The cover had a bare chested man with a plate of sushi, and the story featured a scene with a naked woman on a table with sushi on her a la Nyataimori. So, the cover didn’t really represent the story, in my opinion.

DC: Trouble, what a terrific story this sounds like. Would you give us some insight into this book and its characters?

SW: To put it simply, Trouble is all about being true to yourself and finding happiness. In fact, if I had to pick a theme that ran through all of my stories I’d think that might be it. Trouble is Samair and Val’s story about how they find each other. I wish I could offer you something in-depth but to be honest, you just have to read the story. I like to think each reader will gain something from it that they’ll connect with on a personal level because we all fight to remain true to ourselves at times, and we all want to find that person that is our other half.

DC: How do you feel your male or female characters have evolved over your career? Do you think you write them differently now than you did when you started?

SW: Females, no. Males, yes. When I first started writing I had a very hard time writing from the male perspective. Most of my short stories and my first novel were all from the female only, in first person. It took time for me to find a male character I felt I knew well enough to write. When the time came for me to really get into a male’s head, I actually thought back to some of my many conversations with male customers-ones I’d overheard and taken part in. I find that the ones I have with customers tend to be more honest than the ones I have with men in my real life because the customers don’t care if they’re telling me what I want to hear or not, they just tell me what they really think and feel. And it’s helped. LOL

DC: Is there a genre you haven’t tackled but would like to try?

SW: Nope. *grin* I’ve sampled all of the ones I’ve an interest in, even if I haven’t yet gone as deep as I’d like.

DC: What advice would you give to your younger self?

SW: Stay in shape. Never think that you won’t get “that fat.”  LOL

DC: What would be your “voice’s” tagline?

SW: Oh lord, I have no idea. “Tell it like it is.”? or something along those lines, I think. Maybe one of my readers can answer that. LOL

DC: We’ve talked about your last two releases, and you have so many more books on the shelves. What’s the one book you’d really like readers to take to heart and embrace?

SW: Any of them. All of them. You realize that’s like asking a mother which kids she loves best, right? LOL

I like to think each one is different and that the characters will connect with readers. All of the characters have connected with me on one level or another, when I was writing them. Bound was my first novel and will always hold a special place in my heart. Lush was an experiment in voice and style for me that I think worked out very well. Sexy Devil was fun and wicked fun to write. Wicked was something I put my heart into, and I think it shows. My Prerogative is about a bartender and it almost felt like I was writing a journal at times.

I hope at least one, and hopefully all, will be embraced by readers.

DC: If you had never become an author, what do you think you would be doing right now?

SW: Well, since I only started writing about eight years ago, I can say that I did a lot of the things I would’ve done if I hadn’t become a writer. As for what I’ve have done the last eight years if not write…hmm. not really sure. I tend to jump careers and hobbies often, so I’m sure whatever it is, I’ll still get to it sometime. *grin*

DC: What’s on the horizon for Sasha White?

SW: Your guess is as good as mine. Right now I’m in the relax-and-see-what-happens mode.

Lightning Round:

- dark or milk chocolate?    – milk
- smooth or chunky peanut butter?  – chunky
- heels or flats?   – flats
- coffee or tea?   – neither.
- summer or winter?   – summer
- mountains or beach?   – both
- mustard or mayonnaise?     – mustard
- flowers or candy?   – flowers
- pockets or purse?    – pockets
- Pepsi or Coke?   – either
- ebook or print?   – Either

And because we’re not tired of them yet:

1. What is your favorite word?    – Sleep
2. What is your least favorite word?     – Up
3. What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?       – Music. Hot men
4. What turns you off creatively, spiritually or emotionally?    – Negativity
5. What sound or noise do you love?     – Cat purring
6. What sound or noise do you hate?      – Next door neighbor’s stereo
7. What is your favorite curse word?     – Fuck
8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?     – None
9. What profession would you not like to do?    – Garbage man
10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?  – “Good job!”

DC: Thank you for being with us today, Sasha!

This just in…

Sasha White is running for the cure and would like your help.

~ Sasha is signed up to participate in the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation CIBC Run for the Cure Sunday, October 4, 2009.

~ Her fundraising goal is $1,000,000. She’s only 20% of the way there and needs your donations.

~ You can make any size donation online here.

~ “It baffles my mind and hurts my heart that cancer is still, in this day and age, such a devastating disease, Sasha said. “I’m not a doctor. I’m not a researcher or a scientist, but I am an ordinary everyday person who wants to help any way I can. I’m not a millionaire, who has lots of money to donate, but I do believe that if we all give a little, it can add up and it will make a difference.”

Consider yourself flashed.

We have the first three chapters of My Prerogative to post, a contest and some VJ action from mz Sasha White.

MTV doesn’t have anything on us . Well not that they play videos anymore…. which I do honestly plan to post this weekend along with a contest cuz we just got some in the mail to give away! WooT!

And do check out(again) Gwen’s review if you haven’t already

She does what she likes…

…and what she likes is absolutely wicked.

Kelsey Howard is happy with the single life. She has great friends, a fun job tending bar, and a nice apartment. Not to mention the freedom to enjoy a few wild sex games with strangers—the riskier the better. But what she’s really looking for in the darkness is love.

Then Kelsey realizes she’s got an anonymous stranger watching her every move—and every move she makes is arousing them both. In fact, not only is she not scared, she thinks she may have finally found her soul mate. Especially when she meets the mischievous mystery man in the flesh. That’s when the fun and games really start, and Kelsey realizes just how far she’s prepared to go for love.

My Prerogative by Sasha White

My timing was perfect.

I made my way through the crowded tables of Vantage Sports Pub to the patio where my friend waited. I made it to the plastic deck chair waiting for me mere seconds before the waitress arrived with a fresh pitcher of frozen margaritas.

“How was Jamaica?” Dee McDonald asked as my butt hit the chair.

I thought of Marco and the secluded beach escapade. “In a word … delicious.”

Dee was the manager of an Irish pub near the University and my best friend for the past fifteen years, ever since we met in college. Only two years apart in age, and both working in the hospitality industry, we understood each other in ways that only close friends, and other waitresses could. But even Dee only understood that part of me. She didn’t get that I was always searching for- well, searching.

Hell, even I didn’t really know for sure what it was I was searching for. I just knew there had to be more to life than what was in front of me, and I wasn’t going to find out what it was by living by someone else’s rules.

“Only a masochist would go to the Caribbean in August,” Dee said, distracting me from my thoughts.

The server set frosty glasses on the table and Dee poured us each a margarita from the pitcher while I answered.

“It was cheap, and not much hotter than this. Plus, the occasional afternoon thunderstorm cooled things off nicely.” I eyed her. Dee’s brunette hair was streaked blond and cut in a short bob. “And how were things in McDonald-land while I was gone? I like the new haircut by the way. Very playful and summery.”

“Thanks! Last week work sucked, and Jason fell asleep on the sofa every night, but the weekend was great. We got the backyard landscaped and the basement is almost finished. Oh, and Jason picked up a bunch of fitness equipment, including a cross trainer, so instead of meeting at the gym we can work out in the basement if we want.”

I ignored the twinge of longing at the mention of comfortable married life and focused on the second half of what Dee said.

Jason was Dee’s husband, and gorgeous as that man was, I didn’t want to be working out in any basement.

“Sweetie, you’re forgetting that one of the reasons I work out at the gym is so I can drool over all the hot male hard-bodies that hang out there. What fun would working out in your basement be?”

“Jason will be there, and I know you think he’s hot. He thinks you’re pretty too, so you two can just drool over each other.”

I rolled my eyes. “Get real. Jason can’t see anyone else when you’re around. Not that he’d drool over me anyway.”

It was Dee’s turn to roll her eyes. “You get real, you’re like a cross between a fifties pin-up model and the modern Goth Girl. If Marilyn Monroe was a thirty-something right now, she’d look like you. Well, with black hair. The point is, all you have to do is smile and bat your eyelashes and men drool over you.”

“Yeah?” I couldn’t help myself, Dee had hit a sensitive spot. “First off, I’m not a goth, I just happen to have a unique sense of style. And second, is that why I’m thirty-five and still single? Because I’m so pretty that all I have to do is smile and men drool?”

“No,” she said and waved her hand dismissively. “You’re still single because you want to be single. Anytime a guy tries to get closer to you than your bed, you sabotage the relationship.”

That was because when men found out how much I enjoyed sex that was all they saw. They stopped seeing me as anything more than a real life blow-up doll, and I wanted more than that. I deserved more than that.

“If I wanted to be single, I wouldn’t have put that stupid personal ad online,” I muttered.

“How’s that going anyway?”

“It’s not.” I watched over Dee’s shoulder as the couple at the table behind her leaned together and kissed. It was a slow, seductive kiss, with the guy cupping the woman’s cheek in his hand as he looked into her eyes. It was the kind of kiss I dreamt about.

“Kelsey?”

“Huh?” I tore my gaze away from the couple and focused on the conversation. Where were we? Oh yeah, the online thing. I drained the last of my margarita and made light of it all. “After chatting online to more guys than I thought possible, I gave it up as hopeless about a month ago.”

“Hopeless? Really?”

Well, except for Randy. But Randy wasn’t a boyfriend, he was occasional … exercise. He filled a need, that was it. But I didn’t say that. Dee might be my closest friend, but there were some things even I preferred to keep private.

“Yeah, only a few of the men were interesting enough to actually meet for a drink. And of course, the ones I’m attracted to aren’t interested in me, and vice-versa. It’s easier to just stick with what I have.” Which is a lover who was happy to come when I called, share a drink or two, fuck, then leave.

“What about the gym?” Dee asked.

“No one ever hits on me at the gym.” I caught the waitress’s eye and she nodded. Another drink was on the way.

“Maybe if you didn’t wear headphones someone would try to chat you up.”

“I tried that actually. And you know what I noticed?”

“What?”

“That everyone else was wearing headphones.”

Dee shook her head and I laughed.

“What about the grocery store?” Dee said determinedly. “You love to cook and I know you hit the market at least twice a week.”

I waved my hand. “Urban myth.”

“Ha! You’re just too damn picky.”

That got to me.

“I’m not too picky,” I snapped. “I just know myself, and what I need to be happy. So you’re right, I am single because I want to be.”

“What do you need, then?”

Tequila had loosened my tongue enough that I didn’t even think about it. “I want someone who will see below the surface and be in love with me. I want someone who wants more than to see me happy. I want someone who wants to make me happy.”

“I want someone that makes me want to please him. I know it’s almost archaic but I want someone to cook for. Someone to sit on the couch and veg with as well as someone I can give a look to who’ll be able to read it. He’ll know when I want to kill him, and when I want to ravish him. Or when I want him to slam me against the wall and have his way with me.” And I want him to accept that sometimes, he alone won’t be enough for me.

Dee’s brow puckered. “There’s nothing wrong with wanting the fantasy, Kels. But you have to understand that not everyone gets it.”

“Did it ever occur to you that not everyone gets it because not everyone is willing to wait for it?”

Dee stared at me blankly. I’d shocked her. Shit, I’d shocked myself. My façade was cracking and emotions were starting to leak out. I had to stop that. Now.

All I’d ever really admitted to myself was that I’d rather be on my own than waste my time in a relationship that wasn’t everything I wanted. Everything I needed. Self analysis was good, sometimes it even helped, but I did not need anyone thinking I was some lonely chick who needed a man to make her life complete. I worked damn hard to convince everyone who knew me that I was completely happy with every aspect of my single life. I worked even harder to convince myself.

The shock in Dee’s eyes had faded and I could clearly see concern building. Shit.

Relief swept over me when the waitress set a fresh jug of margaritas down. Dee grimaced. I poured myself another.

“I work in a nightclub, Dee. I see people fucking around and cheating on their partners all the time. That’s what happens when people settle, and I’m not going to do that. I have to believe there’s someone out there for me. Someone who will love the hyperactive, outgoing, and flirty me, as much as the somewhat dark and twisted me. If there isn’t, then I don’t want anyone.” I grinned at my friend. “Not on a permanent basis anyway.”

Dee laughed and shook her head. “That’s probably best. It’ll happen when you least expect it, it always does. Besides, you’re too busy traveling all over and playing sex games with your bed buddies to settle down right now. If you weren’t single you wouldn’t be able to do that. You certainly wouldn’t have been able to pick up some stranger and fuck him on the beach in Jamaica.” She winked at me. “Lucky bitch. How was it?”

I choked on a mouthful of margarita. “How do you know I even did that?”

“You said you were going to, and you always do what you say you’re going to. Now stop stalling and tell me how it was. I’m a boring old married woman, I need to live vicariously through you.”

“Boring maybe, but not old,” I stated firmly. “I’m older than you and I’m not old. So that means you’re not old yet, either.”

Dee raised her glass and tilted her head. “Point taken.”

The waitress came by to check on us and I ordered a couple of tequila shots.

“One shot, and that’s it,” Dee warned. “The last time we got into the shooters, Jason wouldn’t talk to me for the rest of the weekend. Funny how he gets mad at me when I have a few drinks, yet every time he comes home from playing golf, he’s hammered.”

I bit my tongue and took another sip of frosty lime loveliness. Dee had no idea how much I envied her relationship with Jason, and I wanted to keep it that way. There were times when booty calls and bed buddies were fun and exciting, but there were also times when coming home to an empty apartment sucked.

The waitress dropped off the tequila shots and I was quick to reach for mine. “To a man who loves you,” I said and raised my glass in a toast.

Dee raised her glass and clinked it against mine. “To living out the fantasy of fucking a stranger on a beach.”

For the next couple of hours Dee and I talked about work, clothes, Jamaica, Marco, and our hopes for the upcoming hockey season. The pub crowd thinned as time passed and people moved on to whatever plans they had for the evening. Just after four o’clock, Dee announced it was time to go.

“You go,” I replied. “I’m going to stay a while longer.”

She dug some cash out of her wallet and put it on the table beneath her empty glass. “Must be nice. I get to go home and cook dinner for a man who’ll probably just fall asleep on the couch the minute he’s done eating.”

“So wake him up,” I said, tired of her whining.

“Easier said than done, my friend.”

One of my biggest pet peeves is when people complain about something, yet do nothing to change it. Like a wife complaining about her husband falling asleep on the sofa. As far as I was concerned, where there’s a will, there’s a way. And the easiest way was sometimes the best.

“Use sex. He’s a man, that’ll wake him up.”

“Use sex? Hell, I’d be thrilled to have sex tonight. It’s been almost a week, and last time it was barely over before he started snoring.”

“That’s sad.”

“Tell me about it. We had sex more often before we were married. You’re single and you have more sex than we do.”

That really is sad.

If I were married, you’d bet the man would be giving it to me every night. Otherwise divorce would be inevitable – unless he didn’t mind me having sex with others. I could probably live with that.

I gave my head a shake. It was time to focus on Dee. “So liven it up.” I told her. “Wake him up in a way he’ll never forget, and maybe he’ll be a little more energetic for the rest of the night.”

Dee’s eyes lit up and she leaned forward, her purse still clutched in her lap. “Tell me, Oh Wise Wild One, how should I do that?”

Excitement rippled through me.

I loved sex. I thought about sex all the time. Positions, scenarios, certain people, combinations of people, different ways to masturbate, different kinks. Over the years I’d found that there were few problems or issues that either alcohol or sex couldn’t cure.

Temporarily anyway …I was still working on the long term cure.

Mind you, falling asleep on the sofa sounded short term to me. “Do you guys ever role play?”

Her brow puckered. “Role play? As in the Naughty Nurse and her bedridden patient?”

I laughed. “Yeah, that’s one type of role playing. You guys ever do anything like that?”

“We tried it once, but I couldn’t stop laughing.”

Dee and I have been friends for a long time, and while she wasn’t as … open as I was, I remembered our drunk partying nights pretty clearly. She wasn’t as angelic as her big brown eyes led people to believe either.

“After dinner, tell him you’re going to the bedroom, and be sure to give him the look.”

“The look?”

“Yeah. The one that says ‘Follow me, I’m horny.’”

“Oh, that look.” Dee laughed. “Okay. Got it.”

“When you’re upstairs, find some sexy lingerie – matching bra and panties, garter and thigh high’s, baby doll nightgown – whatever you have that you know gets him hard and will make him drool.”

A secretive smile spread across Dee’s lips and I knew she instantly had an outfit in mind.

“If he hasn’t followed you into the bedroom by the time you’ve changed and are ready, then go get out the vacuum.”

“The vacuum?”

“If he’s asleep on the sofa, it’ll wake him up. If he’s not, he’ll still notice you. Just go about the cleaning, as if you had on sweatpants and a T-shirt. Bending here, stretching there.” I gave her a stern look. “But ignore him.”

Dee’s eyes were round and she was grinning like an idiot. “Oh my God,” she said. “That will drive him absolutely nuts.”

“There you go.” I nodded. “The rest is up to you, but I suggest if you have to take out the vacuum, you make him work for it.”

We shared another chuckle and Dee jumped up. “Okay, I’m outta here. I’ll call you.”

“I’m gonna want details.”

We have the first three chapters of My Prerogative to post, a contest and some VJ action from mz Sasha White.

MTV doesn’t have anything on us . Well not that they play videos anymore….

And do check out Gwen’s review if you haven’t already

She does what she likes…

…and what she likes is absolutely wicked.

Kelsey Howard is happy with the single life. She has great friends, a fun job tending bar, and a nice apartment. Not to mention the freedom to enjoy a few wild sex games with strangers—the riskier the better. But what she’s really looking for in the darkness is love.

Then Kelsey realizes she’s got an anonymous stranger watching her every move—and every move she makes is arousing them both. In fact, not only is she not scared, she thinks she may have finally found her soul mate. Especially when she meets the mischievous mystery man in the flesh. That’s when the fun and games really start, and Kelsey realizes just how far she’s prepared to go for love.

My Prerogative by Sasha White

The flight home was smooth and easy. After I passed through customs and caught sight of the mob at baggage claim, I was doubly glad I’d packed light.

Heading through the automatic doors, I ignored the crowd of people eagerly waiting for arrivals to well … arrive. No one there was waiting for me.

It was late afternoon but the sun was shining down on Vancouver. The sky was clear and the air was so humid my hair began to wilt and go flat immediately. It didn’t bother me though; I just reached into my purse for a couple of elastics and made two pigtails. Not many women my age could get away with the style, but I didn’t look my age, and I certainly didn’t feel it, so why care?

I knew the airport’s parking lot layout well, so it took me no time to find my car. Dropping my bags on the passenger seat of the little red Camry, I climbed in, rolled down the window and cranked up the tunes. I bopped along mindlessly to the music for the forty-five minute drive home, weaving in and out of the busy Saturday afternoon traffic but not letting the heat or the cranky drivers on the road get to me.

An hour after my feet touched the ground I was strolling into my apartment and dropping my bag on the floor while my stomach growled angrily. A quick peek into the fridge showed only a bottle of wine and a tub of margarine.

Why the hell hadn’t I stopped at McDonalds or something on the way home? Smart Kelsey. Way to think ahead.

There’s nothing special about my apartment, other than the fact that it’s all mine. I’d spent some time and money making it the best it could be, and that was a nice semi-stylish place with an eclectic collection of comfortable furniture, and all the amenities.

The thought of coming home to a messy place always had me on a cleaning spree the week before I went on any trip and this last one had been no different. When I glanced around this time I noted that it looked as neat and clean as it had been when I left.

It was nice to come home to a clean place, but the hollowness of the empty apartment was a bit too much for me so I dug out my iPod and put it in its cradle. Soon Dave Matthews was chasing the silence away and I reached for the phone.

I’d just finished ordering pizza for delivery and was opening the bottle of wine when there was knock on the door. Yay! Someone came to welcome me home. Not.

Corkscrew still in hand, I opened it to one of the downstairs tenants.

“Hi Manny, what can I do for you?”

A twenty-dollar bill was waved in front of my face. “My wife, she need the laundry tokens.”

Manny was from Chile, and had lived on the first floor of the three-story building for the past twelve years. He and his wife were quiet and clean, and the first ones to welcome me to the complex when I’d moved in five years earlier, and I really liked them. Having neighbors who knew my name and were willing to water my plants while I was away made me feel a part of the place. “Sure. Wait right here.”

I went to the kitchen and pulled the little plastic case from the cupboard. I was counting out tokens when Manny stepped into the open doorway. “Our kitchen sink is still dripping, Ms. Kelsey. It’s very loud and keeps me awake at night. When will it get fixed?”

“I told you before. You have to phone Paul. He’s the head of the condo board and in charge of things until the new building manager is here next month. I’m just taking care of the tokens and the basic maintenance for this month. I have nothing to do with repairs.”

“Two weeks ago I call El Presidente. He said he’d call a repair man, but I’ve not heard nothing, so I ask you again.”

I shook my head and handed him the tokens with a soft smile. “I’m sorry, I haven’t heard anything. I know it’s annoying, but apparently the guy that the condo board hired is worth waiting for, and after the last manager, we need to make sure this new one know’s what he’s doing.”

“That’s true,” he said, nodding his head thoughtfully. “That last guy did nothing but drink. He tried to fix the leak, and it only get worse.”

“Less than a month to go, Manny.” I ushered him out of the doorway. “I’ll make sure when I meet the new building manager that your faucet is first on his ‘To Do’ list.”

I closed the door behind the grumbling old guy and went back to my bottle of wine. Sure I’d agreed to clean the building and hand out laundry tokens for the six weeks they were without a manager, but that was it. I was a bartender, not a handym- handy woman.

Two minutes later I was sitting down with wine glass in hand and the phone rang. I recognized Randy’s number on the caller ID and decided I wasn’t in the mood for a visit. Strange, normally a visit from my occasional and very adventurous lover was welcome, but right then, I just wanted to be alone with my wine.

Sunday was my day to get organized again before I returned to the regular programming of my uneventful life.

Still feeling pretty relaxed and genial after my holiday, I crawled out of bed around ten A.M. – which was actually early for me, the bartender who rarely went to bed before four in the morning. After a lazy shower I dressed in a casual pair of black walking shorts and a tight tank top that hugged my breasts and showed plenty of my C-cup cleavage. Hair wasn’t something I wanted to deal with so I slipped a ball cap over my plain midnight tresses, and smoothed on some bright red lipstick to finish the look before heading to the grocery store.

Vancouver is a big city, which makes housing in the decent areas pretty expensive. Commercial Drive, my neighborhood, was ethnically diverse and a bit seedy, but the city was working on cleaning it up. Cafés and restaurants were popping up all over and it had turned into a more eclectic, almost artsy area because of the recently restored lofts and buildings.

Grabbing a basket just inside the door, I filled it with pre-washed and cut bag salad, baby carrots, and celery before adding some peaches and heading for the frozen food aisle. Microwave dinners, pizza and a carton of ice cream joined the healthy stuff. A basket full of essentials for a single person.

Staring at the food I’d collected was slighlty depressing and I fought the temptation of the cookie aisle. Temptation won and I added a bag of chocolate chip to my basket. Not a coffee drinker, a pack of Red Bull energy drinks was the final item on my list.

The cashier smiled at me when I started to unload my items onto the conveyor belt and I smiled back. “Hi Kelsey, how are you doing today?” she said when the customer ahead of me was done and walking away.

“Doing good, Maureen. You?”

Living alone made it hard to keep lots of food in my fridge because if I didn’t eat at home every day, the food went bad. Which meant I didn’t buy a lot, but I went food shopping two or three times a week. Since I’d been living in the same apartment for almost five years, and the grocery store was only four blocks away, a couple of the cashiers knew me by name.

I was a regular.

A chuckle bubbled up and Maureen grinned and shook her head in puzzlement. “You’re always in such a good mood.”

I was amused because after bartending for fifteen years I’d always swore I’d never be a ‘regular’ anywhere. Regulars could keep a business going, but by the same token, they could be a real pain in the ass at times. But Maureen didn’t need to hear all that so I just shrugged. “The sun is shining and I have nothing to complain about.”

“Ahh.” The pretty cashier nodded. “Well here’s hoping the rest of the week remains the same for us both.”

She took my money, we said good day to each other and I left with a smile still on my face. I had a date with a pitcher of margaritas I didn’t want to be late for.

We have the first three chapters of My Prerogative to post, a contest and some VJ action from mz Sasha White.

MTV doesn’t have anything on us . Well not that they play videos anymore….

And do check out Gwen’s review if you haven’t already

She does what she likes…

…and what she likes is absolutely wicked.

Kelsey Howard is happy with the single life. She has great friends, a fun job tending bar, and a nice apartment. Not to mention the freedom to enjoy a few wild sex games with strangers—the riskier the better. But what she’s really looking for in the darkness is love.

Then Kelsey realizes she’s got an annonymous stranger watching her every move—and every move she makes is arousing them both. In fact, not only is she not scared, she thinks she may have finally found her soul mate. Especially when she meets the mischievous mystery man in the flesh. That’s when the fun and games really start, and Kelsey realizes just how far she’s prepared to go for love.

My Prerogative by Sasha White

There are few things more enjoyable than lying naked on a sandy beach under a hot sun. Especially in a foreign country where no one knows me and I’m free do whatever, and whomever, I want.

Kelsey Howard, footloose and fancy free, answerable to no one. That was me.

Being single and adventurous made me the envy of many, and I had to admit, there were times when even I thought my life was blessed.

Cute as a kid, pretty as a girl, and then beautiful as a woman.

I do believe people see that when they look at me. I have to believe it, I’ve heard it my whole life. And on some days, I can even look in the mirror and see it. The problem is that I don’t always feel that way. I have a hole inside that needs to be filled, and despite the fact that I know filling it with food, drinks, and casual sex isn’t good, or smart . . . I still do it. I can’t stop myself. It’s the only way I know to fill that emptiness.

So really? Is it wrong if it makes me feel better? Even if it’s just for a little while?

Rising up a bit from my supine position on the beach, my elbows dug comfortably into the sand. I lounged in the heat of the Mediterranean sun and tracked the approach of my companion from behind dark sunglasses. Nope, nothing wrong with it at all.

Ocean water glistened over his bulging muscles as they rippled with every move he made. Hair slicked back and eyes intent on me, he prowled up the beach. Yeah, he was definitely prowling, and I was woman enough to appreciate it.

One of the few things I enjoy in life more than lying on a beach is lying under a well-built man. Both at once was a fantasy I was determined to finally have come true.

Marco was his name, and I’d met him at the hotel bar on my second night here. The all-inclusive resort we were at encouraged hedonistic behavior and after the first night spent watching everyone let loose, I was more than ready for my own sensual adventure. I’d almost given up hope of finding someone I could click with when he’d introduced himself and the sparks flew. Marco had proven to be very adventurous himself – a wonderful choice for my holiday fling.

I took a pull of tequila from the bottle I’d grabbed from the room’s mini-bar and a familiar tingle awoke low in my belly. Marco drew closer and I spread my legs a little wider, knowing he wouldn’t be able to avoid the temptation I presented.

Sure enough, hunger sparked in his dark eyes and he dropped to his knees at my feet. Large masculine hands cupped my bent knees and slid up my thighs, sending more tingles through my system.

“Hello there, stranger,” I said softly.

His teeth flashed in a predatory smile and he began crawling up and over my body until his mouth hovered over mine. “You look good enough to eat,” he said.

I looked to the left and saw no one, and then to the right. There was a couple about fifty yards down the beach, roasting themselves on a blanket and minding their own business, so I lifted my arms and pulled him down on top of me. “So what’s stopping you?”

He chuckled and kissed me hungrily. He tasted faintly of tequila and saltwater from the ocean, so I opened up and enjoyed the way our tongues rubbed together. The cool friction heated my blood and made my sex clench in anticipation. The nude beach we were on was part of the private resort where anything goes, and in that instant I made the decision to live up to my reputation as a wild child and enjoy every second of it.

I tilted my head back, and Marco took the hint, nuzzling his way down my neck. The sound of waves rhythmically lapping at the shore became an erotic symphony as he cupped my breasts and flicked the jeweled hoops there back and forth.

“So pretty,” he crooned. He wrapped his lips around one nipple and sucked hard, his tongue pulling at the piercing.

“Harder,” I urged him. A little pain always heightened the pleasure.

He complied and my hips jerked in response. Yes.

I slid my hands into his hair and nudged him lower. Eager to please, Marco slithered down my body until his talented mouth was hovering over my greedy cunt. His hands cupped my ass, lifting me as his tongue came out and flicked the jeweled hoop that pierced the protective hood of my clit. A sigh of pleasure slipped from between my lips and I pressed him closer.

Sometimes fantasies do come true.

Gwen’s review of My Prerogative by Sasha White
Erotic romance released by Berkley Trade 2 Sep 08

Sasha White write some of the best erotic romance out there.  I find her characters to be fully developed, her characterizations and situations believable, and the sensuality is smokin’ hot.  My Prerogative is set in the loosely related world Wicked and Trouble, among others.  I like these books – some more than others, but I like them all. 

The outcome of these novels, while an HEA, is a believable HEA. The couples get together, support and love each other, and are committed to each other, but not all of them marry.  There aren’t pregnant bellies and children running around.  Couples move in with each other and support each other, but we’re not left with starry-eyed hearts and roses at the end.

Above all things, My Prerogative is an exploration of the heroine’s opinion of herself.  In fact, the sections of the book told from her perspective are told in first person – an approach that actually works nicely.  The heroine, Kelsey, is content with her life, but not happy.  She’s deeply lonely and has been made to feel her healthy appetite for edgy sex is “abnormal”. She knows intellectually that it isn’t, but emotionally she’s still insecure.  This insecurity causes her to act harshly sometimes and she treats most men as disposable – like tools, and no better than her sex toys.  At least, she does this until she meets the hero,  Harlan.  And, oh, how she meets him!

Harlan is less explored as a character, but I still really liked him.  The sections of the book told from his perspective are told in third person – further distancing us from him and keeping the focus on Kelsey. Harlan is the BEST kind of hero.  He’s a patient alpha, maybe a beta but still dominant in the bedroom.  I love how he gives Kelsey space, but isn’t afraid to show his feelings.  I wish more men knew how to do that.  I also love that he’s an artist and that Kelsey is his muse – there’s something almost mystical about that relationship between a painter and their muse (I think of Andrew Wyeth and his Helga pictures).  Harlan is infinitely patient with Kelsey.  He also encourages her and isn’t threatened by her sensuality.  All characteristics you need in a partner.  I loved that these two were able to find their way at the end.

If I had a criticism of the book, it would simply be not enough time was spent with the couple actually talking to each other.  But that’s a small nit in a very good story.

This was a lovely, sensual story of discovery and maturity.  There is sex in it, but the love story drives the sex, not the other way around.  It’s a story that White tells every time – an erotic love story that tells us as much about the characters’ souls as it does their libidos.  Really a nice twist on the typical erotic romance.  I recommend this book to any fan of erotic romance and of Sasha White.

Grade: B

Summary:

A secret admirer provides the spark for a single girl’s fantasies in a blistering new erotic romance from the author of Bound…

Kelsey Howard is happy with the single life. She has friends, a job tending bar, a nice apartment, and the freedom to enjoy wild sex games with strangers- the riskier the better. But what she really wants is love.

Then Kelsey realizes she’s got a voyeuristic neighbor watching her every move-and every move she makes is arousing them both. Not only is she not scared, she thinks she may have found her soul mate. Especially when she meets the mystery man in the flesh. That’s when the fun really starts, and Kelsey realizes just how far she’s prepared to go for love.

Read an excerpt.

Sasha White is a long time fave of mine and we kidnap her often (she likes it).

Her newest novel, My Prerogative, will hit the shelves in September. Since every time I hear the title, the song (bobby’s or brits – you pick) sticks in my head FOREVER… I asked Sasha to put together a playlist for us.

It shall be grand fun! We will have our own VJ this week (omg at you if you don’t know what a VJ is, think back to when MTV use to play videos). No – really – they did! Oh… you wanna know what the book is about?

She does what she likes…

…and what she likes is absolutely wicked.

Kelsey Howard is happy with the single life. She has great friends, a fun job tending bar, and a nice apartment. Not to mention the freedom to enjoy a few wild sex games with strangers—the riskier the better. But what she’s really looking for in the darkness is love.

Then Kelsey realizes she’s got an annonymous stranger watching her every move—and every move she makes is arousing them both. In fact, not only is she not scared, she thinks she may have finally found her soul mate. Especially when she meets the mischievous mystery man in the flesh. That’s when the fun and games really start, and Kelsey realizes just how far she’s prepared to go for love.

This just in…

Sasha White will be conducting a virtual writing workshop on her blog July 28 through August 3. For those of you who can’t make it to the RWA conference in San Francisco that weekend, join Sasha for VOICE: The Magic Behind the Words.

~ “Voice is a topic near and dear to me, because not only is it something I feel makes an author special, it’s something I feel confident talking about,” Sasha said. “If you want to learn what I think makes voice strong, join me on July 28th and take part in my free Virtual Workshop.”

~ Topics to be included are:

What Is Voice?
On the first day we’ll talk about what Voice is and why it’s so important to develop your own. There will be exercises to help you discover your own strengths and discussion on how to capitalize on them.

What Is Style?
Your voice is part of your style and your style is part of your Voice. The two are separate things, but they have to work together to create an individual flavor for each author’s storytelling. This day we’ll cover the different aspects of style and how to recognize your own.

Trusting Your Characters.
So you know your characters and you’re ready to tell their story, yet you’re struggling. It might be because you’re not listening to them. Part of voice and style is the characters that you create. However, you’re not doing yourself any favors by creating fantastic characters, then not staying true to them within the story. I’ll share some of my tricks with you on how to turn off your own mind so your characters can speak through you.

Trusting Your Instincts

We all have them, we just don’t always listen to them. You are now working for yourself and you need to learn to trust yourself in all aspects of your work from the words you put on the pages to the brand you want to build.

Last Chance Q & A

The final day will finish with a no holds barred Q & A period. If you have any questions left for me, this is the time.

~ And prizes are to be had! Critique sessions and signed books will be up for grabs.

~ So check out Sasha’s blog for more info!

Consider yourself flashed.

Sandy M’s review of Meandros by Sasha White
Free Contemporary Short Story from Sasha White

Seventeen and a half pages. That’s all it took to tell a compelling, realistic, heart-warming, sexy, and sad story. It took even less pages to bring on the first tears.

This entire short story is told from Tammi’s point of view. The wonderful times she had with Tom, the strength he gave her when she needed him most, the love he showered her with every minute of their life together, the sexy and wicked side of him that turned her on no matter what. Even the part of him that would be disappointed in her if she let grief overwhelm her and take her zest for living from her.

The emotion in these few short pages goes from one extreme to the other. All-encompassing joy to gut-wrenching grief and desperation. Have some tissues at the ready when you read this story Ms. White is generously giving to us all. You will need them. Sooner than you think.

Grade: A

Summary:

When Tammi, a professional dancer, was injured in a car accident she thought her life was over. But then Tom, a handsome and sexy man entered her life, and refused to let her curl up and die physically, or emotionally. He taught her to find the passion of life again. He also taught her to live, and to love with her whole heart. But when tragedy strikes again, and she loses him, will she give up on happiness and passion again? Or will she realize that the only way to honor the love of her life is to celebrate what he taught her?

This just in…

Sasha White is offering a free copy of her short story, Meandros, on her website. So what are you waiting for?!?

Meandros is the book that won Sasha her contract with Amber Quill Press.

It was written four years ago and has been out of print for a year.

“I still get the urge to write travel bits every now and then, but now I tend to include my locations in my erotic stories…and Meandros takes place in Greece,” Sasha said.

So hurry and get your copy here.

Wicked is Sasha’s current release from Berkley Heat.

Consider yourself flashed.

This just in…

Sasha White has donated a complete set of her print books to be auctioned off at Brenda Novak’s Fourth Annual 2008 Online Auction to Benefit Diabetes Research:

• Ten print books make up the collection, including Bound, Trouble, Wicked, Kink, Pure Sex, The Cop, Alluring Tales, Gypsy Heart, Lush, Sexy Devil, and an ARC of Primal Male, the sequel to Sexy Devil, to be released November 2008.
• Ready to bid? Check it out here.

There’s a week left before the close of the auction, so don’t wait! You’ll never find a better deal and you’ll be helping Sasha and Brenda make a difference in people’s lives!

Consider yourself flashed.

Check out Gwen’s review here of Wicked by Sasha White and you can read an excerpt on her site here.

THEN you can check out another excerpt… behind the cut *g*

Summary:

Readers first met Karl Dawson in BOUND, they’ll get to know him a little better in TROUBLE, but one woman will learn all in WICKED.

Bad-boy divorce attorney Karl Dawson has seen all the ways love can go wrong. That’s why he’s given up on it. Jaded and feeling restless, he has playmates, not girlfriends. A leather-clad Dominant, he comes and goes in the city’s after-dark playgrounds as he pleases. That’s how he likes it.

Lara Fox is an independent jack-of-all-trades who can do anything she sets her mind to – except that falling-in-love thing. She’s got a need for control too strong for most men, and an inability to walk away from a challenge. Including a challenge like Karl. He’s cocky, arrogant, and demanding. That’s how she needs it.

They’re perfect for each other. But what begins as a sensual battle of wills turns into a journey neither is prepared for when Lara is threatened and emotional walls start to crumble.

The band was playing and the heavy beat matched the low level throb in Lara’s blood as she moved. The heat of admiring eyes drifted over her skin. There were so many, male and female, all hot with passion that fired her blood.

She’d take one of them home that night. A man. A man with a big cock, plenty of passion and lots of stamina to help chase away the hot dreams of that arrogant egotistical … lawyer.

Large hands rested on her hips and a body brushed against her back. She glanced over her shoulder and winked at the bald college boy who’d moved in to dance with her.

She shouldn’t call him a boy, he was probably only younger than her by a year or two, but he wasn’t man enough to inspire a stronger title. His excitement and eagerness fairly bled from him as he rubbed his groin against her ass in an effort to be sexy. It might be a little mean of her to tease him, but she couldn’t stop herself.

She bent forward at the waist, pressing her hips back against him, and did a bump and grind that had her own body softening, readying itself for action. With a flip of her head, she straightened up, back arched as she rested her head against his shoulder and undulated against him in time with the music.

You are so fucking hot,” he panted in her ear, his hands slipping over the smooth flesh of her belly that was bared by her crop top.

She spun in his arms just as the last notes of the song were struck, and the music faded into the crowd’s applause.

The band said they were going to take a short break, and everyone started to drift off the dance floor. It was time to rehydrate.

Thanks for the dance,” she said to the boy, and spun on her heel to leave.

He grabbed her arm, halting her steps. “That’s it? Come on, baby. Let’s find a dark corner and get to know each other better.”

She looked at his hand on her arm before raising her gaze to his. She gave him a look that any smart man would recognize as a warning. College boy wasn’t stupid, and he released his grip.

Yeah,” he said with a sneer. “Whatever.”

Lara headed for the bar without another word, and immediately spotted the lean blond parked there in leather pants and a snug black t-shirt.

Oh, shit.

Her heart kicked in her chest and every hair on her body stood on end. Karl looked so fucking good her mouth actually started to water. Saliva pooled on her tongue and her pussy clenched in recognition of what it hungered for. She’d been able to resist the lure of his challenge when she only had images of him in a suit and tie in her mind, but this … she had no resistance to the living fantasy in front of her.

Even worse, she wasn’t sure she wanted to.

Altering her course slightly she headed straight for him. “Well hello there, sexy. How are you tonight?”

Feeling pretty good after watching your little show there,” he replied. “You move very well, sweetie.”

Pleasure swept over her at his compliment and she gave herself a mental kick in the ass. She knew she moved well, she didn’t need him to tell her that. Plus, he’d called her sweetie.

Lara eyed him.She realized he was being sincere and that sent a wave of pure desire rushing through her veins. Normally she hated it when men called her sweetie or baby or darlin’, or any number of chauvinistic endearments. But Karl’s lazily spoken words were different somehow.

Thanks,” she said before smiling at the bartender and asking for a bottle of water.

When he set the water on the bar Karl handed him a bill before she could, and the bartender walked away.

Thank you, again.” She turned to face Karl, stepping closer so that her hip brushed against his leather-clad knee.

She let her eyes roam over him, not bothering to hide the need simmering in her blood. Why should she? She’d made it pretty clear the other night that she wanted him. He’d been the one to walk away.

Remembering that, she shifted, a little unsure exactly how to handle him now. Unsure of how she wanted to handle him now.

As if he could read her thoughts, Karl’s lips tilted slightly and the lines around his eyes crinkled, making the small scar that ran through his left eyebrow shift. “You didn’t call,” he said.

Not wanting to shout in the loud bar, or let him sense her momentary doubts, she shifted closer. When she moved, he spread his knees wider and she automatically filled the spot.

Why didn’t you call?” he repeated.

She arched a brow at him. “Why didn’t you call?”

He chuckled. “Because you’re the one who needs to decide if you’re really willing to do anything at least once.”

Would she? Wicked heat zinged from her brain to her sex in answer and she grinned. Payback could be so much fun, sometimes.

Follow me?” she challenged.

His chocolate eyes darkened and his lips twitched as he stood so they were chest to chest. “Lead the way.”

With a little extra swing in her hip, she headed for the back of the pub.

The band was starting up again and they were going against the stream of people heading back to the dance floor. Karl’s hand rested on the curve of her hip, the heat of his body close behind her as they passed the mens room, then the ladies room and went straight out the back door.

She’d been antsy and horny before she saw him, but in the past three minutes her body had started to burn from the inside out. Everything in her was centered on having him – he was not going to walk away from her again. She was in control this time.

Karl was all man – all very sexy, very primal man. She might not know exactly what was going on between them, but she did know one thing for sure – she was woman enough to take him on, and revel in it.

The cool night air hit her skin and a shiver ripped through her. She glanced around the empty parking lot, no real plan in her mind, just animalistic need driving her to do what came naturally. She started to head for her car, but then spotted the narrow walkway between the pub and the darkened building next to it. A big leafy tree almost hid the small space.

It was perfect.

Without a word she entered the small passage and went about ten steps before stopping. She turned and faced Karl, who was looking at her with a mix of curiosity and approval.

You,” she said, putting her hands on his chest and gently shoving him against the cement wall of the pub. “Are not walking away from me this time.”

She leaned in, pressing her body against his fully, and ran her tongue over the tattoo on his neck. His pulse jumped as she nibbled her way toward his ear only to have her head pulled back sharply. The hand that was suddenly wrapped in her hair tightened, and her pussy throbbed in answer.

Oooh,” she cooed in appreciation, but the sound was cut off when his head came down and his mouth covered hers.

Lara struggled to remember her plan as Karl’s flavor washed over her. He tasted so damn good – hot, potent and male. His muscles flexed and danced under her hand as she swept them down over his chest and flat abs to his belt. Her fingers shook with her eagerness as she unsnapped and unzipped his pants.

Pushing aside the supple leather, she groaned into Karl’s mouth when his cock leapt into the palm of her hand.

Oh yeah! He was well built all over.

The grip on her hair tightened and her head was tugged back. Karl’s mouth slid over her cheek to her ear, where he nipped at the sensitive lobe, sending bolts of pleasure straight to her pussy. “What are you gonna do with that, naughty girl?”

She pulled back slightly, shaking her head and dislodging his grip. “I’m going to make it mine,” she said as she bent her knees.

Karl watched as Lara knelt in front of him, the moonlight streaming through the trees leaves and gleaming on the top of her head as her hot breath drifted over his naked cock. She’d surprised him again, in a very good way.

© Sasha White. All rights reserved

Gwen’s review of Wicked by Sasha White
Contemporary erotic romance released by Berkley Trade 2 Jan 08

This is a tale about how a boy finds a girl. It’s set in modern day. However, it struck me as I was reading it that the story could have been set in any time – the characters and the plot were that universal. There are no paranormal distractions, no deeper mysteries to solve other than how were the hero and heroine going to make things work. A universal tale, really. Well…

Except for the D/s elements, that is.

Wicked isn’t as, well, wicked as perhaps White’s other books in this cycle, but it is interesting. Wicked is a brief exploration of the Domination/submission subculture. White doesn’t use the D/s as titillation, though; she actually delves into the mechanics of why D/s is a lifestyle choice for many people. I got a deeper understanding of why this is the only choice some people can make. It was actually very fascinating.

There are a couple of cliches – the proud down-on-her-luck heroine who is saving every penny to have her dream of her own home, the gay best friend, etc. – but they don’t distract much from the main reason we’re here: the romance. I enjoyed the hero’s predicament of falling in love after having spent years running from it.

There are a couple of suspenseful elements that managed to not detract much from the main story and added some much needed tension.

While I enjoyed this book, I didn’t have near the fun with it I did with Trouble and Sexy Devil. I recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of White’s writing or who likes contemporary erotic romance.

Grade: B-

     Summary:

     Readers first met Karl Dawson in BOUND, they’ll get to know him a little better in TROUBLE, but one woman will learn all in WICKED.

     Bad-boy divorce attorney Karl Dawson has seen all the ways love can go wrong. That’s why he’s given up on it. Jaded and feeling restless, he has playmates, not girlfriends. A leather-clad Dominant, he comes and goes in the city’s after-dark playgrounds as he pleases. That’s how he likes it.

     Lara Fox is an independent jack-of-all-trades who can do anything she sets her mind to – except that falling-in-love thing. She’s got a need for control too strong for most men, and an inability to walk away from a challenge. Including a challenge like Karl. He’s cocky, arrogant, and demanding. That’s how she needs it.

     They’re perfect for each other. But what begins as a sensual battle of wills turns into a journey neither is prepared for when Lara is threatened and emotional walls start to crumble.

     Read an excerpt.

Sasha White just can’t get into the whole Valentine’s day spirit. Not that she’s anti-Romance, mind you, because… dude, have you read Wicked, her latest Berkley Heat release (2 Jan 08)? No, it’s the BUSINESS of Valentine’s Day that irks her.  This makes her our ANTI-CUPID.  Read on…

Hi Everyone. My name is Sasha White … and I am not a fan of Valentine’s Day.

Yep. It’s true. I’m a sucker for romance, and chocolate, and flowers, and ermmm..indulgences of many kinds. I just hate that people business seems to have taken something that is supposed to be from the heart, and turned it into something that is from the wallet.

In my opinion, the commercialism and hype that surrounds this day has ruined it. Romance isn’t a getting flowers or chocolate, or having a fancy dinner out on a day when you’re told to have/do these things.

To me, Romance is getting these things when they are unexpected. When you’re thinking about a person and you feel the need to tell them – saying it with a card, or even a hunk of jewelry is all good. Things like waking up to find that your lover left you a little note when he went to work early, or getting flowers as a gift is all very romantic when it’s done just because.

The same things goes for pampering/indulging oneself. I’m single, and whenever I mention not being a fan of Valentine’s Day, I get told I need to ‘celebrate’ myself. Pamper me with a manicure or spa thing. Or with a dinner. Whatever. I’m a HUGE believer in doing this when I need it, and not caring what day it is. LOL

Don’t hate me. I’m just sayin’ we should indulge and celebrate romance whenever we can, not just because it happens to be a Hallmark Holiday.

Sasha White

Do you agree with Sasha? Has Valentine’s Day become all about the gifts and the sentiment has been lost? Do you celebrate Valentine’s Day? If so, do you do anything to keep the day all about Romance?

If you missed them, check out gwen’s review of Sexy Devil and the excerpt of Devil Inside.

an excerpt from DEVIL’S JEWEL

As a woman whose only master was her gypsy wanderlust, and her love for her sister, Jewel had been around. She knew the one thing ninety percent of the people in the world had in common – they loved to talk. If you knew the right questions to ask, information was ripe for the picking.

Hooper Radisson, the owner of the big white house set on the side of the mountain just out side the city, was someone the residents loved to speculate about. He’d moved to Pearson less than year ago, and set up shop as a financial consultant. Only he never actually opened up an office, and he had no local clients.

He was seen about town often, spending money and entertaining visiting clients, but that was it. And lucky for Jewel, it drove the locals crazy with curiosity. One mention of Hooper’s name at the pub and she knew where he lived, what kind of car he drove and, among other things, that he was a vegetarian.

Forty – eight hours after Nadya was taken, Jewel was smirking at the simple security system surrounding the big white house on the hill. Getting past the guard at the front gate had been as simple as climbing over the seven-foot cement wall surrounding the grounds.

Almost too easy, really. She knew that Hooper was no ordinary man, not if he could grab Nadya so easily.

She slowly made her way through the trees and up to the house, surprised at the lack of guards patrolling the grounds. She inched her way along the side of the house, and to the back, checking out each window as she went. A kid could crack the system wiring all the windows and doors, and her instincts were screaming caution.

She reached into her pocket and pulled out one of the small pouches Kaz had given her before the clan had left town. “Let’s see what we’ve got here,” she muttered to herself and spilled some of the fine powder into the palm of her hand. With a soft blow, the powder flew off her hand and into to air … where it hit a shimmering wall of energy and sparkled florescent orange for a split second. “Ohhh, nasty.”

The lovely orange color showed that the house was indeed protected by a spell. It didn’t matter that the technical security sucked, the magical security was top notch. Before Jewel could reach for her crystals, a muffled cry of pain came from nearby and the house and surrounding grounds were flooded with light.

“Shit!” She didn’t hesitate a second. Adrenaline kicked into overdrive and she spun around on her heel and took off for the dense trees nearby. A mad dash through them wasn’t the quietest way to get to the wall that separated the grounds from the winding public road where she’d parked her truck, but it was the fastest, and it offered protection from the floodlights.

Five feet from the cement security wall a shadowy form jumped from behind a tree and tackled her. Heart in her throat, she reacted instinctively, her hands going for her attacker’s throat, her knees bending and feet kicking as she tried to nail him in the balls.

The body turtled over her, heavy legs tangling with hers, pinning them, full weight on her torso as one hand covered her mouth and the other grabbed two of her fingers and yanked them back until pain made her let go of his throat. “Shut up for Christ sakes! They’re almost here.”

His whispered words registered in her mind at the same time a beam of light played over the compound wall just above them. They both froze, and Jewel finally realized that this guy wasn’t hauling her to her feet or dragging her back toward the big white house.

She closed her eyes, concentrated on calming her heart rate, then listened closely to the sounds around them. The musky scent of raw man reached her nose and butterflies unfurled in her stomach. Sensual awareness threatened to overcome her fear as they lay there.

Neither spoke, she didn’t even think they breathed, but in the distance she could hear voices raised as guards searched the grounds. A single bark split the night air and they both tensed. Jewels eyes popped open and she stared at the shadowed face above hers. Eyes black as night met hers and his hand left her lips.

“A dog!” she whispered furiously.

“Over the wall,” he replied. “Now.”

He sprang to his feet and she was right behind him.

As if they’d done it a million times before he bent his knees and Jewel stepped smoothly into his cupped hands and he boosted her to the top of the wall with ease. The stranger was over six feet tall, and with a small jump he was halfway up the wall. Jewel gripped the foot wide cement between her thighs and grabbed the back of his belt as he scrabbled up the wall with ease. As she swung her leg over and sat atop the wall, the dog came through the thicket of trees, barking madly and pulling a small man behind. A chunk of cement flew into the air as a gunshot bounced off the wall a foot to the left of Jewel and she jumped to the other side.

She hit the ground running and was at her truck in seconds, the helpful stranger right behind her. Shoving the key in the ignition and pulling her door closed at the same time she was surprised when the passenger door opened. She heard him say he was leaving with the girl and watched with wide eyes as he joined her.

What the hell?

“You can’t-” a shot hit the windshield and she clamped her mouth shut on the instinctive cry of surprise.

“Go damn it!” he shouted.

And she did.

Without another thought she slammed the truck into gear and floored it, speeding off down the twisted mountain road.

Neither of them spoke as Jewel drove into town. She concentrated on the road ahead of them and he watched the road behind them. They must not have been followed though because he never urged her to speed up or take off on one of the side roads.

Jewel’s thoughts whipped through her head at a mile a minute while she tried to figure things out. Every now and then she’d glance sideways at her passenger only to catch him staring straight at her.

Their gazes collided more than once, yet still, neither of them spoke.

By the time they hit the Pearson city limits it was clear no men with guns had followed them, and reaction had started to set in. Jewel wasn’t an innocent to the ways of the world, she’d dealt with a lot of scary things. Shit, she was a gypsy who made the bulk of her money hustling dart games in pubs around the country – she’d been in a tough spot or two before.

She’d seen things, natural and supernatural things that were both good and evil, but she’d never been shot at before.

Her heartbeat started to slow and the trembling inside her had settled down enough so she could breathe normally. She loosened her death grip on the steering wheel, and when her knuckles were no longer glaringly white, she glanced at her passenger. Her gut tightened. What now?

As if he could read her mind, he gestured to a parking stall in front of the coffee shop across from the lake. “Pull in here,” he directed. “We need to talk.”

The only reason Jewel did what he told her to was because it was true. They did need to talk. She put the truck in park, but left it running, and turned to get her first real good look at her passenger.

The light from the streetlamp illuminated the inside of the trucks cab enough for her to see that he was extremely good looking. Short dark hair, olive skin stretched over high cheekbones, and almost bottomless eyes had her pulse picking up for a very different reason than fear. His firm jaw line was shadowed with a layer of stubble that only enhanced the shape of his very seductive mouth.

A quiver of excitement rippled through her. A man with a mouth like that had to know how to use it.

Jewel squashed the sensual awareness growing inside her and gave him a hard look. “Who the hell are you?”

The mouth in question twisted. “You can call me Devil.”

She grabbed for the dagger tucked into the side of her right boot, but before the blade cleared leather his hand gripped her wrist, hard. “I said you can call me Devil, not that I was the devil. I’m one of the good guys in this battle.”

She met his gaze head on, no fear. “I’m supposed to believe you just because you say so?”

“If I was one of them I’d have let you run right into the spotlight instead of tackling you, and I certainly wouldn’t have helped you over the fence.” He spoke matter-of-factly, his expression blank. “Now why don’t you tell me your name?”

When people lied they tended to overplay their hand. If anything convinced her to believe him – and she wasn’t sure she did – but if anything was going to convince her, it was his lack of emotion.

“Okay, say I believe you. What were you doing there?” She let go of the onyx-handled dagger, but kept her hand by the side of her leg. His hold on her wrist loosened in response, but he didn’t release her completely.

“Your name?”

Shit. “Jewel.”

His head dipped in acknowledgment. “Okay, Jewel, it doesn’t matter what I was doing there. What matters is it’s a dangerous place, and you are not to go back there.”

Fuck that, she thought to herself.

Tension thickened the air between them. Who did he think he was? He didn’t even ask what she had been doing there, just issued orders like he was the king or something. “You think you can stop me?”

“Yes.”

The one word was said with such complete arrogance that Jewel reacted instinctively.

Slapping her right hand on top of the one that held her left wrist, she pinned it there at the same time twisting her left hand up and over his. She put her weight behind it, shifting toward him and pressing down on the wristlock. He countered by moving back and pulling her on top of him, his other hand going on top of hers and yanking two fingers back – the same two fingers he’d used to get her to release her choke hold earlier. Pain ripped up her forearm and she let go, landing in his lap with their hands trapped between their bodies and their faces only millimeters apart.

She sucked in air and tried not to notice the hardness of the body beneath her … until he kissed her.

Copyright © 2007 by Sasha White. Excerpted by permission.

Sexy Devil by Sasha White

“The Devil Inside”

Workaholic Caleb Mann used to think blind dates were a waste of time, but when his ex-girlfriend calls him boring in bed, Caleb becomes bent on changing his image fast – with the help of the incredibly sexy woman standing in front of him. He barely knows his date’s name, but her sassy mouth is almost hypnotizing, in more ways than one, and he can’t stop fantasizing about replacing the sleek motorcycle between her firm thighs and letting her ride him all night long…

“Devil’s Jewel”

Ex-soldier and psychic hunter Angelo Devlin has seen evil first-hand. He knows how perilous his assignments can be, and he doesn’t welcome outside help, which makes his run-in with Jewel Kattalis all the more infuriating. But instead of sending her away, he wants to grab her, take her, and tease every inch of her beautiful body. This woman may be more dangerous than any mission he’s ever been on before…

Gwen reviewed Sexy Devil on Monday, in case you missed it you can find it here.  Keep reading for the excerpt and contest details…

Our delightful canaduckie Sasha is going to celebrate Thanksgiving with us in spirit (since the Canadians have already celebrated Thanksgiving). And I had something really nifty here for you to do to win a copy of Sexy Devil but the dialup hates me. So third time is the charm and we are gonna be nice and easy here…. contest is after the excerpt….

Devil Inside

Chapter One

Caleb Mann strode through the heavy glass doors of Fusion Cafe and continued straight to the service counter without looking left or right. The air-conditioning inside the cafe was a welcome relief from the humid heat of mid May in Pearson, British Columbia. It also took the edge off his nerves.

Mug of strong, black coffee firmly in hand, Caleb stepped to the side of the counter, and scanned the room carefully.

The sunlight bounced off the surface of Pearson Lake, directly across the street, brightening the small cafe. Colorful paintings on the walls and mismatched furniture gave it a funky, comfortable feel that was reflected in the diverse clientele. A slick-looking businessman stood a couple of feet away, impatiently ordering a fluffy latte from the frowning counter girl. An older lady and a girl who was probably her granddaughter sat with a coloring book in front of them.

None were who he was looking for.

He disregarded the twentysomething male engrossed in a novel nearby and briefly considered the woman by the window. Well dressed, with long dark hair, she sat ramrod straight as she watched people come and go. She was pretty, but Caleb didn’t think she was the type of woman his brother would be friends with. Uncertain, he let his gaze slide away.

Then he saw her.

Removing his sunglasses, he gave the woman a slow perusal. She’d isolated herself by sitting at a small corner table, head bent over a notepad of some kind. Yet she still seemed approachable. The invisible wall that emanated from most people when they wanted to be left alone wasn’t there.

She was dressed casually in a short camouflage skirt and a tight black tank top that made it impossible to ignore her pert breasts. If for some unknown reason he hadn’t noticed her mouth-watering cleavage, he’d certainly have given the length of tanned flesh exposed by the short skirt a second glance. It had to be her.

Caleb had expected nothing less from his little brother than to set him up with a real looker. What he hadn’t expected was his own primal reaction to her-the way his blood heated and his stomach clenched when he looked at her-or the way her inky black hair, which was full of vivid red streaks and skimmed across her pale shoulders, made his fingers itch with the urge to touch … to brush it aside so he could nibble on her tender flesh.

His reaction surprised him, but for once he didn’t try to contain or control it. After all, if she was a friend of his “work hard-play harder” younger brother, chances were she was also a party girl-a bad girl.

Oh, yeah, he thought to himself. The total opposite of what he normally looked for in the fairer sex, and exactly what he needed.

Detail-oriented guy that he was, Caleb leaned against the counter and studied her for a minute. Skimpy clothes flaunted bare limbs, bright purple polish sparkled on her fingertips, and silver jewelry flashed when she shifted in the filtered sunlight. There was also a tattoo on the inside of her wrist-very … exciting. He willed her to lift her head so he could see her face clearly, only to have his breath catch in his throat when she did so.

Flawless skin smoothed over high cheekbones, tiny white teeth nibbled at a full pink lip, dark eyebrows flared over almond-shaped eyes. He couldn’t see their color from where he was, but it didn’t matter. Her classic beauty and outrageous sex appeal called to him unlike anything, or anyone, ever had.

He wanted her, instantly and unequivocally.

Shrugging his suddenly tense shoulders, Caleb pushed off from the counter. You’re not here to find your soul mate, he reminded himself, just someone to let loose with.

He was tired of everyone ragging on him for being a workaholic. Hell, if he hadn’t worked so hard for the past ten years, Gabe wouldn’t have been able to go to college. Someone had had to pay the bills after their parents died. Plus, his work was satisfying in a way his player of a brother would never understand, so the nagging hadn’t really bothered him.

Until his last girlfriend dumped him because he was too “old and settled” for her, that is. Then he’d felt a bit of a sting. He was only thirty-three, for God’s sake!

Even then her comments hadn’t really hurt him. Not until she’d turned the sting into a downright festering burn by adding that his good looks couldn’t compensate for his lack of imagination in the romance department, let alone the bedroom.

Anger, and a twist of uncertainty, burned a hole in his gut. That had been hitting below the belt, literally.

Lack of imagination? He had plenty of imagination. And the wild-child woman his little brother had set him up with was going to help him prove it.

Halting next to her table, he pasted a winning smile on his face and opened his mouth.

“Excuse me. Christina?”

When Gina Devlin realized the question was directed at her, she huffed out a grateful breath and tossed aside her charcoal pencil. Normally she didn’t welcome interruptions when she was working, but her temperamental muse had deserted her, taking any semblance of artistic talent along with him. That made it pretty damn hard to get the sketches for her new commission down.

Eager for a distraction, Gina leaned back in the spindly chair and looked over the wall of muscle standing next to her corner table with a big grin on his gorgeous face. And her skin immediately began to itch from the inside out.

He was her favorite type of distraction-big and male.

The buttoned-up shirt and pressed jeans he wore did nothing to detract from the wide shoulders and slim hips they covered. But, in her mind, they did label him a stickler for the rules, and that made him totally not her type. Only a real stick-in-the-mud irons his jeans.

Not being her type didn’t stop her eyes from continuing to skim appreciatively over his trim hips-and the impressive package between them, too. And of course she couldn’t stop there, so she mentally drooled over his muscled thighs for a long moment before raising her gaze to meet his.

A steady gaze that was vaguely familiar.

Shaking off that thought, she realized he’d called her Christina. The little devil inside her strained at the leash she’d kept him on for the last six months. Poking her with his pointy tail, he screamed, “Do it! Do it!”

Before she could think twice, her lips parted, and the words tumbled out. “I prefer Tina.” It’s closer to Gina.

Chapter Two
In a voice that was so smooth and deep it sent shivers down her spine, Mr. Gorgeous stick-in-the-mud introduced himself. “I’m Caleb-Gabe’s brother.” He held out a large hand to her.

Gina leaned forward, slipping her hand into his. Long fingers wrapped gently around hers; the heat of him soaked through her skin and inched its way up her arm. Her palm tingled sharply, and images of open mouths, sweaty bodies, and tangled sheets filled her mind.

Whoa! She pulled back in surprise.

To cover up her sudden disquiet over the vision, she waved blithely at the empty seat across from her. “Have a seat, Caleb.”

What was she thinking? Or better yet, what the hell was she doing? She had a deadline; she didn’t have time to waste on a man, no matter how good-looking he was. Of course, it was rare for her to get a psychic flash just from shaking hands with a stranger-especially if she hadn’t deliberately opened herself up and searched for one.

Rarer still for the vision to be one that made her whole body flush with arousal.

Gina eyed Caleb from under her lashes as he deposited his coffee mug gently on the table and settled his large body into the tiny iron chair. Despite his good looks and awesome body, this guy was here to meet someone else. Maybe she should’ve reined in her little devil and let him move on.

Then again, there was no such thing as a coincidence. Right?

Which she could take to mean … he was meant to meet her.

She’d been struggling with her new collection of sketches anyway. Her muse had given up and run away to have some fun. She should do the same. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d forgotten about everything but having a good time. And if the vision-of hot, sweaty bodies rolling around together-she’d had when they touched was any indication, this man could show her a really good time.

With a mental shrug, she smiled flirtatiously at her tablemate, and the hunk smiled back, blue eyes twinkling playfully.

There was a brief silence while they openly checked one another out. Gina shifted in her seat and crossed her legs, getting comfortable. His eyes followed her movements, and she fought back a wicked grin. Even dressed as she was, in casual just-off-work clothes, she knew she looked good. Then they both spoke at once.

“How do you-”

“So what do you-”

They laughed together, and the tension eased. Caleb settled back in his chair, spreading his hands wide. “Ladies first,” he said with a crooked smile.

Relishing the jump in her pulse at his smile, she leaned forward, giving him a clear view of her cleavage, and arched an eyebrow at him. “I was just going to ask what you liked to do for fun?”

Heat warmed his gaze, but Gina was pleased to see that while he glanced at the offered view, he didn’t stare down her top crudely. Instead he locked eyes with hers and showed off perfectly white teeth in a sardonic smile before answering softly. “I haven’t made much time for fun lately. In fact, just the other day I was accused of being old and stodgy.”

“You?” She chuckled softly. “You look like you might be a little uptight. But definitely not old, and, well … stodgy we can fix.”

His eyebrows jumped, a little taken aback by her bluntness maybe, but he didn’t run away. He got points for that. “That’s good to hear. I will admit I’ve let business and various responsibilities take over a large chunk of my life in the past. My construction company is doing well now, and I’ve decided it’s time for a change. Time to stop making work the focus of my life.” He stared at her with earnest blue eyes. “That’s why I agreed to this blind date. It’s time to try new things and remember how to have a good time.”

He got even more points for such an open answer. Gina understood the demands of starting and running one’s own business. Her artwork was a business for her, a part-time one, but still a business. However, she also knew that sometimes a body just had to ignore business and concentrate on the pursuit of pleasure.

A quick scan of the room and her conscience was soothed when she didn’t see a single woman alone anywhere. Caleb’s date had either missed him or pulled a no-show. It was time to kick things up a notch.

“Do you have anything specific in mind for fun, or are you open to pretty much anything?”

The flickering flames in his baby blues burned hotter at her challenge, and his smile turned wolfish. “I’m ready for anything.”

She fought the urge to crow in delight. So he wasn’t as uptight as she’d thought. He might put business before pleasure, but a sense of responsibility wasn’t really a bad thing in a man. And this man definitely had bad-boy potential. She could sense it.

Adrenaline pumped through her veins, and her inner bad girl roared to life, ready and willing to face all challenges. Suddenly very awake, Gina was fully energized for the first time in longer than she could remember.

It was time to play.

She grinned at Caleb. “I think I can help you out,” she said with cocky confidence. With one last lingering look at her sketch pad, she shoved it into her canvas tote bag and gestured toward the door. “Let’s go somewhere with a bit more action and see what happens.”

Chapter Three

She’d surprised him.

Not many people could do that.

Caleb wasn’t sure what he’d expected when they left the coffee shop, but this wasn’t it. When he watched her swing a slender leg over the seat of a sexy little crotch-rocket of a motorcycle, leaving her thighs almost completely bare, it had never entered his mind that they would end up in a gay bar.

Not that he minded. He didn’t judge people by their sexual preference. It just wasn’t somewhere he would’ve thought to take a woman he hoped to get intimate with.

A quick glance around the dark room made him reconsider. It was early, and the bar wasn’t full, but it was busy enough. Yet no one bothered them. No one even gave them a second look.

Couples, of all combinations, lounged on the various sofas surrounding the room’s perimeter. A small group of young guys were stationed in front of the bar, and a male couple was on the dance floor, swaying back and forth in each other’s arms. He thought about it, and excitement pushed past his apprehension. It was the perfect place to get to know someone. Everyone there was so intent on doing his or her own thing no one paid them any mind. He wasn’t the boss or the big brother to anyone in that bar, and that was surprisingly freeing.

Especially considering where his thoughts were taking him. With his back to the wall, he had a clear view of the room and of Tina’s antics. They’d been playing pool for almost two hours, and despite the fact that he’d been in a constant state of semi-arousal through it all, he’d learned some pretty interesting things about her.

In fact, she fascinated him.

“You mean to tell me that you work at the coffee shop, making sandwiches and lattes for people every day, when you could easily support yourself with your illustrations?” It didn’t make sense to him. He could tell by the tone of her voice when she talked about her art that she loved it, so why would she want to work in a cafe when she could make a living doing what she loved?

A lush breast brushed against his arm as she reached past him for the cube of chalk on the edge of the table, heating his blood another degree. Was she deliberately trying to drive him insane with lust?

She continued to stroll around the table, looking for her next shot as she talked. “My artwork pays nicely, but if I devoted myself to it entirely, I could easily become a hermit. Working in the cafe lets me deal with real people without getting too close to them.”

“You don’t like getting close to people?”

“I love getting close to the right people,” she said in a husky voice that made his cock swell. She bent over to take her shot, and he got an eyeful of plump womanly flesh cupped lovingly in fire-engine-red satin.

Swallowing hard, he dragged his gaze from her cleavage to her delicate face. The devilish glint in her dark eyes left no doubt in his mind that if he played his cards right, he could be one of the lucky ones. One of the ones she got real close to.

Tina was different than any other woman he’d ever gone out with. No, not different-more. More sexual, more flirtatious, and more unpredictable.

More woman.

Flirting was one of those things he’d just never gotten the hang of. It was too much of an iffy thing, a gray area that was always open to interpretation. He preferred to deal in things that were solid … black and white only.

Unsure of how to handle such blatant flirting without being a complete idiot, he ignored it. “Aspects of construction are like that, too. I deal with clients if I have to, but I prefer to leave that side of things to my brother. He’s the smooth-talking salesman of the family.”

Tina’s lips twitched up on one side, but she didn’t say anything about his lack of response to her flirting. She just let the conversation move on, and continued to kick his ass at pool.

It wasn’t surprising she was winning. Watching her bend and stretch over the green felt that somehow reminded him of his bed was much more distracting than playing with one of the guys. Yet he felt like he was getting to know her better than he ever could sitting across from her at a dinner table.

“So you enjoy working with your hands then?” she asked in reference to his last comment about preferring to work with his crew instead of just supervising. The comment itself wasn’t sexual, but to his fogged brain, everything she said and did had sexual connotations. He was having a hard time being the gentleman he’d always prided himself on being.

Thoughts of getting to know her better in any way but the physical disappeared as she stretched a bit farther to line up another shot, and her skirt rose another inch. Half an inch more and he’d know what color her panties were-if she even had any on.

——————————————————————————–
Excerpted from Sexy Devil by SASHA WHITE Copyright © 2007 by Sasha White. Excerpted by permission.

Comment on any of the Sasha White Excerpts posted today, Thursday 23, 2007 by midnight CST, and you will be entered to win one of the following:

A signed copy of Sexy Devil

A signed copy of Lush

A signed copy of Trouble

Good Luck! Now let’s just hope I can get the other excerpt to post….

Gwen’s review of Sexy Devil by Sasha White
Single author anthology, paranormal erotic romance published 27 Nov 07 by Aphrodisia

I drool every time I see this cover, and it’s a lot since I have a couple of very juicy (very well used) bookmarks with this image on it.  And I sigh, and daydream. Heck, I just all around lust.  Makes me smile in places you can and can’t see.

This is a single author anthology of three related stories. 

The first, The Devil Inside, has some minor paranormal elements and is mostly about the relationship between the hero, Caleb, and the heroine, Gina.  It’s a very sweet and hot story.  Poor Caleb is about as uptight as you can get.  Gina isn’t.  You can imagine the fun the author had with those scenes.  The erotic scenes are very hot and I kept waiting for the two to have sex in public – it would have been scorching.  I liked this story – it’s all about letting go and trusting.  Nice story.  The Devil Inside, Grade: B+

The second story, Devil’s Jewel, is centered on Gina’s older brother, Angelo Devlin (“Angel” to Gina, “Devil” to his friends) and his love interest, Jewel.  This story is mostly paranormal elements and just a smidge about the relationship.  It was a terrific story about how Devil and his partner, Drake, team up with Gina, Caleb, and Jewel to rescue Jewel’s sister from a demon.  Pretty intense fight scenes, and a couple of very hot erotic scenes, made this for an entertaining read.  Devil’s Jewel, Grade: B

The last story, Mountain Retreat, is a short one about an acquaintance of Gina’s, a policeman named Mac, and his childhood sweetheart, Nikki.  They were separated at the end of high school but they never forgot each other.  Fifteen years have gone by and the feelings are still there.  There’s a complication, though.  She’s a recently turned werewolf and she’s terrified she’ll hurt him.  Nonetheless, she needs his comfort, security, and love or she feels she won’t survive.  This was a very sweet, short story.  I loved Mac by the end.  Mountain Retreat, Grade: B

This was a terrific anthology.  I have really enjoyed White’s writing so far (Trouble was a blast).  Here’s to keeping the quality, and the steam, at full blast!  And, Sasha, if you will send me the telephone number of that cover model, I’ll be your BFF.  ;-)

Overall Grade: B+ 

     Blurb:

     The Devil Inside
     Workaholic Caleb Mann used to think blind dates were a waste of time, but when his ex-girlfriend calls him boring in bed, Caleb becomes bent on changing his image fast – with the help of the incredibly sexy woman standing in front of him. He barely knows his date’s name, but her sassy mouth is almost hypnotizing, in more ways than one, and he can’t stop fantasizing about replacing the sleek motorcycle between her firm thighs and letting her ride him all night long…

     Devil’s Jewel
     Ex-soldier and psychic hunter Angelo Devlin has seen evil first-hand. He knows how perilous his assignments can be, and he doesn’t welcome outside help, which makes his run-in with Jewel Kattalis all the more infuriating. But instead of sending her away, he wants to grab her, take her, and tease every inch of her beautiful body. This woman may be more dangerous than any mission he’s ever been on before…

     Mountain Retreat
     This story isn’t mentioned in the blurb.  It’s a shorty at the end about a new werewolf and her childhood sweetheart finding each other again.

     Read an excerpt (from Devil’s Jewel).

What’s next for this author:

 Wicked, releasing 2 Jan 08 by Berkley Heat

Gwen’s review of Trouble by Sasha White
Erotic romance published by Berkley Heat on 7 Aug 07

This book is set in modern-day Vancouver (presumably BC, not WA).  The hero, Valentine, and heroine, Samair, meet in his nightclub and proceed to have a very steamy relationship.  This is a very erotic book, but a very fun one as well.  I enjoyed the hell out of reading it.  But I can’t for the life of me figure out the image on the cover!  Is that a pair of fishnet-clad breasts being squished together?  And is that an arm or a leg across the front?  It’s like one of those IQ puzzles.

I’ve been reading some pretty damn good books lately. The last few have been erotic romances and this is the best of a very good lot. 

Samair is a heroine who knows her own mind.  She’s courageous and, once she makes up her mind she’s going to do something, she does it.  She doesn’t dither or make those TSTL actions.  Ms White has created a heroine to be admired.

Val is a hero to admire and lust after.  He’s willing to do just about anything to make Samair happy.  When, at the end of the book, Samair gives him an ultimatum, he does the right thing.  You just want to go all squishy and say”awwww.”

I don’t have a bone to pick with this book.  The characters are all very genuine and well developed.  The story arcs are all very satisfying.  The ending is just terrific. It’s a very hot book – lots of very well written, very steamy love (sex) scenes.  The story is well paced, believable, and very fun.  Dang.  I sound like a fan girl, but darn if I didn’t really like this book!

Thanks for a romping good read, Sasha!

Grade: A

Here’s the book blurb:

     Samair Jones is bored with her go-nowhere job, and fed up with her two-timing boyfriend. She’s had it up to here with being the pushover. All Samair wants is to let loose, be herself, and live by her own rules.

     But it’s only when she meets Valentine Ward, the hot owner of the club Risque, that the decadent possibilities of answering only to herself become daringly clear. Especially when Valentine is willing to indulge every one of Samair’s fantasies-no strings attached. At least none that Samair can see…

     Then she meets Valentine’s ex-wife Vera. She’s powerful, wealthy, jealous and dangerously manipulative. Vera’s about to throw new kink into Samair and Valentine’s games. But this one could be trouble.

     Read an excerpt.

The best description of Alluring Tales can be found on the cover of the book – awaken the fantasy. Most of the stories seem to involve a fantasy of some kind. And as Avon Red is billed as Erotica you won’t find a HEA with marriage and baby here. I would argue this is erotic romance more than erotica, as each story ends with the couple together. And with hope there will be there HEA.

Lover’s Locket by Cathryn Fox
A young woman frustrated with her love life is given an antique locket, when used with a spell it will bring her true love to her. The downside is it also unleashes an evil darkness she must fight in order to keep her HEA.

Lover’s Locket has a great set-up but it was just too big a story for a novella. There is a huge back story here, one I would have like to see more than be told and there wasn’t enough time to fully develop the characters or their motivation. So I was left wondering too many things and couldn’t just enjoy the story. Why did the family keep this painting hanging in their living rooms and not pass down a story about it. Why didn’t he spend time helping her know how to fight the darkness when it came to her instead of having sex with her? And the end was way too pat and nicely tied up. Although it kicks ass the heroine was the one who had to save the day.
Grade C-

Kili’s Ice Man by Delilah Devlin
Kili has had it with smart men. She wants a pretty boy toy with more between his legs than ears. In effort to calm down before her presentation in front of her newest fantasy man, she goes for a lunch time virtual fantasy snack. Unfortunately Gunnar “Ice Man” Rydeman’s hears her ‘all jock and no brains’ speech and next thing you know lunch gets a whole lot spicer.

This was better than I expected because I rarely do the funny stuff and I enjoy Delilah’s ‘darker’ stories. The whole caveman can’t talk thing almost got old but I have to say it was creative as hell. I would have rated this higher but the idea the smart, strong, professional woman couldn’t hold it together when meeting a cute guy, even when he is THE cute guy, set my feminist bells ringing and I never got over it.
Grade C+

Hottest One Night Stand by Lisa Renee Jones
Jessica Montgomery is heading down to Brownsville Texas for a family birthday party. Along the way a storm, car trouble and the old no room in the inn leads to one amazing night with a stranger. Only for as big as Texas is, sometimes it is still a small world and it helps to have connections.

I really liked this story. Part of it is due to the fact it is less fantastic and easier for me to believe and the other is it fits well into a novella. I would have enjoyed the story if it was longer but I didn’t feel there was anything I NEEDED to know. We learn a lot about the characters in small ways and that leaves the reader with a better feeling they will get their HEA. The biggest issue I had was his repeated use of Spanish endearments. Yes I am sure many a man does it but damn it is annoying.
Grade B+

Out of the Shadows by Myla Jackson
TJ Evans has just finished a night at work. He is on a special Houston Police Unit set up to hunt and kill vampires. There is a hurricane coming and his wanna be girlfriend slash neighbor hasn’t spoken to him since the two of them spent the night getting hot and sweaty. And the night only gets better when he learns Cassidy was attacked and he now has a whole new reason to be chasing her.

I liked the fact it was the girl who was fighting her lust for blood and the one being chased instead of the other way around. TJ was a good guy, which is always nice to see in a romance. And hey was set in Texas. But really there isn’t enough story here and I found it flat. When I hit the last word of the story I wasn’t really interested in finding out what was next.
Grade C-

A Familiar Kind of Magic by Sylvia Day
As an unattached Familiar, Victoria is something of an oddity and one the High Council wants to deal with by assigning her a new warlock. Enter Hunter Max Westin, who is sent to tame and collar the kitty. Once he has her on a leash, he decides to keep her. Now the trick is getting her to see it the same way.

The story was good in a Catwomanish sort of way. And there wasn’t a vampire to be found! But I could have so done without the BDSM stuff. Just running on overkill right now with it. But the grade dropped a good grade level or three because it doesn’t end. I hate a cliffhanger and make it one I wasn’t expecting and have no clue when and if the next part is coming, I get way cranky.
Grade D

Quick Silver by Viva Anna
A good messenger is contacted from an unknown to deliver a package to Las Vegas for an ungodly sum of money. Only to find out the ‘package’ was a person, and not just any person but a whore. Now they are on the run and hiding out from one of the most powerful people you can find, well if the year is 2080 and you are in the New States of America.

Typical futurist story or it is until you make the messenger a woman. The whore a man. The powerful person they are running from is the first lady. And… I could go on. The heroine was awesome and completely kicked ass without losing her femininity. She could have weakness without being weak and completely owned her sexuality. So why the low grade you ask? It is a cliffhanger!!! I upped the grade when I read the deal and saw there will be an Alluring Tales II and III. But I am still only ASSUMING that will continue the story. I mean it has to… right? It is one thing to leave the relationship up in the air but even erotica has to close the plot.
Grade C+

Tempting Grace by Sasha White
Grace Walters is just about living her dream life. Her home, job and place in her community mean the world to her because as a former bad girl, runaway, stripper she never thought she would be in the position she is now. Life is nice and stable or at least it would be if it wasn’t for Lucas Martin. An emotional crisis is just the thing to make her crack and take Lucas up on his repeated offers. Only now what does she do when the much younger preachers kid wants more than just one night?

It prolly says all sorts of really bad things about me but I rushed and read this story first. I love the tale of the kid who was going to make nothing of herself coming out on top and it seems I have a Thornbird Complex. Lucas was great. He normal and not made out to be holier than thou. My biggest issue was the story was too damn short.
Grade A

Overall this is a really good anthology with something for everyone, well except historical fans, so make that just about everyone. I think the book would have benefited from the stories being in a different order but who knows. Let me know if you pick it up or if you have read it. I would love to hear what you think.

Aluring Author: Sylvia Day
intro by Sasha White

Almost three years ago I got an email from someone who’d commented on my blog about one of my Black Lace short stories.

When I replied to to this person, I followed the link to her website, and discovered Sylvia Day. Sylvia was unpublished at the time, but after reading one of her manuscripts it was clear to me, she wouldn’t stay that way.

I was right. Sylvia Day has won awards, gotten rave reviews, and firmly entrenched herself into the hearts of romance readers everywhere.

Sybil commented in her introduction of me that she didn’t think any of my stories were historicals, (which is true) and to be honest, I rarely read historicals.

There are only two or three authors of that genre I will ever buy, and one of them is Sylvia Day. Her talent for storytelling shines through no matter what the sub-genre.

Sasha

I have to admit I adore Sasha White.

I almost always like her writing and some of her books I love but the author herself is one of the nicest people.

I started to do this intro about an hour and a half ago. But once I hit her site I got lost reading it.

She has written tons of books. And has quite a few coming out this year. Sasha has written for more publishers than I think I could list but the ones that quickly come to mind are Avon Red, Berkley, Samhain, Aphrodisia and Liquid Silver Books.

Something you won’t always find in writers or their writing is a large part of Sasha comes out through her writing.

I don’t mean they mirror her life but often I find they mirror her attitude. Sasha is very open. She is extremely sexually positive something I find matters to my feminist self. But most of all I would say there is a respect about her for other people that shines through her stories.

I think it is very likely I am not making myself very clear but if you have been here before you should be use to that and if you haven’t been, well you have more than a few books by Sasha to try out. Sasha says she write erotic and that they always have a happy ending and she writes romance and those do have a happy ever after. Sadly I don’t think there are any historicals.

I will be putting up some guest post penned Sasha White, some excerpts, a Q&A, a contest and she will be popping in some. I think. LOL if not she will be by later I am sure.

We have a week of Alluring guests and they sort of all know each other. Do feel free to comment on any authors post on any day. New posts should go up each day around 10am to noon. I hope you find a book to love, a new author to try or maybe even pull off a book off the TBR mountain. If nothing else we should have a good time.

well was anyway…

Devil’s Kiss by Brenda Williamson

U.S. Marshal Jack McCay tracks outlaws for a profession and sweet-talks women out of their clothes for pleasure.

When he begins to hunt a vicious killer, he meets one beautiful woman resistant to his charm.

Tessa Jane Creager searches for her family’s murderer. The wanted poster says dead or alive — prefer dead. While on the trail, she gains the unwanted help of a marshal-turned-bounty hunter intent on catching the killer and bedding her.

In pursuit of the renegade, Jack and Tessa Jane have to deal with the harshness of the Wild West and with their shared desires. However, can a handsome man with secrets and a beautiful woman with a violent past overcome their stubborn ways to share everlasting love? Or will an outlaw destroy them by revealing all their secrets?

“Project: Man” by Alexis Fleming

So is he, or isn’t he? Gay, that is!

Forced to take Federal Agent Nicholas Farley into her home while she translates a mysterious ancient Egyptian papyrus, Professor Emily Payne finds herself the centre of a federal government case, not to mention the unwitting target for a thief bent on stealing the papyrus.

If that isn’t bad enough, she finds herself seriously lusting after the agent, a man she believes is gay, a man who seems to react as strongly to her as she does to him.

There’s only one thing for a learned girl like Emily to do—start a new project, the aim to initiate Nicholas into the joys of loving a woman.

Could there possible be a future for the crazy professor and the sexy, macho federal agent?

Honestly they are both new and I have no clue if they are good or not. But Samhain is almost alway good. You can always buy it for me and I will read it for you and tell you if it is any good. Yeah I know… I am good people.

Or try: The Bounty by Beth Williamson (western), Learning Charity by Summer Devon (historical), 72 Hours by Shannon Stacey (romantic suspense), Hunter’s Pride by Shiloh Walker(paranormal), Colters’ Woman by Maya Banks (Red Hot!), Betting Hearts by Dee Tenorio (Romantic Comedy), and/or Joker’s Wild:Call Me by Lena Matthews (Contemporary).

I have read and would recommend any of those. hmmm well I haven’t read this version of Call Me by Lena Matthews. I do believe the author said it has been edited and expanded from its LSB vs. So read it and tell me if it is better *g*.

Or if you would rather go print… Gypsy Heart by Sash White or Screwing with Perfect by Louisa Trent are great to add to your library.

Publisher Note: The Experiment was previously released elsewhere as a free story. It has been revised and expanded…..

This is a note I have seen on more than a few ebooks lately.

The Bounty, a recent read, was just release by Samhain after being edited and added too. Beth Williamson’s books that follow The Bounty in her Mallory series will follow as well at Samhain. Gypsy Heart by Sasha White, although I don’t think GH was expanded just edited, has been made available again. Is this good?

In the case of The Bounty, I think it rocks because I needed it. But I am not sure why it went out of print… was it because of the want to edit, and LSB wouldn’t do it or because Samhain made a better offer? Or did LSB make it go out of print. Do Epub’s let books go out of print?

Should previously free story be sold later after the author has something of a following? Angela Knight is dusting off some older stories, she use to have a yahoo group she fed with free stories while she was trying to publish (and I believe during her early days of publishing) which was later moved and archived to another yahoo group. Now they will all be gone (sort of), I am not sure if they will all be published or not but it looks like many will.

Out of Print books are the devil, nothing is worse for readers. Really, what is worse than hearing of a GREAT read and then finding out you can’t get it. Or you will have to cut open a vein to get a copy off Ebay. So I am very very pro out of print books going epubished. And hope Moxie Press has good luck (2009 note: they are no more)with bring us some gems (may I suggest Glitter Baby? Oh come now SEP it would be fun! (2009 note:It has been reprinted by Avon AND ::head desk:: edited by SEP) Or those old Lisa Kleypas novels!).

Sasha White is very up front in her newsletter saying if you have a copy of GH, you don’t need to buy a new one. Which I think is awesome, nothing would piss me off more then to pay for a new copy expecting edits and ‘expanded’ story and getting a few more (or less commas).

I have to admit I have the original ecopy of The Switch by Diane Whiteside. The EC copy that was printed with a Marly Chance story. As well as Berkley copy, which was ‘expanded’. Honestly I am not sure I would do that again for a book, it was my OCD at work. That one book could have ended up costing me over $35.

With the cost of books as high as it is, do you buy ‘updated’ or reedited books? Or just stick with the copy you have? Or do you only buy them when you don’t have a copy already or have never read them before. Or are you like me, telling yourself you WON’T buy it, and then the curiosity kills you until you pick it up? Money is tight and there are soooooo many books out there to want, can we add reissues, reprints and re-edited books?

What do you think of ‘re-edited’ works that are still pretty new? Samhain has a book that was published not too long ago and they plan to reissue it with edits. Eloisa James is talking about a new chapter to The Taming the Duke. And said she was try to get them included in the future printing of the book. If not the chapters will go up on her site.

You have to cheer the authors for seeing something lacking in the book and wanting to add, fix or expand to make it better. At the same time I want to bop the editors on the head for not seeing the things that need fixing BEFORE the release.

The only case mentioned above I really see as a brainstorm in ‘how do we make more money from author x’ would be the case of ‘free stories’ going pro. Virgin Seeks Bad-Ass Boy By Ruth D. Kerce, there isn’t even a note that it was a free story, nor is there a disclaimer it has been edited or expanded. Honestly, I don’t think it was. So really, why the fuck sell it?

With Angela Knight, I think it has to do with the fact she is hot, hot, hot right now, and publishers would like to print more books from her. But an author can only write so fast. If they are dusted off, edited and expanded – in some cases with new stories added to anthologies, does that make them worth the cost of buying what is most likely going to be a trade size book?

That leads us to another issue… three books, two I have, Mercenaries by Angela Knight, Really Unusual Bad Boys and Dead and Loving It by MaryJanice Davidson (I don’t have the second one. So really MDJ, feel free to mail me a copy when you mail KarenS her book, along with Mysteria and whatever else you want to send to me. yes yes yes, I am just a nice girl like that. I gots them all) Are all anthologies that include previous ebooks and one new story. And I think they are all trade size novels, is $14 a good price for one new novella and a cover? Or is this just a nice nice for the fans?

And if you have read the books, do you feel there is a difference? Angela Knight seems to have a ‘cleaner’ writing style now vs when she was an unknown eauthor. Same can be said for MJD. Her Ebooks are much ‘hotter’ than the current work. Although I say that having three TBR.

So what do you guys who have read them all think? Can you mesh ‘ebooks’ with a ‘print’ book style? Are you willing, able or wanting to fork cash over for these? And authors, what is your motivation for changing epub housing, re-editing and reissuing books? What steps do you take to make sure your readers know they are out there and that they are ‘new’ again books vs new new. Publishers, why do you want them? And do you want a certain amount of time to pass before taking on a book that has been published before elsewhere? And why do you want old ‘free’ books to sell?