Friday 30 January 2015

L'Wren, Hawk and the Doves: Anchises - Dove, diplomat, negotiator...


Can a starship captain maintain the platonic 'mission protocol' with his first mate when they have to take on board two mysterious and beautiful alien empaths and deliver them safely to the peace talks on the gender-conflicted planet Ourania?

Will emotions boil over and physical needs conquer the reserve of duty?



So just who is Anchises, the mysterious alien empath from the planet Turacoena?

Here's a snippet from 'L'Wren, Hawk and the Doves', a March 2015 release form Breathless Press to tease you -


Diplomatic Negotiator Anchises stepped from the shower and reached for his dress uniform. He ran a hand through his hair, smoothing it back from his face, then over his jaw, feeling the smooth line and firm chin. Stiff and aching from the intensity of the past few days, he lifted his shoulders to stretch his back, then dropped them.

Cytheria's discarded blue uniform lay on the bed. He picked it up, folded it, and packed it into her mission bag. It was similar to the uniform he now slipped his legs into—a single piece of soft, lightweight, high-tech material with self-seal fasteners. It was utilitarian, functional, and comfortable, but Cytheria's was smooth and sleeker, as befit her slimmer and more femininely curved figure, than the garment he put on. The material slid over his smooth skin and firm muscles. It was easier once the uniform was on to be Anchises, the man, the diplomat, Dove, negotiator.

He pulled on the tall black boots—again functional and simple—and stood by the mirror. The reflection that stared back at him from the mirror had almond-shaped eyes that could be called either blue or gray set in a face that was square jawed and masculine but with a slightly feminine softness.

It had been a struggle to deal with the weight of the emotions in the briefing sessions. He'd struggled to hold his own responses in check, to stop himself teetering on the edge of the abyss of the emotions around him, the deep, endless ocean of feelings, and fear and love.

Being an empath was a two-way thing. He sensed and experienced all the emotions of the people around him. He also took on those emotions and reflected their innermost subconscious thoughts and ideas, hopes and fears, in himself. The discipline he'd had to learn, the self-control, had been hard earned and a long time in the learning.

But it was always there, the risk that it would get to be too much and that he, or Cytheria, would be swamped, engulfed.

Eyes closed, he focused on that inner self, his core, the very center of who he was, and breathed slowly and evenly.

Let it go; you are not my emotions, you are not me. I am Anchises, I am not you, your feelings are not mine. I am who I am.

He exhaled, long and slow, and his mind cleared and focused.

As he opened his eyes, he rolled his head to either side, lifted and dropped his shoulders, then stood straight and looked back at the man in the mirror.

Tall by Earth standards, and although plainly every inch a man, there was an androgynous quality to his shape—slimmer hips, longer waist, much less body hair. He fitted in, but he was otherworldly, different while being similar in so many ways.

He could never be one of them. Nor could Cytheria. It was too difficult, too dangerous. The emotional risks of getting close were something he'd had to deal with. It wasn't easy to keep his own responding emotions under the tight control this mission demanded.

Deep breath. Focus. I am Anchises.

Satisfied that he looked like a diplomatic negotiator should, he stood for a moment and stared out of the porthole at the panorama of stars, nebulae, and distant galaxies.

Out there—just about forty degrees of azimuth past the binary star he could just make out to the lower right of the glittering vista—spun the planet he called home.

Except it wasn't anymore.

It could never be.

Not for him, or Cytheria.

No way home now.


Come back soon for more revelations from "L'Wren, Hawk and the Doves" - and keep an eye open on Facebook, twitter and Google+ for more on #LHaD 

Wednesday 28 January 2015

Keir by Pippa Jay - the cover reveal!


Blurb:

A demon waiting to die...

An outcast reviled for his discolored skin and rumors of black magic, Keirlan de Corizi sees no hope for redemption. Imprisoned beneath the palace that was once his home, the legendary 'Blue Demon of Adalucian' waits for death to finally free him of his curse. But salvation comes in an unexpected guise.

A woman determined to save him.

Able to cross space and time with a wave of her hand, Tarquin Secker has spent eternity on a hopeless quest. Drawn by a compulsion she can't explain, she risks her apparent immortality to save Keir, and offers him sanctuary on her home-world, Lyagnius. But Quin has secrets of her own.

When Keir mistakenly unleashes the dormant alien powers within him and earns exile from Lyagnius, Quin chooses to stand by him. Can he master his newfound abilities in time to save Quin from the darkness that seeks to possess her?

Keir is Book One of the Redemption series and part of the Travellers Universe. Previously released by Lyrical Press Inc. 7th May 2012 and a SFR Galaxy Award for SciFi Romance for Best May-December Romance (2012), Aspen Gold Readers Choice Award 3rd place finalist (2013), Readers' Favorite International Book Award finalist(2012), The Kindle Book Reviewís Best Indie Book Awards Nominee for Best SciFi/Fantasy (2013)

Please add it to your Goodreads shelf HERE, or sign up HERE for my no-spam newsletter for special previews on cover reveals, new releases, the latest giveaways and discounts, and upcoming news.


Bio:

After spending twelve years working as an Analytical Chemist in a Metals and Minerals laboratory, Pippa Jay is now a stay-at-home mum who writes scifi and the supernatural. Somewhere along the way a touch of romance crept into her work and refused to leave. In between torturing her plethora of characters, she spends the odd free moment playing guitar very badly, punishing herself with freestyle street dance, and studying the Dark Side of the Force. Although happily settled in the historical town of Colchester in the UK with her husband of 21 years and three little monsters, she continues to roam the rest of the Universe in her head.

Pippa Jay is a dedicated member of the Science Fiction Romance Brigade, blogging at Spacefreighters Lounge, Adventures in Scifi, and Romancing the Genres. Her works include YA and adult stories crossing a multitude of subgenres from scifi to the paranormal, often with romance, and sheís one of eight authors included in a science fiction romance anthologyóTales from the SFR Brigade. Sheís also a double SFR Galaxy Award winner, been a finalist in the Heart of Denver RWA Aspen Gold Contest (3rd place), the EPIC eBook awards, and the GCC RWA Silken Sands Star Awards (2nd place).

You can stalk her at her website, or at her blog, but without doubt her favorite place to hang around and chat is on Twitter as @pippajaygreen.




Friday 23 January 2015

L'Wren, Hawk and the Doves: when Hawk met the Dove


Can a starship captain maintain the platonic 'mission protocol' with his first mate when they have to take on board two mysterious and beautiful alien empaths and deliver them safely to the peace talks on the gender-conflicted planet Ourania?
Will emotions boil over and physical needs conquer the reserve of duty?
A snippet from 'L'Wren, Hawk and the Doves', a March 2015 release form Breathless Press to tease you -



When Hawk met the Dove:

Hawk straightened his dress uniform tunic and ran his fingers through his hair. He hated this side of being a captain, the formality and enforced diplomacy, but this was an important meeting and he was the face of the Federation for it. He was also just a little unsure of how he might react to the Turacoenans. There were stories of their exceptional beauty, both male and female. His feelings for L'Wren were rock solid, but strangely, what worried him more was the empathy aspect of meeting a Turacoenan. And not just one, but two. Grown men had found themselves simply overwhelmed with the feelings the mysterious alien empaths brought out in them, feelings that they'd not realized they had, or worse, that they knew they had but believed under control. There was also a strange two-way aspect of the Turacoenan's empathy, a sort of feedback. He was wary of their ability to feel what he was feeling and to somehow feel it with him and enhance it.

That was not what he needed when he and L'Wren where on a mission. He had enough trouble keeping his hands off her, let alone his mind. Having those feelings under control was an absolute necessity, a nonoptional given, until they were back from this mission.

He tugged down again on his dress uniform tunic, straightening it, then cricked his neck left and right. He'd been through some things in his time in the fleet. Things that had happened to him and yes, things he'd done, questionable things, expedient things, things that had left an emotional mark. He'd put them aside, moved on. In the mind of a starship captain, there was no room for doubt or uncertainty. His crew depended on him. The safety of the ship was in his hands. There was no room for soul searching when a life or death decision depended on the right answer at the right time. He needed to be on top of anything that might happen—before it happened.

The proximity docking alarm flashed from green to red. The shuttle was alongside, and the automatic docking systems engaged.

"Shuttle dock preliminary checks completed, and air lock seal confirmed. Halo Seven Five requesting permission to dock," announced the computer.

"Hawkings acknowledged. Docking permission granted," he said.

The air lock pressure indicator pulsed from red through to amber, then settled to a steady green. Hawk hit the door control. There was a hiss as the air pressure balanced out between ship and shuttle, and then the heavy interlocked doors slid open.

A tall, slim, but well-muscled man with long, raven hair and wearing a tight-fitting, one-piece, functional silver-gray uniform stepped forward. His face was a dangerously attractive mix of a firm, masculine jawline and high cheekbones. His mouth had soft, full, almost feminine lips, and his perfect almond-shaped blue-gray eyes seemed to look into and through Hawk rather than at him. Hawk experienced a swirl of emotions as he took in the full picture of the Turacoenan—his feelings for L'Wren, his fear for her safety on a dangerous mission, his care and responsibility for the crew.

He found this man, this tall and yes, beautiful man, attractive in both an emotional and a very physical way. This man would understand him, would know how—and maybe even why—he felt those emotions. He would know, he would care. Hawk's gaze lingered on that mouth, and for a second, he wondered about kissing it.

It was a feeling he'd not experienced since...

That was a long time ago.


Come back soon for more revelations from "L'Wren, Hawk and the Doves" - and keep an eye open on Facebook, twitter and Google+ for more on #LHaD

Sunday 18 January 2015

Angelica Dawson - on the subject of a Gentleman...

Harrold lives an empty life. He has no joy in his marriage, no love of his work. His only reprieve is found at the hands of the whores, the ones he pays to beat and debase him. Upon being accepted into Blue Moon House, he learns the real cost for his desires, and what underlying need is really aching to be filled.
In the third installment of her Blue Moon House series, Angelica continues to push her characters outside their comfort zones and gets right to the heart of their needs. You can find Gentleman at Naughty Nights Press, AllRomanceEbooks and Amazon. For the month of January, you can also pick up the original Blue Moon House for only $0.99.

Angelica Dawson is the author of Blue Moon House, which has been in the top ten best-selling titles at Naughty Nights Press for over six months. She has also written two short stories, “The Highest Bidder” and “Leave Taking” which were each included in anthologies.
She contributes flash fiction to several blogging collectives and excerpts from work in progress can also be found on her blog. She is active on Facebook and Twitter.
She has been writing for several years and having sex a lot longer than that. Angelica is a wife, mother and environmental consultant. Her love of plants and the outdoors is not diminished by the bloodsucking hoards – mosquitoes and black flies, not vampires.

Here is an excerpt from Gentleman. Let Angelica know what you think by leaving a comment and entering a draw for a free copy.

Crack!
Harrold sucked breath through his teeth. The belt was his own, removed from the trousers he still wore. His shirt formed a white pool in the corner and his black jacket hung from the bedpost.
Crack. Creak.
The wood of the bedpost groaned as Harrold pulled on the hemp rope securing his hands on the other side. However, he fought the pain and the desire to scream.
Crack!
The burning intensified and a scream erupted, echoing off the walls. He heard the door open and looked over his shoulder, panting as the pain leaked away.
“Still alive in here?” the mistress of the house asked. She clicked her tongue. “You broke the skin, Miranda. I'm sorry, sir. I'll bring bandages.”
The girl dropped the belt in a clatter, running to untie his hands. Her normally dusky complexion was white with red lines tracking her cheeks.
Harrold seized her hands as soon as his were free. “I asked. You did nothing wrong. Thank you.”
“I-I can't do this, Harry. I'm not- I'm weak.”
He smiled, brown eyes dancing in relief and joy. “Your arm felt strong a minute ago.”
She squeaked and more tears fell.
“Go collect yourself, Miranda,” Delores, the Madam, ordered. Cool wet cloths were spread on his back. “Mister Long, that is the third girl you've made a blubbering mess.”
“If I must, I'll find another house.” There were several brothels that would be glad of his business.

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Friday 16 January 2015

L'Wren, Hawk and the Doves: meet L'Wren James

Can a starship captain maintain the platonic 'mission protocol' with his first mate when they have to take on board two mysterious and beautiful alien empaths and deliver them safely to the peace talks on the gender-conflicted planet Ourania?

Will emotions boil over and physical needs conquer the reserve of duty?

So just who is Mr L'Wren James, first mate of the starship Sulaco?



Here's a snippet from 'L'Wren, Hawk and the Doves', a 27th March 2015 release form Breathless Press to tease you -


L'Wren James, ship's mate first class and the best subspace pilot to graduate from the Academy in twenty years, laughed and punched the captain—her Hawk—in the arm with one hand and stroked the other down his back. His skin was warm to her touch. It was smooth, with the outline of firm muscles gently defined in the soft shadows, and she wanted to touch it a lot more before their agreed "mission protocol" kicked in. Once that happened, their relationship would be totally professional and platonic—and would stay that way until the mission was over. She'd known this night had been their last chance for—well, who knew how long?—to be together in the way they wanted. And she wanted to make the most of every waking moment. Already she could feel the warmth of her arousal stirring as she caressed the edges of his broad shoulders. The heat in the soft green downy feathers that her race had evolved in place of body hair was already making its presence known between her legs. He'd definitely have a mutiny on his hands if he didn't find a way to subdue her stirrings down below.

And from Captain Saker Hawking's point of view as his first mate takes a shower in the privacy of his cabin -

Hawk lifted himself up onto his elbows and watched as she stood under the hazy stream of ultrasound waves. They flowed over the silky emerald sheen of her skin and the darker green downy feathers on her head and pussy. She was slim and curved in all the right places. Possibly slightly shorter and with a more birdlike femininity than an Earth woman and with longer, slimmer limbs, she was sexy as hell. It wasn't going to be easy keeping his hands off his first mate during the mission.

She stepped out, naked and dry, and grabbed her one-piece uniform from where she'd dropped it last night. He watched as her legs slid into the close-fitting catsuit. If anything, it emphasized her shape rather than concealed it. She pulled the sleeves on and ran her fingers up the self-fastening front, which clipped shut seamlessly. She stood to attention and saluted.

"First Mate James, comms specialist and pilot grade one, reporting for duty, sir."

Come back soon for more revelations from "L'Wren, Hawk and the Doves" - and keep an eye open on Facebook, twitter and Google+ for more on #LHaD

 

Sunday 11 January 2015

L'Wren, Hawk and the Doves - the cover reveal

My debut novel for Breathless Press is released on the 27th March and it might be fair to say I'm a little excited.


Captain Saker Hawkings and First Mate L'Wren James agree to keep the mission and passion separate, but with two beautiful alien empaths on board, it's not only planetary peace negotiations that are in danger of breaking down.

So, may I present to you the cover, the work of the excellent Kelly Martin, of L'Wren, Hawk and the Doves -



L'Wren James, green skinned alien, and Saker Hawkings know that there's no room on a starship for a captain and first mate to indulge their passion while on a dangerous peace mission.

The fragility of the cease-fire in the gender war on the divided planet Ourania threatens the stability of sub-space shipping lanes and the starship Sulaco's mission is to get the negotiating team there and deliver them safely back.

But when they take on board Anchises and Cytheria, two mysterious empath negotiators from the secretive world of Turaceona, they find their commitment to duty and to each other a struggle to maintain in the sexually heightened and emotionally charged atmosphere.

But Anchises' and Cytheria's struggle to keep their secret and the loss they cannot speak of hidden leaves Anchises dangerously injured and Cytheria missing in action. The ship's doctor can only save Anchises if he reveals the truth about the man he is and the woman who is Cytheria.

And can Hawk and L'Wren face up to the challenges of duty, passion and sexuality and still save not only their relationship but the peace process itself?





Come back soon for more revelations from "L'Wren, Hawk and the Doves" - and keep an eye open on Facebook, twitter and Google+ for more on #LHaD