An Anniversary FREEBIE & More SHINY THINGS!

Six months ago, a friend convinced me to self-publish a hot short story I had written for her on a dare. I’ve been writing in one form or another for years, but never anything serious and never for an audience. Even though I think I sold ten copies that first month, the satisfaction of knowing people were reading and enjoying my little story encouraged me to write a few more. Fast forward six months and I’ve got eleven shorts, collections, and even a novel, and a whole slate of projects coming up this year, not to mention a wonderful, supportive community of writers with quick wits, dirty minds, and huge hearts. And I couldn’t be more thrilled.

To celebrate, HOT FOR JOE, my very first little self-publishing adventure, is FREE Friday and Saturday! I hope you enjoy it and stick with me for another six months and beyond!  I’ve got some sexy fun planned for y’all…:)

Hot for Joe 2

Waitress Sarah Riley has never broken a law in her life. When a financial jam has her considering the theft of a gold watch, she’s horrified to realize how low she’s sunk. However, there’s one thing Sarah wants more than money…her hot boss Joe. He’s not about to let her embark on a life of crime, and one night after closing, he decides to use every deliciously wicked form of persuasion he can think of to change her mind.

And yes, it’s Friday, so…

Chapter 3 of SHINY THINGS is up! Ali’s about to get a dangerous offer she can’t refuse, and Leo’s definitely not thrilled.

Check it out! And don’t forget to comment and let me know what you think of the story so far!

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Coming up on Friday…

Today is all about the pages, but tomorrow I’ve got a brand new chapter of SHINY THINGS for you – Ali and Leo are going to have to deal with Nico’s nefarious plan while the heat between them kicks up even further!

Also, a freebie!  It will be my six-month anniversary, so I feel that deserves a little celebration…:)

Stay tuned!

Period Monsters, Matchmakers, and a Complete Lack of Focus

It’s Monday!  I was going to post a new excerpt from SAFE FROM THE FIRE, but decided that could wait a few days, since I’m feeling a little pulled in all directions this morning.

As a writer, one of my biggest problems has always been focus – just as I get enmeshed in one plot, fifteen others pop out of my brain and say, hey, over here!  Forcing myself to just work on the thing in front of me has always been the greatest challenge to my creative life.  At the same time, it’s comforting to know that once I finish one thing, there are plenty others waiting to step up!

As I was working on Matt & Grace this weekend, I had two other ideas that were interesting enough to be distracting, for a couple of reasons.  First of all, they were both period, which is odd for me – much as I LOVE reading historicals, writing them is another kettle of fish.  Secondly, they both burst out fully formed in a “here’s an idea and here are the first two books, go write!” kind of way.  Usually I just have snippets to go on and spend weeks anguishing as I pull the pieces together.  Since I’m pushing toward 500,000 words this year, what’s a couple more stories to add to the mix?

No titles yet, but take a look!

Regency – A recent widow from a less-than-satisfying marriage finds herself ostracized from high society when she decides to pursue a trade instead of marrying again.  Eager to experience everything she missed while trapped by her domineering husband, she decides to take a lover, only to discover that finding the right candidate is not as easy as it seems!  A chance referral to a clandestine matchmaking service offers hope – a guaranteed connection with an interested gentleman whose sexual and emotional needs parallel her own, no strings attached.  Our heroine’s perfect match is the last person she would have chosen, but turns out to be the best thing that ever happened to her.  Too bad they both said no strings, because things start to get quite tangled…

Victorian – Desperate for a job, the prim daughter of a disgraced scientist takes a job as a governess for the daughter of a rich recluse.  She’s not the greatest governess, but as it turns out, the child is not all that normal either.  Our heroine quickly becomes obsessed with her new employer, only to discover that he’s barely human himself – the leader of a magical clan recently returned to London, trying to make a place for himself and his unpredictable and occasionally dangerous family.  Sparks fly as our heroine tries to help her employer fit in, even as the family’s loose cannon threatens the lives and welfare of the entire city.

What do you think?  Some classic Regency romping with a few little twists, and a crazy Victorian monster-out-of water story.  Add a couple of strong women and a bunch of fun secondary characters that will eventually get their own books, along with some thrilling adventure, high stakes conflict, and plenty of shiverlicious hot sex that just screams off the page…hope you’ll have as much fun reading it as I know I’m going to have writing it!

On that note, I REALLY have to get back to Matt and Grace so that SAFE FROM THE FIRE actually has chapters behind that yummy cover. 🙂

Shiny Things – Chapter 2 is UP!!!

More Ali and Leo!  Plus, meet the man who’s going to make life difficult for them, the heartless and frightening Nico Wallen!

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Ali Keats never thought she’d grow up to be a cat-burglar-for-hire for a ruthless and slightly crazy billionaire mobster.  However, life doesn’t always turn out the way you plan it, and suddenly Ali finds herself risking everything for the jewel-obsessed kingpin.  She’d get out if she didn’t have so much at stake, and if she weren’t falling, hard, for her villainous boss’ brooding, complicated right hand man.

Leo Santello has been gathering information on his boss for years, waiting for the right moment to bring his empire toppling to the ground.  However, beautiful Ali Keats is going to ruin everything, if she doesn’t get herself killed first.  Leo can’t resist the sparks that fly between himself and the fearless cat burglar, but can they build a life together?  Or is there no escape from the world of crime and violence they’ve become accustomed to?

A sexy, dangerous romp with plenty of pretty, shiny things to distract our heroine and her reluctant suitor!  Watch the sparks fly!

Spicy Excerpt – SAFE FROM THE FIRE

Grace is looking for a man who’s not afraid to fulfill her darkest fantasies. Matt is fighting a past that has left him terrified of turning into a monster like his father.  Here’s a spicy little excerpt of what happens the first time Grace maneuvers him onto a couch…LOL…

(unedited)

He was going to be gentle with her if it killed him, but the way Grace was rocking against him made Matt’s eyes cross with the need to grip her hips and drive deep inside her welcoming heat, thrusting until he’d claimed her with every inch of his body, until she surrendered to his superior physical strength and unrelenting lust.

Madness.

Matt carefully placed his hands on her thighs, lightly stroking her satin skin and sliding up to gently explore the lace-covered curves of Grace’s ass instead of holding her captive to move her the way he wanted to against his throbbing dick.  With monumental self-control, he kept his mouth gentle against hers, tasting and savoring with slow, hot licks, though every muscle in his body strained with the effort to hold back and not crush her to him and demand everything she had to give.  Grace tasted incredible, as he’d always known she would.

She was rocking harder against him now, widening her thighs to press her sweet pussy more firmly against the heavy bulge in the denim, burning him alive through the layers of cloth.  The little sound she made in the back of her throat was nearly his undoing, a hot little moan of disapproval at his light touch, an insistent plea for more.

“Easy, sweetheart,” Matt tried not to beg.

Grace traced a pattern with sharp little fingernails across his chest through his tee-shirt, and a shudder rippled through him, which she seemed to enjoy.  He cringed at the sound of ripping lace, and as she gasped, he pulled his mouth away from hers to stare at the frilly black scrap tangled around his fingers, erotic evidence that some of his control had slipped and her soft flesh was now naked against him.  As if he needed the reminder. 

Rather than voicing outrage, Grace cooed softly and wriggled until he had no choice but to cup the glorious bare cheeks in his big hands, cupping and kneading, rougher than he intended to be.  Matt caught a flash of her grin as her lips lowered to taste his throat, and the sensation had his eyes rolling back.

“We have to stop,” he managed, shaky.

Matt was fast losing control of the situation, that much was clear, because he knew that if he slid his fingers down that enticing crevice to dip into the hot, wet folds beneath, he was going to forget all of his good intentions and fuck her like a beast.

“Grace – ”

“Mmm-hmmm…”

Her intentions were clear as well, her fingers yanking up his shirt to explore his chest and torso, the touch of her fingers both a blessing and a curse.  Her movements were jerkier, her breath coming faster, and her eyes gleamed as she lowered her head.  Matt’s mind went blank at the feeling of her lips, her tongue, and those sharp little teeth scraping his nipple.  The shard of pleasure/pain that ripped through him as Grace bit delicately into his flesh pulled a rough groan from deep inside, and for one insane moment he tunneled the fingers of one hand through her hair to hold her mouth to him, his cock cradled against her, millimeters from Paradise. 

Perfect.

A whisper of leather and the feel of his belt loosening broke the spell, setting off alarm bells. 

How the fuck did I let this happen?

Cover Reveal! Safe From the Fire

BRIGHT’S FERRY, BOOK 2 – SAFE FROM THE FIRE – COMING FEBRUARY 8th, 2013

I was going to wait to share the cover, but I’m a little in love with it and had to show off…LOL…

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Mondays and Man Candy

Good Morning readers!

Well, the first week of January was a wash – take a look at my little word count meter in the corner there.  SO ashamed.  Thank goodness every Monday morning is a clean slate.  I’ve finally worked out the little plot problem I was having with SAFE FROM THE FIRE, and (fingers crossed) it should be smooth sailing from here.  I may have a cover reveal for you by the end of the week…hint, hint…

In other news, I’m so thrilled at how many of you dropped by to read the first chapter of SHINY THINGS!  Chapter 2 will be up on Friday, and you’ll get to meet Nico, who is two parts scary, one part crazy.  I love writing villains. On that note, here’s the cover I came up with for SHINY THINGS, because every story and every Monday deserves some man candy.

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SHINY THINGS – Chapter 1

I’m so excited to bring you the first chapter of SHINY THINGS!

Ali and Leo are going to get themselves into a world of trouble before they figure things out – SUCH fun.

https://lilycrede.wordpress.com/shiny-things/

Please comment and let me know what you think!

SHINY THINGS

Ali Keats never thought she’d grow up to be a cat-burglar-for-hire for a ruthless and slightly crazy billionaire mobster.  However, life doesn’t always turn out the way you plan it, and suddenly Ali finds herself risking everything for the jewel-obsessed kingpin.  She’d get out if she didn’t have so much at stake, and if she weren’t falling, hard, for her villainous boss’ brooding, complicated right hand man.

Leo Santello has been gathering information on his boss for years, waiting for the right moment to bring his empire toppling to the ground.  However, beautiful Ali Keats is going to ruin everything, if she doesn’t get herself killed first.  Leo can’t resist the sparks that fly between himself and the fearless cat burglar, but can they build a life together?  Or is there no escape from the world of crime and violence they’ve become accustomed to?

A sexy, dangerous romp with plenty of pretty, shiny things to distract our heroine and her reluctant suitor!  Watch the sparks fly!

Lucky 13

Happy 2013!!!

Are you bright-eyed and bushy-tailed or hungover and droopy?

The new year is upon us, and I’m so excited to get started!  See that little purple bar in the right-hand corner?  Over the year it’s going to fill up as I get through 500,000 words and put a little more adventure and romance out into the world – and a handful of delicious, stubborn, sexy-as-hell heroes who are just dying to get to know you…intimately.

As we march into January:

– Chapters 1-4 of SHINY THINGS, once a week, most likely every Friday morning

– Cover reveal for SAFE FROM THE FIRE (get ready to turn the AC on, my lovelies…HOT) mid-month.

– Excerpts from SAFE FROM THE FIRE to keep life interesting.

– Possibly a freebie if I can figure out where to fit it in.

2013 is already feeling lucky – fortunate to be here, grateful for all the wonderful people in my life, and eager to see what the year has in store.  Hope yours is a good one, and stay tuned!

Ambitious Plot Bunnies

I have a bad habit of biting off more than I can chew.  Or a good habit, depending on how you look at it.  

Why plan one book when you can plan three?  Why write a stand-alone when you can plot out a series?  Plus, I think that aiming high is good – even if I only accomplish a portion of what I set out to do, it would probably be more than if I set my goals low and just got everything done.

Yes, I’m out of my mind, as I’ve repeatedly been told. 🙂

Anyway, 2013 is going to be interesting.  I have a ton of new titles for you all – more Bright’s Ferry, the start of a crazy paranormal series, and a few other surprises along the way.  No new titles for sale in January, but I really hope you’ll stop by to read free chapters of SHINY THINGS, which now has its very own page link – cat burglars and mobsters, heists and adventure and plenty of hot romantic suspense.  What’s not to love?

I’ve spent the last two weeks on a sort of writing hiatus – brainstorming allowed, but page-churning-out was strictly forbidden for sanity reasons.  Two more days to prepare, get my outlines together, and let the plot bunnies spin their little bunny webs, and then it’s back to work.

I can’t wait!