Samhain Publishing Ltd. Weblog

HEAT WAVE CONTEST all week at Erotic Muses blog

To celebrate the release of our Midsummer Night’s Steam stories in print, the authors are holding a week long contest at our group blog.

Erotic Muses blog members with stories in HEAT WAVE include Dee S. Knight, Veronica Wilde and Bonnie Dee. Jamie Craig will also be joining us. Please stop by on Monday, May 26 at EROTIC MUSES blog to learn the details of the contest and to enter: http://eroticmuses.blogspot.com/

My story “Blackberry Pie” is a wonderful slice of country lovin’, very sexy and hot.

“On a blistering summer afternoon, Reverend Nathan Andrews climbs a mountain to meet backwoods members of his congregation. Fresh from seminary, the young man isn’t prepared for the onslaught of lust that hits him when he encounters a sensuous girl picking blackberries.

Determined to implement his outreach plan, he helps her harvest the fruit. But their potent sexual chemistry is too intense to deny and they engage in passionate sex surrounded by the beauty of nature.

Grace is earthy and primal, the opposite of the proper young lady he expects to take as a wife some day. Can there possibly be a future for a college-educated minister and a primitive mountain girl?”

Why the Regency?

With all the time periods throughout history to choose from, why is the Regency apparently the most popular period for romance books? I want your opinions.

How about Victorians? Medieval times? The Rennaisance? Vikings? Westerns? There are followings for each of these, but overall it feels like the Regency wins out and I’m curious about what draws readers to it. Is it because of writers like Jane Austen and, much later, Georgette Heyer who laid out the template for what a Regency story should contain? Is it because many of us grew up reading that formula and so are very comfortable with it? We know the language of “rakes” and “the ton” and eloping to Gretna Green.

Maybe it’s the pretty, flowing clothing that’s the draw. The simple, clean lines of an Empire waist dress are certainly more romantic than a huge hoop skirt.

The Countess Takes a Lover Available Today

Countess Meredith du Chevalier, a widow with a reputation for being sexually adventurous, is intrigued when she is approached by a gentleman who wishes her to “make a man” of his son. Sensing a passionate man beneath Christopher Whitby’s reserved exterior, Meredith takes on the challenge, inviting the botanist to her country home to revitalize her abandoned greenhouse.

Chris finds people to be a chaotic, animalistic species, and has chosen to devote his life to the study of plants. One kiss from the vivacious countess, however, and his inner animal is aroused. But lust is only a fraction of what he feels for the vulnerable woman hiding behind a brittle façade. He resolves to coax her to grow until her petals unfurl in a glorious bloom.

To her surprise, Meredith finds Chris brings much more to life than just fallow soil. But just as their love begins to thrive, he learns about the secret arrangement. Meredith must risk her heart for the most dangerous lesson of all—love.

All About Romance—Desert Isle Keeper, Reviewer Abi Bishop:
“Meredith and Chris’s relationship, based as it is on lust and sexual awakening, demanded a focus on the physical that would have become repetitive if not for the unique quality to each of their meetings, and Dee’s almost poetic attention to detail. In addition, the scenes weren’t there so we readers could get our jollies. Character and relationship development was happening there. I’m serious.”

Karen Scott’s blog, ReviewerAzteclady: “A welcome change from the usual run of romantic stories is that the hero is both the socially awkward and the inexperienced one in the relationship. It’s true that this doesn’t last very long, for one of the things that attracts Meredith to Christopher is the fact that behind his bookishness hides a strong and passionate personality. During their first lovemaking, Christopher’s reactions are lovely rendered. He is insecure and scared, surprised, amazed, moved, grateful. I could very well see him there.

Read on for an excerpt…

Evolving Man Now in PRINT!

Two Lips Reviews, Reviewer Kerin – 5 lips
From beginning to end, Bonnie Dee provides non-stop action and sexy, erotic interludes for her readers. I strongly recommend reading Evolving Man because it’s unique, sexy, well-written and highly entertaining.

National Bestselling Author Jaci Burton
A smart, fun story with timeless romance and ageless sizzle.

Summer Devon:
A boisterous, cheerful romp. Whether you’re in the mood for a heart-warming story of redemption or a fun, escapist beach-read, Bonnie Dee always delivers a fantastic romance.

Come see what all the fun is about…

Happy Ground Hog Day!

Here’s a little primer on the day with answers to all the questions you always wanted to know about this bizarre custom. And let me ATTRIBUTE the below statements to the historical fact page at the Official Punxsutawny Groundhog Club http://www.groundhog.org/ :

The celebration of Groundhog Day began with Pennsylvania’s earliest settlers. They brought with them the legend of Candlemas Day, which states, “For as the sun shines on Candlemas Day, so far will the snow swirl in May…”

Punxsutawney held its first Groundhog Day in the 1800s. The first official trek to Gobbler’s Knob was made on February 2, 1887.

So the story goes, Punxsutawney Phil was named after King Phillip. Prior to being called Phil, he was called Br’er Groundhog.

Chocolate Lovers Take Note!

The Valentine Effect, a Strangers in the Night story, is available now. To celebrate its release, I’m giving away a heart-shaped box of chocolates from the South Bend Chocolate Company (regular or sugar-free, your choice) to the winner of a drawing.

Happy Samhain

It’s the first of November and what else could I possibly write about besides the name of the best publisher of romance books on the net—Samhain? Many of you may know the genesis of the title, but for those who don’t, it means “November” in Gaelic. The Festival of Samhain is a celebration of the end of the harvest season in Gaelic culture and is regarded as the Celtic New Year.

Okay, so sue me I took a lot of the following info from Wikipedia, but it’s fascinating and says it all:

Perfecting Amanda—the Crappiest Day

One woman, two men—the choice of a lifetime and the chance for a perfect future. When Amanda McCormick heads west as to create a home of her own and begin a “perfect” marriage with a man she’s never met, gambler Spencer Teague intercepts her. Pretending to be her fiancé, he tricks her into surrendering her virginity.

Amanda hides the misguided affair and forges a relationship with her young husband, Travis. But her secret haunts her when she learns she’s pregnant. Meanwhile, Spencer is haunted by visions of a little girl who demands he find and help Amanda.

Their lives entwine as the three come together in an unexpected relationship that touches—and tortures—them all. Amanda questions whether perfection is attainable and if it’s possible to love two very different kinds of men.

Finding Home at last!

So happy to see “Finding Home” available in print at last.

My writing partner, Lauren Baker and I labored over this together for a long time. The male hustler theme is a little dark and edgy for some, but trust me, this book is not just sexy—it touches the heart.

Opposites Attract Released today!

An uptight concert cellist. A freewheeling rock guitarist. Does love stand a chance?

Kelly, cellist with the symphony orchestra, has always been too busy working to enjoy life. When Ren, lead guitarist for an up-and-coming band moves into her building he rocks her world. She’s never had sex so sizzling. Ren continues to assault her barriers even as she tries to push him away. Then he goes on tour, which she thinks proves she was right not to get involved. Only problem is his band’s hit song haunts her everywhere she turns and she can’t drive the man out of her head.

A tragic accident makes her rethink her fear of commitment, but is it too late to offer him the love she withheld? Kelly takes a drastic step to prove to Ren she’s willing to change. She can be just as hip as any rock groupie. Overcoming obstacles of her own making, uptight Kelly releases her inhibitions and lets love take control.