Showing posts with label Guest Post. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Guest Post. Show all posts

March 18, 2016

Excerpt, Guest Post & Giveaway! Nature of the Beast, Tangled Bonds #1 by Aimee Brissay


After sorceress Alexandra tries to kill her insane father, her fae uncle expels her from the Otherworld in an attempt to keep her safe. Living among humans, she keeps her connection with the supernatural by working for vampires and werewolves.


When she stumbles upon a hurt werewolf pup her efforts to heal him inadvertently break the bonds tying the young lycan to the pack, making her his new alpha.

This is the least of Alexandra’s worries though, for back in the Otherworld her father has not forgotten her. He dispatches an assassin to kill her. But just who is this mysterious foe, and what will their arrival mean not only to Alexandra but to the delicate balance of the world?

Nature of the Beast is the first book in the Tangled Bonds series.


Don’t miss the March Sale! All Wayward Ink Titles titles are 35% off on the WIP website and 30% off on AllRomance, and 30% off on Amazon.






“WHY DO WE have a werewolf sleeping on the couch?” Sean dropped the takeout bag he was carrying on the kitchen table and frowned at us.


“You knew about them?”

“Of course.” Sean turned and stared at Chris. “You didn’t?”

“No.”

“You believe that fae are real, but werewolves are not?”

Before Chris had a chance to retaliate, I intervened, trying to switch the topic to something a bit friendlier. “Where have you been?”

“At Erica’s.”

Chris’ face turned red and he muttered something beneath his breath. So much for a safe topic.

My stomach growled at the enticing aroma of spices and soy sauce rising from the bag on the table. I reached for it and started pulling out containers.

“What did you get?” I asked; not that it would matter much, not with my hunger.

“Chinese.”

My eyes flew to the door to the lounge, where Nicolae was bracing himself against the frame. He stared at the food, and clutched the blanket with which I’d covered him. He dry swallowed, eyes glued to containers, but he did not come in, nor did he ask for something to eat.

I took one of the little boxes, opened it, and inhaled.

The kid swallowed again, but still didn’t say anything. I had to admire his restrain.

Tilting the container, I offered it to him. “Care for some?”

Nicolae shrugged, trying for casual, but the furious rumble coming from his belly denied his action. “I could eat.”

“I’m sure. Come in, take a seat.”

He pulled up a chair, his movements unsteady. He paused, his hand hovering over the container.

“Go ahead, take your pick.”

“Thank you.”


About working on a schedule

Or how not to meet any single deadline, ever! 

Everybody says you should set a goal and stick with it. Write, write, write all the time. Hell, next thing I’ll hear will be to write in my sleep as well, and to be honest, I would if I could. But sadly, this doesn’t work for everyone. 

What happens when you cannot meet the deadlines or the goals you set for yourself? What happens when you cannot comply with the given rules? I used to get depressed every time this happened to me, and believe me, it happened quite often. I work nine hours a day and spend at least two commuting to and fro. I have three cats, a house and a garden to tend to and clean, and a love life to balance, so writing every day is not always feasible. I used to get depressed every time I was reading about other authors writing thousands and thousands of words each day, or simply putting words on paper, when I could barely get a few hundred a day and that only a couple of times per week. I used to think I was lazy, and that there was something wrong with me. That I wasn’t competitive enough, that I didn’t want it bad enough. But guess what? I do want it and I am damn competitive. 

So I worked myself into the ground, writing for three, four more hours after the end of my regular work day, trying to prove that, yes, I can. World, look at me, I’m the real deal! The quality of my work didn’t improve much and not only that, but I was writing less and less as my physical and mental health deteriorated, because that wasn’t a rhythm I could handle. I was missing deadlines, goals I’d set up for myself in my madness, and I was beating myself up about it. It was a vicious circle. I was too tired to write so I pushed myself into becoming even more tired.

Now, I found a pace I am comfortable with and try to make the most of it. So what if my output is about two-three thousand words per week, if that? I still managed about twelve thousand words in the first two months and have big plans for this year. I have Nature of the Beast already out and at least five more titles by the end of December. And if I don’t manage all that? I will live with that because I’m doing what makes me happy, without burning myself up and that alone will be enough. I will get there, to being a full time writer, but it will take longer. I am fine with that. To me, it would mean that I obtained it in a sustainable way.

My point is, do whatever feels right for you and don’t focus on what other authors might be doing. You stand with them, not against them, and what is good for them might not be the same for you.


aimee-brissay

Born in Romania, land of the Iele and Vlad the Impaler, AIMEE BRISSAY has spent all her life surrounded by books. She has ridden side by side with d’Artagnan and The Three Musketeers to retrieve the Queen’s diamonds, set sail on the Erasmus in search of the Japans, fell in love with Rhett Butler and roamed the Wild West along Old Shatterhand. She has walked on the footsteps of the Olympian Gods and searched for Zalmoxis’ sanctuary in the Carpathians. In her mind, she’s never been the damsel in distress but rather the knight in shiny armor fighting for a cause.
With a background like this, turning to writing was no surprise.
Aimee discovered erotica early on in life and has never looked back. Now she can write anywhere, even in a crowded room or a busy subway station, but she loves solitude.
When she’s not at her evil day job, she can be found writing or playing with her cat. She welcomes messages from readers and promises to answer all of them as soon as possible.



December 9, 2015

Guest Post & Review: Scenes From Adelaide Road by Helena Stone


Can a young man find the courage he never knew he had when faced with losing everything he holds dear?

A few months before his final exams in secondary school, nineteen-year-old Lennart Kelly discovers he’s inherited a house on Adelaide Road in Dublin from a grandfather he never knew. Having been ignored, bullied and abused for as long as he can remember, Lennart can’t wait to leave behind his father and the small town he grew up in. Moving away as soon as he finishes his exams doesn’t cure his deep-rooted insecurities though.

Meeting twenty-three-year-old Aidan Cassidy in a gay club on his second night in Dublin, scares Lennart. Used to being ignored and ridiculed, he doesn’t trust the attention he receives and can’t believe a man like Aidan could possibly be interested in him. It takes infinite patience and understanding from Aidan to slowly coax Lennart out of his shell. 

But the past refuses to stay where it belongs and Lennart’s father is determined to take the house in Dublin off his son by whatever means necessary. Just when Lennart is learning to trust and embrace life, a violent attack threatens everything he holds dear. Suddenly Lennart is in danger of losing his house, the man he’s grown to love and maybe even his life. If Lennart wants to protect Aidan and safeguard his future, he’ll have to find the courage he never knew he had.




I’m delighted to visit Mikky’s World of Books today and share a little bit of background information to my new book with you.

Scenes from Adelaide Road is my second solo novel and it’s also the second story I’ve set in Ireland. I’m well aware the Emerald Isle is not a common setting for (m/m) romance novels, but for me it felt appropriate. After all, this is where I have been living for the past eighteen years. I speak ‘Irish English’ I eat ‘Irish’ foods and I’m well acquainted with the Irish way of life.

It can be a bit of a juggling act though. On the one hand I want the setting to be as big a part of the story as the characters are. On the other hand, I have to be very careful not to turn my story into a parody. So while I may use expressions like ‘Jaysus’ and will always say ‘arse’ instead of ‘ass’, I go out of my way not to use words such as ‘begorrah’ or ‘top of the morning to you’. I’ve yet to hear those used outside a Hollywood movie and while it may sound authentically Irish to some, I can assure you it is not.

The flipside of trying to stay away from Irish stereotypes is making sure there is at least one thing in the story that is quintessentially Irish. In Scenes from Adelaide Road the uniquely Irish flavour is provided by Hurling.

Hurling is a sport played almost exclusively in Ireland. It has in the past been described as hockey mixed with murder (Jason Statham) and if you want to know why, you should take a look at the following clip: 


It would be very easy to write a long and very interesting essay on hurling, but I’ll restrain myself. There is one detail of its long and illustrious history I would like to share though, especially since it is remotely connected to Lennart’s story in my book.

One of the earliest mentions of hurling, features a young man named Setanta who, when faced with a vicious dog, uses his hurley (the stick) and a sliothar (the small, rock hard ball hurling is played with) to defend himself, earning himself the name Cú Chulainn—"Culann's Hound" in the process. Did I mention this story is about 2000 years old?

No dogs or other animals were injured or killed in the process of writing Scenes from Adelaide Road but just like Cú Chulainn centuries before him, Lennart has his reasons to be grateful for both the game and the hurley in his hand.


Scenes From Adelaide Road is the heartbreaking and emotional story of a young man’s journey to self discovery. Grab your tissues and get comfy because, once you start reading, you won’t be able to stop.

Hate and disdain is everything that Lennart has ever received in life. 

The only person who was supposed to love him and care for him has made his existence unbearable ever since he can remember.

Now, an inherited house from a grandfather he never knew is the way of escape he’s been waiting for and he’s ready for a change.

Little did he knew just how much his life will change the moment he decides to face his fears and step into a gay nightclub. 

You’ll fall in love with Lennart on the spot. He’s been through so much, yet he finds the courage to move on and try to live the live he’s always wanted.

His biggest choice and the best he could have made is to give Aidan, the beautiful stranger he met in the club, a chance. 

Trust doesn’t come easy but, at this point, he doesn’t have much to lose.

His strength is also admirable. He might be shy and awkward most of the time but he keeps pushing and he always pulls through. 

Enter Aidan. Sweet, caring and patient Aidan. 

He fills many roles in the story but the main ones are that of a lover and a friend.

He encourages Lennart and supports him without being pushy or overbearing.

He’s strong when that’s what Lennart needs but tender and loving also, always knowing when to push and when to back down and let Lennart figure out things on his own.

One step at a time, their relationship strengthens and their bond becomes unbreakable even during the hardest times, Aidan teaching Lennart to trust himself and to give love a chance.

I can’t even express how much I liked this story. It’s very well written, fast paced and so captivating.

I found myself tearing up or just smiling like a goof and that is precisely what a book worth reading should do to you.

Oh, the number of times I wished I could crawl inside the story and just hold Lennart and comfort him.

Thank you, Helena, for another wonderful novel. I highly recommend it.

Happy Reading!!



Helena Stone can’t remember a life before words and reading. After growing up in a household where no holiday or festivity was complete without at least one new book, it’s hardly surprising she now owns more books than shelf space while her Kindle is about to explode.

The urge to write came as a surprise. The realisation that people might enjoy her words was a shock to say the least. Now that the writing bug has well and truly taken hold, Helena can no longer imagine not sharing the characters in her head and heart with the rest of the world.

Having left the hustle and bustle of Amsterdam for the peace and quiet of the Irish Country side she divides her time between reading, writing, long and often wet walks with the dog, her part-time job in a library, a grown-up daughter and her ever loving and patient husband.



October 4, 2015

Review & Guest Post!! Knotted, Manhattan Bound Series #3 by Juliet Braddock



Spiraling from the bustling streets of New York City to the opulence of Paris, KNOTTED, the third book in Juliet Braddock’s Manhattan Bound series, continues the steamy journey of Maxine Kirk’s whirlwind romance with star of the Broadway stage, Drew McKenzie.

As their love continues to flourish, Maxine finds herself ensconced in Drew’s world, where power reigns in his all-consuming lust for her. From a blackout in Manhattan to a back alley in Paris to a castle in the Loire Valley, their passion knows no boundaries.

All the while, though, traces from their separate pasts continue to haunt, threatening to disrupt their happiness. 

Maxine must confront the harsh, emotional realities that she’d thought she’d conquered. However, she wonders if her courage will withstand the crushing heartache that has threatened to destroy her soul. 

As Drew continues to fit together the missing pieces of his childhood, danger shadows his every move. Drifting through the tumultuous events of their public and personal lives, Drew will stop at nothing to keep Maxine safe—and to guard their secrets from the world. 

Passion and peril collide, culminating in the explosive revelation of the enigma that’s followed Drew for years. 

KNOTTED, the third novel in Juliet Braddock’s “Manhattan Bound” series of four books, is available at most major e-book retailers on October 3. 




Well, Juliet, you certainly made living in Paris a lot more interesting. I’ll have some ‘splaining to do when I’ll drive around accompanied and I’ll suddenly start cackling like a mad hyena. Thanks for that.

But let’s get back to the book.

I think I’ve stated well enough what I think about this series in my review of Wrapped which you can find HERE

It’s well written, the story is captivating and very intense, the characters are well developed, mature, fascinating, easy to love and just as easy to connect with. 

Another interesting fact about this series is the manner in which the author described the locations. First New York City and, in Knotted, Paris. While reading, it feels like you’re actually there. You see and hear and smell the exact things, you walk the same streets and feel the peace and tranquility of Paris with its beautiful gardens and romantic ambiance. Brilliant. 

In Weakened and Wrapped we see Drew and Maxine meet and fall in love. Now, they’re ready to take the next step. 

There are still things, events from their pasts that are not quite settled yet and they’ll have to face them in order to step toward the future without a worry. 

Drew is the same sweet, protective and powerful man Maxine has fallen in love with. His presence is overwhelming sometimes because he has this way of inspiring confidence and strength with just one look or one touch. 

I’ll admit, I shivered right alongside Maxine more than once “under” Drew’s capable hands. The man is a danger for any woman’s heart, I tell you. 

Then, there’s Maxine. Strong, confident, a little bit hurt and a little bit carefree Maxine who has the power to turn her lover inside out with just one touch. 

And she’s a mess. In the good way. Poor, poor Drew. LOL. 

She’s, maybe, the only one who can bring out Drew’s childish, more carefree side because, with her, he doesn’t have to pretend. Nor her with him. 

They’re passionate and wild and, together, they burn like the brightest star. The connection they share is so very strong and runs so deep that there’s no Penelope without Kind Sir, and no Kind Sir without Penelope. Truly awe inspiring. 

It doesn’t mean that they’re perfect. Far from it. But all the flaws and all the qualities make them so lovable, so … real, and make the Manhattan Bound Series a must read. 

I don’t know what else to say. 

It’s amazing how much certain novels make you feel and how easy it is to lose yourself between the pages of the book to the point that you completely lose contact with reality. 

You’ve never felt that before? In this case, you haven’t read the right books. 

And, since I raved about the emotional side of the story, let me tell you about the sexier one. 

Holy freakin’ always horny Maxine, Batman! This girl needs to be kept under the cold shower all the damn time. Oh my God, what she can come up with… 

Miss Braddock, you owe me a Victoria’s Secret gift card and a check for my water and electricity bill. Just sayin’. 

God, woman. You’re wicked! Love it! *wide grin* 

And I think I’ve kept you here long enough. Go ahead and start reading. What are you waiting for? 

Don’t forget to start with Weakened since Knotted is definitely NOT a stand alone. 

Five more than deserved stars. 

Happy Reading!! 

P.S. – Uncle Benjy is still MINE! Back off.





Some Myths About BDSM…and the Realities Behind Them

By Juliet Braddock


All Doms are Billionaires. Where, oh, where did this myth evolve? On a personal level, I can tell you that no Dominant man I’ve ever dated has been a billionaire. 

Sure, it’s fun to fantasize about a man who can buy his lady anything—from couture clothing to an entire Island in the Caribbean, if she so desires. But how about a Dom who’s a plumber? Or maybe he owns a struggling little store in a small town? Any man can be Alpha. He doesn’t need to have oodles in the bank just to keep his submissive happy. Emotional security and trust are far more critical in a Dominant/submissive relationship than having access to endless amounts of cash. 

In my Manhattan Bound Series, I actually chose a very different profession for Drew McKenzie, my hot-blooded, hopelessly romantic Dom. While he is wealthy—an heir to a luxury department store chain—he decided to forgo that business and pursue what made him happy: the theater. 

Fame and money aren’t two words that are usually associated with a star of the stage, but Drew loves his work and he couldn’t live anywhere else but in New York City. And his work as an actor allows him so much creativity in his kinky role play. It all adds to his mystique…and leaves his biggest fan Maxine intrigued. 

You have to be brooding all the timeto be a good Dom. In reality, do you really want a man who’s just going to berate you all day long? I’ve always felt that a sense of humor is the key to someone’s soul. What a person finds funny can reveal so much about their personality, their intelligence, and how far they’ll push the boundaries of life. 

Laughter in the bedroom is of utmost importance in any relationship—even when you practice BDSM. Taking life too seriously in anything is a mistake. And if you can’t laugh while you’re making love with someone—be it straight up Vanilla or something a little heavier—things can sour quite quickly. 

Maxine and Drew are always finding some reason to giggle between the sheets—whether they’re in the master bedroom or the Master’s Dungeon. While he takes her safety in their play so very seriously, as any good Dom should, they both realize that there’s a much lighter side to life. Play is only one facet of their relationship, and with so much angst in the world, a good laugh sometimes does make everything better. 

BDSM is abuse.When two adults consent to a certain lifestyle, this does not constitute abuse. If one is coerced in any way, shape or form—or if BDSM isn’t something that they don’t find arousing—then you’re treading on very murky territory. Bribing someone with gifts to go play in your secret kinky room when all they want to do is run away is abuse. Using any sort of force to engage an unwilling submissive is rape. 

Safewords exist for a reason. They should not only be used, but should be respected by the Dominant partner. If “Strawberry” means “Stop,” and a Dom continues play…it’s time to back out of that relationship for good. 

Which brings me to my next point… 

To be a submissive, you must be naïve and weak. Nothing could be more horrifically wrong! When you’re engaging in Power Play, you need to know and understand your wants, needs and limits. You must be able to communicate with your Dominant partner on all fronts, and you must have the courage to speak up when you’re uncomfortable. 

Another assumption by many people is that submissives must have been abused at some point in their lives, and that’s not the case at all. Many people just enjoy the freedom they find in relinquishing control. 

Strong, independent women can gain so much in a true BDSM relationship, in fact. Having a voice to articulate your darkest desires is a very sexy turn-on for a Dom. And when you take control of everything in your life outside the bedroom, it’s often nice to allow the details to fall upon someone else in sexual fantasy. Giving up control shouldn’t be forced—it should be a form of embracing fantasy. 

Doms can’t be romantic. Again, I don’t know where these notions evolve! So he likes to harness you and cane you and deny you of orgasms? That doesn’t mean that he still doesn’t like to curl up on a cold winter’s night by the fireplace with you and snuggle over a few glasses of wine. 

BDSM is a lifestyle, but practicing kinky play doesn’t absorb the true essence of a person. Your Dom could—and should—hold your hand in public. He should be attentive to your whims. He should also have the emotional capacity to support you when times aren’t so wonderful. 

Going on dates, sending flowers, seeing a movie together, sharing a quiet meal at a fabulous restaurant—they’re all facets of the art of wooing. And any true Dom with whom you’re planning to have an actual relationship should be mindful. 

BDSM is a 24/7 role play adventure.There is no right or wrong way to practice BDSM. In some relationships, partners do have a 24/7 commitment to each other, and they’ve made it their consensual lifestyle choice. For others, kinky play in between the realities of life is the norm. Some keep it in the bedroom, and others have private Dungeons or playspaces designated for their daring indulgences. 

There’s also a belief that contracts are a necessity. Some people in the lifestyle feel that it’s a good idea to map out their limits on paper. While that works in some relationships, others in the lifestyle feel that spontaneity is lost when you’re married to a list. 

Choice and agreement again play into the full picture. And one rule of thumb should always be applied: 

Keep it Safe, Sane, and Consensual.



Juliet Braddock loves eighties music, wine, food, theater and all things French. When she’s not exploring the big cities of the world—most notably Paris—she lives and writes in Manhattan, and is the proud cat mom to a very spoiled Russian Blue rescue.