TANTALIZING TUESDAY

Hi! I’m Flora, the roman goddess of flowers and springtime. I am also connected with fertility as I specialize in plants that bear fruit, and many of them do! April signifies a time of rebirth. A Saxon sister-goddess, Eastre, has also evolved, over time. As the Christian religion absorbed deities and skewed their meanings to retain converts discourage continued worship of what they considered to be “out-dated deities”, the Easter Bunny and subsequent celebrations evolved. While her name, Eastre, was skewed, her meanings were not lost. She too represented fertility, springtime and offspring. This ideal is represented by the Easter Bunny’s connection to eggs. Eggs are a direct correlation to fertility and offspring, as all animals – human and animal – begin in some way as an egg.

We are celebrating the birth and renewal of plants, people and offspring – all births are important!

Before we begin, I must remind everyone of the Moonlight Mistresses boring rule to please try and keep your responses to a PG13 atmosphere – *eye roll*. However, they haven’t seemed to care about double entendres, so let them fly!

My guests today are, Veronica Spelling and Travis Hunter from Richmond, Virginia. Their tale can be found in Wicked Wager Among Friends – Tales from Lucifer’s Lair, a novel creation by Cassandre Dayne.

Flora: Thank you Veronica and Travis for joining us today! Please, Veronica tell our readers how you two first met. Was it by your design, or his?

Veronica: We met quite by accident in the grocery story trying to grab the same delicious grapefruit. Somehow we started talking and had a drink at the Flamingo Rustler, a local restaurant and bar, and we’ve been friends ever since.

Flora: Travis, would you say it was love at first sight or did you find her repulsive?

Travis: I thought she was perky and sweet. Little did I know she had a devilish personality hidden under her golden blond hair and sparkling blue eyes.

Flora: Devilish, I like that. I think that adds a spark in a relationship. Since chaotic happenstance tends to put characters like yourselves in situations where they must work together or live together for one reason or another, tell us what chaotic happenstance “forced” the two of you to work or live together. How did you both feel about this?

Veronica: Travis was the male friend I could always go to when I needed something. Whether it was some handyman work around the house or a guy’s thoughts, Travis was and still is my best buddy. Then something happened between us and I was the one that wanted to explore a more personal relationship.

Travis: I always thought she was beautiful and while I prefer men, or so I thought, there was something beguiling about her. She was easy to adore. And now, she’s simply incredible.

Flora: Ah, interesting Travis. I understand you’re now both in a relationship with a third. Travis, would you say that your relationship developed easily or would you say there was some reluctance? What kind of obstacles were there?

Travis: First of all I didn’t want to disappoint Veronica or hurt her. I was terrified that exploring a physical relationship would destroy our friendship. I also wasn’t completely sure I would enjoy being with a woman, but together, along with Jonathan by our side, we all love each other. Once we figured out we wanted to explore another type of relationship together as three, it became easy.

Flora: How long did it take you to know your true feelings for the other? At what point did you know, “this is the one”?

Veronica: I don’t know about Travis, but I adored him from the beginning and slowly as we developed a tight friendship, I knew I was falling in love. The moment we kissed, I knew.

Travis: I think the same way, except that when she propositioned me with her wicked wager, I was floored and really didn’t know that she felt that strongly. When I managed to wrestle with my fears and the first time we were together, there was no turning back.

Flora: This is for either of you. Would you like to thank anyone – other than me, of course – for getting you two together?

Veronica: I would just like to say thank you to Travis for trusting me.

Travis: And I have to say Veronica for her patience and love and every day that we share together.

Flora: As we are celebrating fertility and offspring this month, tell us, Veronica and Travis do you plan on having children in the future Why or why not? How many do you think you’ll want? Do you prefer sons or daughters, or does it not matter?

Veronica: We’ve talked about it with Jonathan and in truth, we want beautiful children as a family together.

Travis: I think we’d love to have at least two.
Veronica: One by each father!

Flora: Do either of you garden? Why or why not?

Veronica: I love the outdoors but I’m terrible with gardening.

Travis: I’m the green thumb in the family!

Flora: It’s nice to have the man into gardening for a change. What are your favorite flowers or plants? What significance do they hold for you?

Veronica: White roses. It’s the first bouquet that Travis bought for me.

Travis: I love tulips because their rich colors remind me of the many vibrant sides of Veronica’s personality.

Flora: Thanks so much to Veronica and Travis for joining us today! Now, I’d like to take some time to speak with their author, Cassandre Dayne Thanks for joining us today, Cassandre! First, I’d like to start with some of the questions I asked Veronica and Travis. Do you garden? Why or why not?

Cassandre: I love gardening and have one with flowers and vegetables – especially tomatoes. I am one of those girls that loves fresh mulch!

Flora: Do you prefer vegetables and fruits, flowers, or both? Which ones are your favorites?

Cassandre: I love them both and honestly, I have too many personal favorites to be able to mention them all.

Flora: If you had the chance to do so, would you participate in a community garden? Why or why not? (If you have done this before, please share your experience!)

Cassandre: The real girl, Bethany works with Community Associations and I have set up community gardens with the owners, tended and watered enjoyed with them. It’s a wonderful community wide effort and gives them something to tend and talk over too.

Flora: Flowers, trees and plants offer a variety of aromas. What would you say is your favorite aroma and why?

Cassandre: I do love the smell of roses, but I love fresh greenery and the smell of fresh mulch and about every flower in the spring.

Flora: A growing trend these days is to grow tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplants, beans and peppers upside down while growing other smaller plants like lettuce, radishes, cress or herbs on top. Is this something you’ll try or have done? Why or why not?

Cassandre: I’ve seen and have friends that enjoy, but it’s just not something I’ve tried simply because I have a larger garden.

Flora: Considering your favorite flower, plant, and/or aroma, have these tastes shown up in your writing? If so, how – If not, why not?

Cassandre: Nature does show up in my writing as I love the smell of the ocean or the puffs of white in a blue sky. I always give off the scents of nature wherever the characters are.

Flora: If you’ve used plants/flowers other than your favorite ones in your stories, what were they, what story were they in, and why did you choose them?

Cassandre: I can’t think of anything specific because I tend to infuse tastes and smells throughout.

Flora: Cassandre, is there anything you’d like readers to know about you that I didn’t ask?

Cassandre: I am a furry friend lover and have two dogs who enjoy being outside. We love to play, especially in the spring time.

Flora: I’m sorry folks, but that’s all the time we have for today. Thanks to Veronica and Travis and their author, Cassandre, for joining us today and giving us some great answers. We hope you’ll check out their story, Wicked Wager Among Friends – Tales from Lucifer’s Lair.

To learn more about their author, Cassandre Dayne, visit: http://www.cassandredayne.com

BLURB:

Veronica Spelling was used to getting what she wanted, but not with men. She had long desired her best friend, Travis Hunter, for years. Golden, masculine and perfect, her mouth watered for him. And while they had admitted their kinky proclivities over long nights and tasty margaritas, he had never indulged. So she decided to take matters into her own hands and kick up the heat one wild night, suggesting a wicked little wager of pool. The prize? If she ended up the winner then she would receive her most heavenly desired wish, to be taken in the ass by a man for the first time. If he did, then she would become his sex slave for twenty-four luscious hours.

The only problem? He was decidedly gay, had only been with a woman once and was in a casual relationship with their mutual friend, Jonathan. Then there was that itching little problem of whether he could get it up or not. Against the odds, Travis finally determined his true feelings about the luscious vixen and won the bet. During those twenty-four hours, he fulfilled her most erotic fantasies. As morning dawned and reality set in, the question about Jonathan’s acceptance settled into their reality, and Veronica was left with a haunted feeling. Unsure of what to say, they left each other without further words. Could their combined friendship survive the blatant sensual act or would their entire world be turned upside down forever?


EXCERPT:

Travis eyed the surly man before turning his gaze back to Veronica. She seemed so vulnerable, like a tiny kitten needing to be protected and trained. And he planned on training her well. “Don’t worry Lucifer, I might just be falling in love.”

“You just remember what I said.” Lucifer turned a fake grin toward the attentive audience, gave Travis a high five and retreated back toward the kitchen, shaking his head.

Travis glided directly in front of her and took her hand, kissing her palm gently. “You were saying?” It was time to leave and not only to save further embarrassment, but he wasn’t sure he could walk any longer as the dense material continued to bite into his rock hard dick. They would talk in the morning and figure out if this scenario was nothing more than a tease. But there was no doubt what he wanted -- total control of her body, her passion and her very soul.

Veronica seemed to have a bit of trouble looking at him in his eyes. “Um, I said…I was saying… So back to the game?”

Travis stared at her wide-eyed. They were selling their souls to the devil but he couldn’t see a way around it without hurting her feelings. Then again, he didn’t want to stop either. He shivered from the realization. “All right. Where were we?”

“Do you accept the wager?”

He couldn’t believe she’d never experienced having a cock in her ass. At that moment, he wanted to teach her the finer art so badly his mouth watered from the thought. “Absolutely.” To be the one to touch her sweet little bud and inch his way inside the tight warmth of her stirred his swollen balls. How the hell was he going to concentrate on a sinful game?

She grinned, swirled the last bits of liquor around in her glass and set down the crystal with deliberately slow movements. Picking up the pool stick, she eyed the glossy pool balls. “I think it was my turn actually.” Veronica sauntered around the corner to take a shot and managed to get her foot hooked on the leg of the pool table. She grabbed the table and grinned, eyeing the bikers that stood watching with folded arms.

“Nervous little kitty vixen?” Travis snickered.

“That’s wild cat to you.”

Travis chuckled and contemplated the ramifications of what if. What if they had a torrid little affair that led to what he’d teased relentlessly about with her and the night morphed into a threesome and possibly something beyond that? What if she freaked out and refused to see him ever again? What if she couldn’t handle his need for erotic sex and his requirements for her to submit her body to him to pleasure with rapture and pain?

For the fiftieth time in less than a minute, Travis had second thoughts. He refused to hurt her. Sex and friendship never mixed and Travis knew better. He also knew Veronica had no idea what she was getting herself into. She was a good girl with conservative values. To bring her into the world of S & M was ridiculous and perhaps dangerous for her soul. No matter what she said, Veronica Spelling was not ready to be a submissive. As she leaned over the pool table and he caught the hint of her nipples, he froze. He had to stop this. Immediately. “Veronica! ”

His bedraggled word showered across her just as she took the shot.

And missed.

The entire room gasped as the ball seemed to tumble over two others and jump backwards on the table.

“Oh no!” A young biker gasped.

“Bloody hell!” Lucifer cried, edging forward.

Travis cringed. How the hell could the damn ball jump over her hands backward? “Fuck!”

She glared at the ball, turned as she heard the hiss of the crowd and then witnessed the strained expression on Travis’ face. Her hand flew to her mouth.

PHANTASM FRIDAY

Author Stephanie Williams has a new release!!! Stephanie is an interesting gal and lists her likes as classical music, opera and calls herself a history buff. Reading is her passion and she reads at least a book a week. She's even celebrated Christmas with shrimp on the Barbie Down Under! On top of all of that, she's a writer, a full-time business owner and a medical facility Purchasing Agent. Wow! How does she find the time to write too?

So, take a peek at her releases...For Research Purposes Only releases TODAY!!
BUY LINK: http://www.decadentpublishing.com/product_info.php?products_id=255&osCsid=7ad549c26be2767c309d9d0a315a69a0

(Stephanie Williams at an E-book signing)

HOUSE ARREST BLURB:

Janet Harrison is the number-one reporter at Channel Ten News. She is also the go-to woman for every mobster in Chicago. She’s their mouthpiece. When they’re ready to snitch, they come to her and she is more than willing to listen—anything to put the big fish behind bars.

And she got a big fish: Salvatore “The Lip” Valinci. She also got herself in a whole lot of trouble. She stands before Judge Fernando Gonzales, in contempt of court for not revealing her sources. But that’s not the only trouble she’s in.

Judge Gonzales has had his eye on the beautiful, defiant reporter for some time. Contempt of court is small potatoes: Judge Gonzales wants to punish her in more ways than one.
Soon, “The Lip” is released on a technicality, and wants to even the score. If they work together, Janet and Fernando may survive the threat of death, but can they survive their unconventional relationship?

HOUSE ARREST EXCERPT:

“Does your client refuse to talk?” he asked Mr. McCaffy.

Tom McCaffy, the latest big-shot attorney from Riechchile, Williams, Reese, Johnson and Smith, claimed the title of mob lawyer with pride. Gonzales could tell by the look on his face that Janet Harrison was making him work harder than any mobster could.

“Oh, come on, Your Honor. You know the drill. She can’t rev—”

“Yeah, yeah, I know. But you and I have an obligation to this court, as you well know. And I know, you know, she knows who squealed, so it’s up to me to find out.”

“You’re wasting your time,” she huffed, talking out of turn. She then made a show of staring at her watch. “Look, I have a hair appointment. Can I go?”

Oh no she didn’t! She’d just looked straight at him as if talking to one of her girlfriends.

“Uh…Your Honor, what my client is trying to say is that it’s late, and if we can continue this at a later date, maybe by then—”

“I know what I meant!” she snapped at McCaffy.

“Please!’ McCaffy said, hitting her side.

Janet Harrison: Hellcat. And Fernando loved it. But her mouth just got her into more trouble than any mob boss ever could.

He held his breath and counted to ten in Spanish. When he looked back over the courtroom, she stood there grinning at him. She knew what she was doing. Or did she?

FOR RESEARCH PURPOSES ONLY BLURB:

Lacy Cunningham prides herself on being a prolific writer in the romance and erotica industry. However, for the first time, she’s stumped by her latest project—a ménage à trois. She’s doing everything to help get her creative juices flowing, from reading others works, buying non-fiction books on the subject to renting DVDs—everything short of participating in the act itself.

Her boyfriend, Marty and Jerry, her first crush from college, are more than willing to help her with her research. With Jerry arriving in town for vacation, Marty mentions the possibility of a ménage à trois, and Lacy mulls over taking her studies a bit further. But it’s going to take a lot of prodding on the guys’ part before she actually indulges in that kind of research.

FOR RESEARCH PURPOSES ONLY EXCERPT:

The teakettle went off just as Marty spoke. Maybe the sound of the whistle confused her, but she must have heard him correctly.

“You better tend to that.” She pointed toward the stove.

“Of course.” He got up and removed the kettle from the burner.

She watched him pour water into their cups. The smell of raspberry scented the air. He brought the cups over to the nook and sat back down.

“Now, where were we?” he asked.

“You said you meant to make the connection between my story and Jerry, in so many words.”

“Yeah. How do you feel about that?”

“You mean an actual threesome. Marty, I thought you and I had something.”

“We do. I love you. Would this question be a problem if the threesome included Jerry?”

Good question. Jerry had to be the sexist man on the planet, next to Marty, of course. When Jerry walked into a room, women and some men’s jaws dropped. Tall like Marty, his presence took one’s breath away. Where Marty had long, dark hair, Jerry’s was medium length and a deep golden honey color. She’d never seen anything like it.

His gray, soulful eyes made you melt. His lips begged for you to touch, kiss, and even lick them. When he smiled, his cheekbones became even more prominent. And he had a voice like a sultry caress. He could be talking about the weather and it made her panties wet.

Oh, God. She realized that she’d been paying way too much attention to Jerry. But she couldn’t still be attracted to him like that. Could she? She just found him attractive, two different things. Right?

“Well?”

Marty’s voice snapped her to attention. “Huh?”

“You were thinking about Jerry, weren’t you?” He smirked.

Damn! There he goes again. “Um…just thinking about this book.”

“The hell you were.” Marty took a gulp of tea. “Come on, Lacy, we’ve never kept secrets from each other. It’s okay if you find Jerry attractive. It’s okay if you feel a little something for him still. It’s okay if you think about both him and me—with you.”

Lacy had her cup to her lips, about to take a sip, when she stopped. “You’re kidding?”

“No. It’s only natural. Look, you’re writing a book on threesomes. I tell you that our mutual friend is coming by, a mutual friend who happens to be attractive to every straight woman on earth according to your friend Edith.”

Lacy had to snicker at that. Edith did make it a point to let Jerry know the sun rose and set with him.

“I’m not upset, if that’s what’s worrying you,” Marty continued.

“I’m not worried…anymore. I’m more confused now.” Confused? What an understatement.

“Understandable. The man you’ve been dating for some time just told you he’s not ticked you’re thinking of another dude, a mutual friend at that.”

“Duh!”

Marty reached over and took her hand, sending an electrical pulse to her soul. Pair that with his mesmerizing glare and she’d have sex with him in Times Square with the CNN news cameras going. Did adding Jerry to the mix make it any different?

“We can talk about this later. Jerry won’t be here for a couple of days.”

“You’re serious.” She couldn’t believe it.

“I didn’t actually offer Jerry to you, or agree to anything. I’m just letting you know I understand if you have, let’s say, unconventional thoughts about the three of us.” Marty got up with his tea and left the room.


BUY LINK: http://www.decadentpublishing.com/product_info.php?products_id=255&osCsid=7ad549c26be2767c309d9d0a315a69a0

Wistful Wednesday

My special guest today is the author of Rast. Please welcome Christopher Hoare!

Hanging in there by Christopher Hoare

This blog entry is about not giving up on a novel. The novel in question is my newest – the fantasy Rast released this March. Rast features the young prince, Egon, who must take control of the dangerous magic that destroys his father, th

e sorcerer king. Jady, his sweetheart, offers a strong supporting role in her action as guide for the princess who is destined to replace her as Egon’s consort. The story is both about overcoming the dangers to the kingdom and the resolution of the couple’s forbidden desire to marry.

It is the fifth of my published novels, but in fact is my oldest. I had it half written in the summer of 2002, when I had to put it aside to prepare for my winter contracting in the oil fields. I picked it up again the following summer when I joined the online writing group NovelDoc. I worked on progressive drafts over the next few years as it went though their successive month-long complete novel critiques.

One of the members had her own publishing company. She left NovelDoc due to pressure of commitments but a year later contacted me to do a read through and help polish her latest fantasy novel. In return she said she’d take a look at Rast. The next message I received was that she’d liked Rast ... a lot, and offered me a contract for it. Wow, that was easy.

At least two years passed, and then her deadlines slipped another year past release date – she had accepted more novels than she could now handle. I believe she’d lost a partner in the business. I hung on, because I was engaged in a long wrangle with the IRS for their potential pound of flesh – the ITIN I needed so they could tax my earnings as a non-American. Eventually, I gave up on the IRS, I had heard so many Americans express so much hate for the outfit I began to think that perhaps I didn’t want anything to do with them: not if I could avoid it. So I asked for and received a release of contract and started looking for a new home for.

Rast then started on a long trek through publishers who would accept the un-agented submission. It spent more years in in-trays and in piles on editors’ desks than were sufficient to glean responses like, “not for us”, or “we no longer accept fantasy” – or perhaps “oh, did we forget we had this?” that I would have found more honest. The submission before the last, Rast garnered scathing criticism of the first few pages.

So, when Lea Schizas at MuseItUp said everyone liked it I was quick to accept her contract offer. I think that Rast after all its tribulations has at last come home – and now we are sending it out to the readers who will decide whether the long journey has been worthwhile. Never give up.

Christopher Hoare lives with his wife, Shirley, and two shelter dogs, Coco and Emmie, in the foothills of the Canadian Rockies. As a lad he lived, breathed, and dreamed aeroplanes, won a place at RAE Farnborough learning to engineer them, but found the reality didn’t fit the dream. Did a stint in the army and then away to Libya to join the oil circus. Flying objects only appear as tools when they now appear in his writing.

His stories never take place next door to the lives most people live; the less charitable find similarity in characters who tend to be stubborn, independent, and contrarian. Perhaps there’s a connection between the worlds he portrays in fiction, and his working life in oil exploration in the Libyan Desert, the Canadian Arctic, and the mountains and forests of Western Canada.

He has written stories set in Anglo-Saxon Britain, in modern industrial projects, in the alternate world of Gaia, and the fantasy world of Rast. Sometimes known to satirize jobs and organizations he knows. Likes to write central characters who are smart, beautiful, and dangerous women who lead their male counterparts to fulfill dangerous duties they'd rather avoid. Gisel Matah in the Iskander series is perhaps the most Bond-like of these, but Jady in Rast can match her in many aspects.

Visit his website at http://www.christopherhoare.ca/ to learn much more, and download the free novella “Gisel Matah and the Slave Ship”. You can find his blog at http://trailowner.blogspot.com/

About Rast:

In Rast, magic is not a convenient parlour trick, it’s a deadly force that takes no prisoners. Those who must wield it are doomed, for it never ceases to work within the mind and nerves until it destroys its master.

And now, the time of the interregnum is here; the reigning sorcerer king, the Drogar of Rast, is struggling for a last grasp on magic power while his heir, Prince Egon, must take up the deadly mantle. Egon is fearful but courageous in his duty. Not one peril threatens Rast, but many.

While he struggles to tame the magic to his command the mechanistic Offrang adventurers arrive to seize the land for their empire. The Offrangs don’t just disbelieve in magic, they treat any attempt to discuss it with withering scorn. Then, when the Drogar falters, the North Folk sweep out in their multitudes to cover the land of Rast at the behest of their depraved Casket of Scrolls. Deepning too, a creature of earth magic in its mountain pools, stirs to gain power enough to conquer Rast.

The Prince’s sweetheart Jady does her best to support him, but she is not strong enough in the power of the lineage to bear him a magic wielding heir. She sets out to meet the caravansi of the cousin princess who is sent to be his consort with duty and anger both warring in her mind. The crisis will reveal surprising enemies, surprising friends, and as the Drogar tells Jady, “Even a Drogar may not see a future not yet determined.” While Egon goes west to spy on the Offrangs and Jady makes her way east, the oracle provided by the Pythian that lives in a cavern beneath the palace reveals, “You have no high point to see the scattered threads but must trust to those who grasp them.”

Everyone, enemy and friend, has a part to play in the preservation of Rast.

Mystic Monday

I haven't been posting my own posts lately because, well, let's just say that I've been distracted by the politics of my home state, and many of the illegal and questionable things that have been going on. I've been so angry and disgusted by them, that I haven't felt much like posting. As you can tell, I'm still grumbling about the whole mess.

I had a bunch of stuff written, but I deleted it because this isn't a political forum, but a novel forum. So, what are your favorite novels? Who wrote these books? What are they about and why are they your favorites?

PHANTASM FRIDAY

I haven’t blogged much lately because I’ve lost the inspiration to write anything entertaining! And let’s face it my blogs have pretty much sucked over the last few months! So, for today’s post I decided to go back to my first love…paranormal creatures and the mythology behind them.

Who carved the Ten Commandments? No, this isn’t turning into a lesson on Christianity. My Christian upbringing would say God carved them and gave them to Moses. However, in Judaic tradition a tiny insect called a Shamir carved the Ten Commandments. Neat, huh?

Sharmir’s could carve stone, wood and could break glass. Hmm…I didn’t realize there was glass back during the Ten Commandments timeframe. How about you?

Judaic legend tells how King Solomon used a Shamir to carve a great temple to God. But King Solomon didn’t have a Shamir handy, so like all good kings, he used nefarious means to obtain one! Using his knowledge of magic, he bound an Afreet to him. I was unaware King Solomon had any knowledge of magic *shrugs*, just a wee tidbit left out of the bible, I reckon. Are you wondering what an Afreet is? Well, I’m about to tell you. An Afreet is a tribe of demons or djinns in Arabic and Muslim folklore. For those not up on their “djinn” translation, a djinn is technically a Genie, like the genies you’d find in a bottle that grants you three wishes.

So, the Djinn/Afreet helps King Solomon discover the location of a Shamir. One problem, the Shamir is protected by a woodcock living atop a mountain. King Solomon sends his servant, Benaiah to apprehend the Shamir. But when Benaiah arrived at the woodcock’s nest, he found unprotected nestlings. Using his smarticles (as my children would say) he placed a sheet of glass over the nest. Upon the woodcock’s return, it realized it couldn’t get to its nestlings by pecking at the glass. It took the Shamir out from under it’s wing and placed it on the glass. The glass immediately broke. Benaiah was ready, he leapt out of hiding to seize the Shamir and placed it in a lead-lined box to keep it safe on the return home.

Thanks to the Shamir, King Solomon was able to cut the stones to build the great temple to God’s glory! That myth was certainly not in the Holy Bible! I love this story and how it gives King Solomon an interesting personality, even if it shows how manipulative he was.

I am so using the Shamir in my Road to Hell series. I know exactly what its new duties will be!

Hope you enjoyed today’s mythical creature. Have a fantastic weekend everyone!

Huggles,
Gracen

Twilight Thursday

Today, I have as a special guest Tom McLaughlin, author of Borneo Tom! Please give him a warm Moonlighter welcome.

Didn’t take care of your ancestor’s grave? Forgot to offer proper respect to those who have passed before you?

Not to worry! The Chinese Festival of the Hungry Ghost will assuage the spirits.

The day begins at sunset as small fires are lit in front of homes and businesses here in Kuching, Malaysian Borneo. At nearby temple, a large barrel filled with flame begins to consume vast quantities of fake paper money and other apologies to appease the spirits whose final resting place have not been cleaned, weed free and head stones scrubbed.

In the temple, large and small hampers of food, some containing expensive whiskies but most with fruit and rice are offered to the gods. Each has a tag with a number. As the small crowd gathers and at the moment deemed most favourable by the elders, the tags are scattered and the people scramble hoping to get the tag that represents the expensive offering.

The boxes of food are distributed, the fires extinguished and the Hungry Ghosts appeased for another year. Yet, this festival is a reminder to keep the final resting place in good order or the revenge of the Hungry Ghost may visit you during the year!

Tom McLaughlin lives and teaches in Malaysian Borneo where he has introduced his students to Edgar Allen Poe and the Raven , Nevermore. His book, Borneo Tom, related in sketch and verse heis adventures and travels throughout Southeast Asia. www.borneotom.com

Tantalizing Tuesday

There's a contest announcement at the end of this interview, so be sure to stick around!

Before we begin, I must remind everyone of the Moonlight Mistresses boring rule to please try and keep your responses to a PG13 atmosphere – *eye roll*. However, they haven’t seemed to care about double entendres, so let them fly!

My guests today are, Sheriff Reed Bennett and Marly Hanson from Dreyerville, Michigan. Their tale can be found in A SONG FOR MY MOTHER, a novel creation by Kat Martin.

Flora: Thank you Reed and Marly for joining us today! Please, Reed, tell our readers how you two first met. Was it by your design, or hers?

Reed: I live a house next door to Marly’s mother. We met when Marly came home to visit after she had run away from home twelve years earlier.

Flora: Marly, would you say it was love at first sight or did you find him repulsive?

Marly: Reed is a good looking man, smart and caring. I was attracted to him the first time I saw him but I didn’t want to get involved in a relationship with a man who lived in a town I hated.

Flora: Since chaotic happenstance tends to put characters like yourselves in situations where they must work together or live together for one reason or another, tell us what chaotic happenstance “forced” the two of you to work or live together. How did you both feel about this?

Marly: Since Reed lived next door, my daughter Katie and Reed’s son Ham became good friends. I had to be nice to him--though I didn’t really want to.

Reed: I was taken with Marly from the moment I saw her. I didn’t like that she and her mother barely spoke. I wanted to see them rebuild the bonds that I believed the two really felt for each other.

Flora: Reed, would you say that your relationship developed easily or would you say there was some reluctance? What kind of obstacles were there?

Reed: Plenty of resistance from Marly! She was pretty much a man-hater. And her little girl was just recovering from brain cancer, so she really had her hands full. I had to be VERY persistent.

Flora: How long did it take you to know your true feelings for the other? At what point did you know, “this is the one”?

Marly: I distrusted Reed from the moment I met him. Then someone told me he was seeing another woman and was only trying to use me. When that turned out to be a falsehood, I began to trust him and then I was falling in love.

Flora: This is for either of you. Would you like to thank anyone – other than me, of course – for getting you two together?

Marly: My mom got us together. She wanted me and Katie to move back to Dreyerville and she believed Reed was the perfect man for me.

Reed: Ham and Katie did a lot to bring us together. They are two really great kids.

Flora: As we are celebrating fertility and offspring this month, tell us, Reed and Marly, do you plan on having children in the future? Why or why not? How many do you think you’ll want? Do you prefer sons or daughters, or does it not matter?

Reed: I definitely want kids. My first wife died and I love Ham so much. I’d be happy to have a house full.

Marly: I never thought I wanted more children till I saw Ham and Katie together and realized that having more children meant a lot to me. Reed wants them, too, so we are definitely having more.

Flora: Do either of you garden? Why or why not?

Marly: Now that I am back in the country instead of the city, I hope to do a lot of gardening.

Reed: think I’ll just sit back and enjoy Marly and how pretty she looks out there with the flowers.

Flora: Typical of most men. *laughs* What are your favorite flowers or plants? What significance do they hold for you?

Marly: I love roses. They are just so romantic.

Reed: I like snap dragons, a real man’s flower.

Flora: I find red rocket snap dragons to be the heartiest variety with the deepest hue of red! Thanks so much to Reed and Marly for joining us today! Now, I’d like to take some time to speak with their author, Kat Martin. Thanks for joining us today, Kat.

Kat: Very nice to be here.

Flora: First, I’d like to start with some of the questions I asked Reed and Marly. Do you garden? Why or why not?

Kat: I’m afraid, being a workaholic, I have zero time to garden. I do however love flowers and almost always have fresh flowers in my house.

Flora: Do you prefer vegetables and fruits, flowers, or both? Which ones are your favorites?

Kat: Like Marly, I love roses – pink and yellow are my favorites. I love strawberries and peaches.

Flora: If you had the chance to do so, would you participate in a community garden? Why or why not? (If you have done this before, please share your experience!)

Kat: My husband does the gardening in our family. We usually have so many veggies in the summer we can’t eat them all!

Flora: Quite a difference from Reed! *chuckles* Flowers, trees and plants offer a variety of aromas. What would you say is your favorite aroma and why?

Kat: Strawberries and peaches smell great. Lilacs and jasmine are marvelous.

Flora: A growing trend these days is to grow tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplants, beans and peppers upside down while growing other smaller plants like lettuce, radishes, cress or herbs on top. Is this something you’ll try or have done? Why or why not?

Kat: I bought my husband three of those upside down tomato plant growers. He could never get tomatoes to grow and that year we had big fat juicy ones.

Flora: Considering your favorite flower, plant, and/or aroma, have these tastes shown up in your writing? If so, how – If not, why not?

Kat: Roses show up a lot. I wrote two books - The Silent Rose, and Scent of Roses - that had them in the titles!

Flora: I’m sorry folks, but that’s all the time we have for today. Thanks to Reed and Marly, and their author, Kat Martin for joining us today and giving us some great answers. We hope you’ll check out their story, A SONG FOR MY MOTHER.

BLURB: Years after running away with her boyfriend in her junior year of high school, Marly Hanson returns to Dreyerville at the request of her daughter, Katie, who has recently been treated for brain cancer. Katie has never met her grandmother, Marly's mother, Winnie. But Marly and Winnie have been estranged for years and confronting the past for each of them is painful. The homecoming is bittersweet, but revisiting the conflict between them is crucial if Marly and her mother are ever to find the bond they shared before Marly left Dreyerville.

To complicate matters, living next door to Winnie is handsome sheriff and widower Reed Bennett, and his son, Ham, who is close to Katie's age. Ham and Katie become fast friends, while their parents find their attraction to one another going deeper than mere friendship. But Marly's time in Dreyerville is limited and risking her heart isn't something she's willing to do.

As the days slip past, and though she tries to avoid it, Marly and Reed become more deeply involved. Can she risk loving the handsome sheriff and give up the the futer she worked so hard to forge for herself and her daughter? Can she make a life in Dreyerville after what happened all those years ago?Will Marly finally realize that her true destiny and ultimate happiness lie in coming to terms with her past?

To learn more about their author, Kat Martin,
visit: www.Katmartin.com
To enter into a contest to win a beautiful silver lock,
check out Kat's Contest Page!

Twilight Thursday

Join Borneo Tom McLaughlin, author of the travel journal Borneo Tom: Stories and Sketches of Love, Travel and Jungle Family in Tropical Asia as he virtually tours the blogosphere from MArch 2011 to February 2012 on his first tour with Pump Up Your Book!

About Borneo Tom

Science teacher Tom McLaughlin battled a rare neurological disease to a stand still, packed up his life and moved to Malaysian Borneo from a Washington D.C. suburb.

Landing in Kuching, he quickly learned the Malay language and involved himself in projects which includes orangutan rehabilitation and research about the famed naturalist, Alfred Wallace, whose thunder was stolen by Charles Darwin.

The advent of cheap air travel to many destinations in Southeast Asia transported him to many adventures. From dancing naked in an earthquake in Sumatra, to getting lost in a warren of World War II Japanese caves to walking the rim of a volcano with poisonous gas, he has jumped with foolhardiness into everything wild and wonderful, all related in his book Borneo Tom.

Reuniting with his Peace Corps family of thirty five years ago, sharing adventures with one daughter, then reconciling with another after a divorce, marriage with full kampung ceremony and then taking both daughters on his honeymoon to Bali are a few of the highlights of his remarkable personal life. Oh, but we can’t forget? His vasectomy coupled with a wife diagnosed as barren has reproduced a son, Dzul Patrick, now a few months old.

Tom teaches at the Lodge International School in Kuching, Malaysian Borneo while writing about his adventures as a US expat living in Borneo.

You can find him at:

BorneoTom.com
On Twitter
On Facebook
On Kindle!

About Borneo Tom: In Story and Sketch: Love, Travel and Jungle Family in Tropical Asia

Join award winning science teacher Tom McLaughlin as he moves from America to Malaysian Borneo as he tracks orangutans, dances naked in an earthquake, swims with jellyfish AND MORE DANGEROUSLY…falls in love.

Walk with him through a cacophony of emotions including great joy when he finds the love of his life and marries in a village ceremony, reunites with one daughter after a divorce, travels with another and flies the entire family on his honeymoon in Bali. Oh, yes, did I forget? His vasectomy and his wife’s diagnosis of barrenness produces a son, Dzul Patrick, now a few months old.

Each stand alone chapter is humorously sketched by Water Front Niki, a familiar face to all who visit Kuching. Niki’s sensitive portraits of the national bird, the Hornbill, decorates living rooms world wide.

**Proceeds from the book go for items that support the Matang Wildlife Center that rehabs orangutans and other amazing wildlife.**

Read an Exerpt!

Bukit Tinggi, Sumatra Indonesia – Women rule here. The culture, matriarchal, requires the land pass to the daughters. The custom predates the arrival of Islam and no number of Saudi Arabian missionaries, whose job it is to ensure pure Islamic tradition being observed, are ever going to change it to the Qu’ran required patriarchal system. They have tried. And believe me when I tell you, these ladies would have no part if it! Local customs and religious belief coexist side by side as they have for hundreds of years.

I wandered into one particular village and stopped at a house and chatted with the owner. She was lovely lady in her 40s with two teenagers, a son and daughter. She informed http://www.pumpupyourbook.com/wp-admin/post-new.phpher husband had divorced her and left. I teasingly asked her if I could marry her and move in but I think she thought I was serious. She looked me over, considered the idea and said yes but everyday I would have to work in the nearby rice fields. There would be no freeloader man in her house, I surmised.

What Reviewers Are Saying

I was drawn by the uniqueness of this book once I received it. There are cartoon sketches for each and every story in this book. The black-and-white sketches are wonderfully, and sometimes comically, done. They correlated well with each story they represented.

There are sixty separate stories, or essays, in this book which are arranged in chronological order. Tom’s essays are informative, cheeky, humorous and, sometimes, eye-opening.

–Literary R&R

Wistful Wednesday

Hello, today I would like to welcome my special guest into the Moonlight, MuseItUp Publishing author, Nikolai Due-Gundersen, who's sharing with us an excerpt from his new novel, Heart's Lone Desire.

Chapter One

They had prepared the room as instructed. Tall candles littered the chamber, their light inviting shadows, and at the centre, the tub stood waiting, its deep brass polished until gold shone from its depth. Wisps of steam snaked from the water within. Hot, thick twists joining scattered shadows, playing among the bitter light.

Monsieur Lilac sipped his wine with deliberate slowness. His tired eyes went to the windows, longing for escape. Outside, the first fall of snow had begun. As Paris slept, dots dropped down from the heavens, the flakes of stars gracing the earth of mortals. He finished the wine in one slow gulp, savouring the burn of its taste. His hand trembled. Today, he truly felt the pain of his years. It was the weakness in him; the weakness in all men. Mortality pulsed through his veins like a plague. It wrinkled his skin. Tightened his chest. Tonight, he would escape it all.

He disrobed, his servants taking firm hold of his frame. Water bubbled as his body met its warmth.

“The curtains,” he gestured with a weak hand.

Winter disappeared from view.

He breathed, and leaned further into the tub’s warmth. There was no further need for him to speak. His loyal servants knew what was to be done. Cold hands were upon his chest, nails marking his flesh with thick dots…something sharper. The chill of metal—of medical instruments. The skin underneath curled against the cold whispers of steel.

He closed his eyes, wheezed his last sigh. One by one, the candles were extinguished. He prayed for the comfort of nothingness.

The hands were upon his own, holding him down. Thick cloth closed the charm of his mouth. The aristocratic mouth that had argued, threatened, loved. The pain in his chest was sharp, as expected, his flesh folding to metal wielded by loyal hands. Old blood spilled from fresh wounds. His weakness ripped open.

He forced his eyes to remain closed. The sound of tearing flesh, breaking bones.

And underneath it all, the weakest form. His poor heart, still thumping, not knowing when to stop, not knowing when life had become a patient death. Hands dug into the redness of his chest, and with twists and tugs, the heart of old was finally disconnected.

A gasp escaped from his still suppressed lips. It was enough to make him open his eyes. He watched it fall to the floor, and waited for the gift of light.

AUTHOR'S OTHER WORKS:

‘Angel’, published by Necrology Shorts (Under the pseudonym N.D. Gundersen: http://www.necrologyshorts.com/2010/01/30/angel/)

The Heart’s Lone Desire; to be released May 2011 by Muse it Up Publishing

‘Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow’, published by Death Head Grin magazine (http://deathheadgrin.com/id251.html) and Dead Man’s Tome/Demonic Tome (http://demonictome.com/Aug2010.pdf)

Tantalizing Tuesday

Carly Phillips, Leslie Kelly and Julie Leto have all joined us in the moonlight, and while I've tried to wrangle an interview with the elusive Janelle Denison, she's finally here! We hope you enjoy Flora's interview! - Carrie, a closet Plot Monkey Junky!!!

Before we begin, I must remind everyone of the Moonlight Mistresses boring rule to please try and keep your responses to a PG13 atmosphere – *eye roll*. However, they haven’t seemed to care about double entendres, so let them fly!

My guests today are, Nathan Fox and Nicole Hutton from The Onyx Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. Their tale can be found in INTO THE NIGHT a novel creation by Janelle Denison.

Flora: Thank you Nathan and Nicole for joining us today! Please, Nathan, tell our readers how you two first met. Was it by your design, or hers?

Nathan: My first meeting with Nicole was quite amusing. We were both at a charity speed-dating event, and neither one of us wanted to be there in terms of finding a significant other. I was there as a favor, and she was there to write a fluff piece on dating trends in the 21st century. But just because we were both roped into attending the event, that’s not to say we weren’t attracted to one another. The moment I saw Nicole across the room, I fell in lust. Then I met her, talked to her, and realized she was more than just a beautiful face and curvy, centerfold body. She was funny, exciting, and intelligent, and I fell hard from the get-go.

Flora: Nicole, would you say it was love at first sight or did you find him repulsive?

Nicole: Nathan is quite possibly the hottest, sexiest man I’ve ever met. Dark hair. Deep, sensual voice. A gorgeous body that’s to-die-for. But love at first sight? No. I’m not the kind of woman who gives her heart to a man easily. But Nathan is a very persuasive guy and he made it incredibly hard for me to resist him!

Flora: Since chaotic happenstance tends to put characters like yourselves in situations where they must work together or live together for one reason or another, tell us what chaotic happenstance “forced” the two of you to work or live together. How did you both feel about this?

Nicole: I’m a journalist, and when I discovered, quite accidentally, the details of the case that Nathan was working on, I knew it was something I had to be a part of, because exposing a ruthless, twisted criminal who abuses young teens was very personal for me. So, we decided to work together --

Nathan: *Interrupts Nicole with a deliberate clearing of his throat*. The very last thing I wanted was Nicole involved in any way with this particular case, but the woman didn’t give me much of a choice in the matter. She was determined to nose her way into the investigation, and the only way I could keep an eye on her and protect her was to make sure I was with her 24/7, which forced us into close quarters. But I have to say, in the end, Nicole was the reason why we were able to take down the scumbag we were after, as well as saving a young girl’s life. I might have fought her involvement in the beginning, but I couldn’t have done this without her.

Flora: Nathan, would you say that your relationship developed easily or would you say there was some reluctance? What kind of obstacles were there?

Nathan: Oh, there was plenty of reluctance, especially on Nicole’s part. When I first met her, it was true I wasn’t looking for anything long term, and neither was she. We had a nice little “friends with benefits” agreement, which kept things light and sexy between us. But the situation and the case we were dealing with eventually brought out a lot of emotional stuff for the both of us. I saw a vulnerable side to Nicole that slayed my heart and brought out all my protective instincts . . . even though she made it clear she could do things on her own. This woman is fiercely independent, and beyond stubborn, and the pain of her past kept all sorts of walls between us. But I’m a patient man and know when something, and someone, is worth fighting for.

Flora: How long did it take you to know your true feelings for the other? At what point did you know, “this is the one”?

Nathan: About halfway through the case we were working on I knew that I wanted to pursue a real relationship with Nicole. She, however, wanted just to keep me around for all the great sex. *Winks at Nicole*

Nicole: *Rolls her eyes at Nathan* He’s so full of himself, isn’t he? Okay, yeah, he came around a lot quicker than I did, but I was worth waiting around for, right? And while you were waiting for me to catch up with you on the whole “love” thing, the sex was pretty amazing, don’t you think?

Nathan: Absolutely. Still is. *Wicked Grin*

Flora: This is for either of you. Would you like to thank anyone – other than me, of course – for getting you two together?

Nicole: I have to say, we pretty much brought ourselves together, LOL.

Nathan: I have to say a big thank you to Janelle Denison, our creator, for matching me up with such a perfect, amazing woman. But man, did Janelle make me work hard to finally GET Nicole. She could have made it easier on me!

Janelle: There would have been no fun in that, Nathan. *Grins*

Flora: As we are celebrating fertility and offspring this month, tell us, Nathan and Nicole do you plan on having children in the future? Why or why not? How many do you think you’ll want? Do you prefer sons or daughters, or does it not matter?

Nathan: Yeah, I definitely want children. Two would be perfect. Sons or daughters, it doesn’t matter to me. When Nicole’s ready, we’ll get serious about it, but for now, we’re practicing as often as we can.

Nicole: The man is insatiable! *Laughs* Right now, I’m still focused on my career, but being married to Nathan has made me want things I never thought I’d ever have. Like children. I can’t wait to have a family with Nathan. Being a mom will be the most important role of my life.

Flora: Do either of you garden? Why or why not?

Nicole: I enjoy gardening. I love to plant flowers in the Spring and I recently started a small herb garden.

Nathan: No. Not my thing. I mow the lawn and keep the yard maintained, but that’s about it.

Flora: [interviewer - insert appropriate sarcastic or appraising response]. What are your favorite flowers or plants? What significance do they hold for you?

Nathan: I’m not a plant or flowers kind of guy.

Nicole: I love tulips. Pink ones, especially. My mom used to plant them in the Spring, and they remind me of her. My fresh herb garden consists of parsley, thyme, dill, sage, cilantro and basil. But the funny thing is, I love the taste of fresh herbs in a meal, but I hate to cook. I pick them for Nathan to use. He’s a great cook.

Flora: Thanks so much to Nathan and Nicole for joining us today! Now, I’d like to take some time to speak with their author, Janelle. Thanks for joining us today, Janelle!

Janelle: Hi, Flora and readers! Thank you for the invite!

Flora: First, I’d like to start with some of the questions I asked Nathan and Nicole. Do you garden? Why or why not?

Janelle: I have to confess that I have a black thumb. I don’t garden, or plant flowers, or even attempt to tend to any kind of foliage because I inevitably kill whatever I try to grow. I’ve tried many times, and have failed, so I tend to lean toward using silk plants if I have to. LOL.

Flora: That's a shame! Do you prefer vegetables and fruits, flowers, or both? Which ones are your favorites?

Janelle: Well, I do love flowers. An occasional rose or bouquet from my hubby is always nice. Last year for Mother’s Day he bought me a beautiful (LIVE) orchid plant. I told him the only way I’d keep it is if HE took care of it. He agreed, and I’m happy to report that the plant is still thriving. *grin*

Flora: Wonderful! If you had the chance to do so, would you participate in a community garden? Why or why not? (If you have done this before, please share your experience!)

Janelle: Maybe. If I wasn’t solely responsible for the plants, flowers, or vegetation! But I could be the person who weeds the garden, LOL.

Flora: Weeding is a very important part of caring for plants and flowers! Flowers, trees and plants offer a variety of aromas. What would you say is your favorite aroma and why?

Janelle: Night Blooming Jasmine. Love the little flowers AND the scent!

Flora: A growing trend these days is to grow tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplants, beans and peppers upside down while growing other smaller plants like lettuce, radishes, cress or herbs on top. Is this something you’ll try or have done? Why or why not?

Janelle: I’ve never tried. Refer back to my black thumb above!

Flora: Considering your favorite flower, plant, and/or aroma, have these tastes shown up in your writing? If so, how – If not, why not?

Janelle: I’ve used different flowers, plants, and their accompanying scents in my stories. In fact, in my Harlequin Blaze novella that was out this past February 2011 (NOT ANOTHER BLIND DATE), my heroine owned a floral and plant shop. I used plants and flowers throughout that story. I might not be able to GROW plants and flowers, but I have a huge appreciation for them!

Flora: Appreciation's always good! I’m sorry folks, but that’s all the time we have for today. Thanks to Nathan, Nicole and their author, Janelle, for joining us today and giving us some great answers. We hope you’ll check out their story, Into the Night.

Janelle: Thanks, Flora, for having us! I always appreciate the chance to connect with readers.

To learn more about their author, Janelle, you can visit her at these places:
her website: www.janelledenison.com
on facebook: www.facebook.com/janelledenisonfanpage
in the jungle: www.plotmonkeys.com

TWILIGHT THURSDAY

Last months interviews were so fun, they decided to let me come back in March! Call me Aine this time around…

Before we begin, I must remind everyone of the Moonlight Mistresses boring rule to please try and keep your responses to a PG13 atmosphere – *eye roll*. However, they haven’t seemed to care about double entendres, so let them fly!

My guests today are Trey Brenner and Crystal Winters – please, have a seat on our lovely couch! – from Sandy Valley, Nevada. Their tale can be found in CRYSTAL’S COWBOYS, a novel creation by J. Rose Allister.

*Settling comfortably onto the sofa, *

You two make one fine pair! I did a wonderful job pairing you two up if I do say so myself! Then, I just love all of my matches!

Aine: Please, Trey, tell our readers how you two first met. Was it by your design, or hers?

Trey: It was fate’s design. I shouldn’t have even been out ridin’ in the desert that day—I was supposed to be checkin’ the fence line at the ranch. Instead, me and Raf got to foolin’ around and took off on our horses. Before we knew it, we were out of bounds and ridin’ like the wind…and that’s when I saw her, lyin’ in the dirt under the blazin’ sun. Thought she was a dead animal at first.

Crystal *curling her lip*: A dead animal? Thanks a lot!

Trey: What? It’s not often you ride the Mojave and find an unconscious, gorgeous woman lyin’ in the dust.

Aine: What about you, Crystal? Would you say it was love at first sight, or did you find him repulsive?

Crystal: It was definitely lust at first sight, though to be honest I was out of my mind at the time. I didn’t even think he was real. I thought he was an angel with a Stetson and a cowboy twang. *Turning to Trey with a raised brow* A lot better than thinking you were a dead animal—and I was hallucinating!

Aine: *Ahem,* well, yes, but it’s obvious by the way he devours you with that smoldering blue gaze now that his eyesight has definitely improved! Since chaotic happenstances tends to put characters like yourselves in situations where they must work together or live together for one reason or another, tell us what chaotic happenstance “forced” the two of you to work or live together. How did you both feel about this?

*A newcomer struts over to Aine’s couch with a hot swagger*

Newcomer: Chaotic happenstance? Oh, that little lady there defines chaotic happenstance.

Crystal: Rafael! What are you doing here?

Rafael: Wonderin’ how I got left high on the range durin’ an interview about you and your true love, seein’ as how you and I were married and all.

Trey: Pretend married for one day, and only by your convenient design.

Aine: So, how exactly are you related to these two, then?

*Tipping his hat to the lady*

Rafael: I’m Rafael Monroe, the chaos that happenstanced these two’s plans for a happily-ever-one-on-one.

Trey: There weren’t any plans of the sort. I just got there first—by accident.

Crystal: As you can see, Aine, our lives are definitely chaotic. These two rescued me from a danger I can’t even remember. I just know that it’s real, and there’s no one else I can trust. They’ve hidden me away on the ranch where they live and work, and I’ve been forced to stay there in seclusion and rely on them both.

Trey: Don’t forget the part where we’ll lose our jobs if you get discovered there.

Rafael: And despite that, I had to smuggle you off the ranch when you got too sick for us to care for.*waggling brows* Not that I didn’t enjoy some of your more imaginative fevered delusions. Quite the fierce temptation.

Trey: Raf and I both wanted her so bad that we could taste it. *lowering voice* To top it off, Crystal isn’t the only one of us who has secrets. If all that isn’t chaos, I don’t know what is.

Aine: Sounds like you were all definitely thrust together by some rather fateful happenstance. Trey, would you say that your relationship developed easily or would you say there was some reluctance?

Trey: I wasn’t exactly dragged into it kickin’ and screamin’—

*Cut off by a laugh*

Rafael: Oh, there was some screamin’, partner.

Trey: —but there was definite reluctance. How could I trust this woman? We found her under suspicious circumstances. She didn’t want to go to a hospital, wouldn’t let us call the police, and I wasn’t sure whether her story about not rememberin’ what happened was on the level. I had no idea whether I was rescuin’ a victim or a bad guy. Plus I had other reasons for not startin’ any relationship. The timin’ couldn’t be worse, because I… *Trailing off with a weighted glance at Rafael, he falls silent*

Rafael: Somethin’ you aren’t tellin’ me, isn’t there?

Trey: And I suppose you’ve told me everythin’? Like what’s inside that twisted mind when you think I don’t see you starin’?”

Aine: Movin’, I mean, moving right along…How long did it take you to know your true feelings for the other? At what point did you know, “this is the one”?

Crystal: I knew, I think, before I’d even come back to lucidity after my nap in the desert. I just didn’t know what to do about it. There was so much else going on in my life that a romance was the last thing I needed. Then suddenly, I wanted not one, but two of the most incredible men I’d ever met. Heroes, both of them. How was I supposed to choose?

Rafael: I knew about three seconds after we found her lyin’ in the Mojave. I’d never seen anythin’ more beautiful, and unlike my issues-with-women partner over there, the timin’ couldn’t have been more perfect for me to fall for her.

Aine: Rafael, sounds like it was a fast and easy choice. What would you say was your biggest obstacle to overcome before you could settle into a relationship with Crystal?

Rafael: That’s easy. Trey.

Trey: He thought Crystal and I were cheatin’ behind his back.

Rafael: Which was true, sort of, but that wasn’t it. I knew there was chemistry between Trey and Crystal, but I was damned certain she and I had it, too. But there was some other chemistry in the air that I wasn’t sure what to do with. That needed resolvin’ before I could really devote myself to her completely.

Aine: This is for any of you. Would you like to thank anyone – other than me, of course – for getting you two—well, perhaps I should say you three—together?

Rafael: Yes, definitely us three. I’d like to thank Trey, because if he hadn’t forced me to neglect my ranch hand duties to take our little unscheduled ride, we never would have found Crystal.

Trey: Forced you? Like you haven’t been the instigator in at least a half-dozen of my least advisable adventures. Need I remind you of the Vegas stripper?

Crystal: I can’t honestly say I can thank the situation that ended with me unconscious in the desert, whatever it is, but I’m definitely glad there’s still such a thing as western heroes.

Aine: I know our readers have enjoyed learning about you three so far, but I’m getting a little bored, so I’m going to heat things up. Crystal, how would you end this sentence, "I wish Trey would _____?" *leans forward to eagerly hear your response*

*Rafael jumps up*

Rafael: There’s this unbelievably hot thing she likes, where I have her bend down and—

Crystal: Rafael! May I remind you that this is a PG-13 forum? Besides, Aine was asking me about Trey.

Rafael: Naturally. Always in a hurry to get to Trey. *An amused look passes between them*

Crystal: Sorry, Aine. Hm, I guess my answer would be, I wish Trey would learn what I found out about Rafael, and then act on it.

Aine: Mm, sounds like some of your secrets are starting to come out. Don’t suppose you’d like to elaborate? *Rafael elbows Crystal, who shrugs innocently* Rafael, would you prefer to give Crystal a bubble bath or a back massage? Why?

Rafael: Funny you should ask that question, because it just so happens that I am quite adept at both. Just ask Trey.

Trey: Excuse me? I’ll have y’all know I have never let Rafael give me a bubble bath.

Rafael: But who’s got the magic fingers you said could massage life back into a corpse? Anyway, Aine, I have had the honor of offering Crystal a candlelit bath. Let me say it was the hottest, wettest experience I have ever had. Gonna have to go with that.

Aine: My, isn’t it getting warm in here? Now, how many of you remember that old show, The Newlywed Game? Well, these next questions are going to help us play a similar game. Let’s see how well you know each other. Crystal, what would Trey say is your aphrodisiac? *waggles eyebrows*

Crystal: *smiles suggestively* Definitely his award-winning chili. It was like a spiritual experience.

Aine: Trey, did she correctly guess your answer? How would you have answered that question?

Trey: She nailed it. I’ve won cookoffs with that con carne. When I watched her take a mouthful, it was like I’d sent her to heaven—in an entirely different sort of way, if you catch my meanin’. About the sexiest thing I’d ever seen, watchin’ her eat it.

Rafael: That’s because you missed seein’ her get spanked up in the hotel room at Caesar’s.

Aine: Now there’s an intriguing tale I’m sure wouldn’t fit our PG-13 criteria! *sits back in his chair* Rafael, what would Crystal say is a spot guaranteed to drive you crazy with passion? Is she correct in that assumption?

Rafael: Where Crystal’s concerned, I have this one special, particular spot. It starts right here, *points to the top of his head*, and ends right there. *Holds up a well-worn cowboy boot and grins*

Crystal: You earn big points for flattery, cowboy, but you missed the answer. *Voice falls to a conspiring whisper as she leans toward Aine* Raf’s nipples are hypersensitive—maybe even more so than my own. *giggles*

Aine: As many of us might have guessed from that tight black tank top he’s wearing. *readjusts his position in the chair* It’s time to cool things off just a tad. Crystal, as far as you know, what is Trey’s idea of a perfect date?

Crystal: As far as I know? Trey’s perfect date involves a dark, abandoned bunkhouse, an air mattress, and French fries with mayonnaise.

Rafael: Actually, I’m the one who brought the fries that night.

Aine: Trey, is she correct? If not, what is your idea of a perfect date?

Trey: Sadly, no. I’m afraid we haven’t been able to offer Crystal much in the way of creature comforts since we’ve had her holed up. But with the right opportunity, my ideal date would involve a picnic by a flowin’ stream, a basket of red wine and cheese, and very little clothin’.

Aine: Rafael, your turn in the hot seat. What is Crystal’s idea of a perfect date?

Rafael: She doesn’t strike me as the fussy type, so I’d say we’re talkin’ a moonlit stroll, cricket song for background music, and skinny dippin’.

Aine: Crystal, is he correct? If not, what is your idea of a perfect date?

Crystal: *staring at both men with wide eyes* I don’t know, but I just changed it. Moonlit stroll, wine and cheese, skinny dipping. Oh, yeah.


Aine: I’m right there with you. *Questioning eyes shift Aine’s way* Well, you know, not literally with you, but…anyway. I want to switch gears just a bit. March has close connections to Ireland, and as many of us acknowledge, Ireland is steeped in myths and mysticism, as are many Native American tribal beliefs. Do any of the three of you believe in this type of mysticism? Have you had any experiences that helped you develop these beliefs?

Crystal: Oh, yes. I’m of Irish descent, and I remember Grams always talking about Celtic magic. She used to warn me not to step in a fairy ring, or else they would steal me away and never let me come back. To this day I watch out for mushroom rings and steer around.

Rafael: Not many fairy rings to worry about in the desert, darlin’. I went to an Indian pow-wow in college once, though. Some damned intriguing experiences happened there—and that was before they passed around any funny stuff in a pipe. So yeah, I believe there are things goin’ on that you want to respect.

Trey: Where was I when you were havin’ all these college adventures? I might have liked to have gone to a pow-wow too, you know.

Rafael: *snorting* You? You were too busy bein’ a math genius. You had no mind for the fact you were headed for cowboy life, let alone for native mysticism.

Aine: True believers come from all walks of life. Where do you three see yourselves in 5 years?

Crystal: I honestly don’t know. This whole situation hit me so hard, so fast—and I don’t even understand what the situation is. I might be stuck on the run forever, or I might remember tomorrow that I can go back to my life. Until I know more, it’s difficult for me to see a week in front of me, let alone years.

Rafael: In 5 years, I’d like to be lookin’ at gettin’ a ranch of my own. Nothin’ fancy, mind you. Not like the Laughing L where we work, with beef herd for market. I’d just like a small setup to take care of me and my own. *Turns to the other cowboy* How ‘bout you, Trey?

Trey: Me? Well, I, uh, I’m gonna have to take the fifth on that one. My situation’s a bit complicated right now.

Aine: I’m sorry folks, but that’s all the time we have for today. Thanks to Trey, Crystal, and Rafael for joining us today and giving us some great answers. We hope you’ll check out their story, CRYSTAL’S COWBOYS.

To learn more about their author, J. Rose Allister, visit: http://jroseallister.com

BUY LINK: http://bookstrand.com/crystals-cowboys

Blurb:

Crystal finds herself lying in the blazing Nevada desert with no memory of how she got there--and two cowboys riding to the rescue. Ranch hands Trey and Rafael are hot as hell, and both of them want her desperately. Rather than choose between them, she shares them both in the old abandoned bunkhouse where they keep her as their sexy little secret.

Riding double sends them soaring to sexual heights, and Crystal is especially intrigued at the thought that her two cowboys might want to tame each other as well. But their own secrets and her forgotten danger could cost her both of her western heroes. Will their wild ride end in a hard fall?

Excerpt:
Prying her eyes open took some effort—sleep had apparently tried to glue them shut permanently. When her eyes fluttered open, the first thing she saw was a head tucked against her left side, down near her waist. A man’s head. She blinked and looked again. A sandy-haired man was seated in a chair that had been pulled alongside her bed. He leaned way forward to rest his head on the forearms he had folded on her mattress. Hair fell across part of his face, obscuring his features, but she could see the square angles of a clean-shaven jaw and an eye that was firmly closed. She had no idea who this man was, but he felt familiar and safe.

A swell of tenderness and curiosity rose, and she reached out to push aside the loose sweep of bangs to get a better look. Crystal’s fingertips had barely brushed against his hair when she spotted the anomaly on the back of her hand. She sucked in a breath, then gasped louder when his hand shot out to grab hers.

He shook back his bangs, and she recognized his sapphire eyes. That sexy, breath-stealing gaze had been making cameo appearances in her most recent dreams—bizarre dreams at that. There had been one where two cowboys had ridden to her rescue, just like an old western. Then later, all of them stripped naked and got in a hot tub, very not like an old western.

The man sat up in his seat and offered a lopsided smile that could no doubt become the ruin of many a woman. “Hello,” he said.

“Um, hi.” She reached a hand up to her hair, wondering just how terrifying she must look—and where the hell she was. Although, the tubing and tape stuck to the back of her hand gave her some ideas about both.

“Nice to see you awake.”

“Thanks.” She’d say it was nice to be awake, but she hadn’t quite decided yet.

With some difficulty, she pulled her eyes away from the gorgeous stranger and looked around the room. Everything was done in pale, whitewashed shades and looked somewhat modern and homey—until her eyes found what she’d been looking for. The buzzing sound she’d heard came from a computerized vital signs monitor, and beside that stood in IV pole with a couple bags of clear fluid hanging from it.

“I’m in a hospital?”

The man nodded. “Sorry about that.”

She glanced back at him with a frown. “Why? Did you do something to hurt me?”

His expression clouded from pleasant to concern. “You don’t remember anythin’? The desert?”

“I remember vultures.”

He shook his head. “I don’t recall any vultures.”

She thought harder, then her eyes widened when some of her memories reassembled themselves. “It wasn’t a dream, was it? I remember you—and another man with big brown eyes.”

“That was Rafael. I’m Trey.”

“You found me on the ground and carried me out.” Her eyes narrowed as she searched his face. “Am I crazy, or are you a cowboy who rode up on a white horse?”

His deep laugh brought heat to her cheeks, and not only because she felt silly admitting her fantasy out loud. “You’re not crazy. I rode you out on a roan paint, but I imagine in the bright sun he might have looked white at the time.”

“Oh.”

She hadn’t been dreaming. So why couldn’t she remember much of what had happened after that?

A jab of panic shot through her. If that part hadn’t been a dream, what about the other part?

She couldn’t quite look at him while she asked. “We weren’t in a hot tub together at some point, were we?”

“A hot tub?” The laugh came again. “I’m afraid the accommodations we offered you at the ranch weren’t that high quality.”

BUY LINK: http://bookstrand.com/crystals-cowboys