Snippet Sunday - Bronco's Rough Ride - Sharp Dressed Man, Kinda

Welcome to the Snippet Sunday on the Weird, the Wild, and the Wicked. Thank you so much for visiting. If you choose to comment today, I really appreciate it. The snippets are from my current release, Bronco's Rough Ride, a military romantic suspense set in Las Vegas. It's a prequel to The Navy's Ghost, set 10 years earlier. No paranormal critters in this one, though there's plenty of kick-ass adventure and hot sex. You can read last week's snippet HERE.

Lindsey is trying to get John dressed, but 200 lbs of dead weight man is harder to manipulate than she thought. We're in John's POV and he'd really like to help her, but he can't yet.

She tugged the shirt around his shoulders then paused, giving a short laugh. “This would be so much easier if you could help me. Okay, up you go.” She shoved him into a sitting position, grunting with her efforts. The world spun as his head sagged and her arms wrapped around him to keep him upright. Well, kinda upright. He swayed and tilted, and his own frustration echoed the low growl rumbling in her chest against his back.

“This is so wrong, it’s funny.” She laid her head on his shoulder and took a few breaths. “Okay, I think I have to roll you onto your belly, lift your other arm to get it in the sleeve, then roll you back. God help me when I have to get the jacket on you. Ready?”

What could he say? She sat behind him and he couldn’t turn his head.

“All right. Here we go.”

Have you ever tried to move someone who's dead asleep? Same idea here. ;) There are several great authors on the Weekend Writing Warrior list and in the Snippet Sunday Facebook group. A few of my favorites are Charley Descoteaux, SJ Maylee, Gem Sivad, Goran Zidar, Veronica Scott, and Karla Doyle.

If you're interested in more from Bronco's Rough Ride, here's the blurb:

What happens in Vegas, stays in the heart...

Chief Petty Officer John "Bronco" Andrews only meant to stay one night in Vegas for a little R&R before resuming his duties as a US Navy SEAL in Coronado. But someone slips him a mickey in the bar and he finds himself in Madame LeBeau's sex trade. As the product. Doped up on ketamine to keep him docile, Bronco has no choice but to let it ride.

Detective Lindsey Jarvis has been undercover in LeBeau's sex slave racket for two years and she almost has enough evidence to take it down. Between abduction, prostitution, and murder, she has LeBeau by the short hairs. All she needs is a "product". John is the perfect witness if she can get him out before the drugs shut down his heart. Then she'll be free to start a normal life.

Lindsey doesn't count on her overwhelming attraction for Bronco or her need to see him through detox. But she's a cop in Vegas and he's a Navy SEAL, two lifestyles with too much unpredictability to maintain a relationship. Neither have time for more than one wild rough ride, and what happens in Vegas, stays. Forever.

It's now available at Smashwords, Amazon, B&N, and All Romance eBooks. Thanks so much for stopping by and happy reading. :)

#ThursThreads - Week 121 - Winners

Week 121 of #ThursThreads had some terrific tales. I'm honored to see all of the returning writers and read your stories. Thank you for coming back again and again to write and for helping me celebrate these years of flash. It was also wonderful to have some new folks stop by. Welcome! Great thanks to Cara Michaels for judging this week. Be sure to check out the #ThursThreads #flashfiction group on FB to keep up with news, etc.

Entries:

• Sandi Layne | @Sandyquill
• Charles W Jones | @ChuckWesJ
• Alice Wilson | @Ali_OMalley
• M.T. Decker | @mishmhem
• Olivia Starke | @OliviaStarke
• Silver James | @SilverJames_
• L.T. Dalin | @ChessnySilth
• Siobhan Muir | @SiobhanMuir
• Josh Peters | @joshbgosh
• Charley Emma | @Charley_001
• Lizzie Koch | @Lizzie_Koch
• Hunter Frost | @HunterFrostMM

Cara says: Let me start by saying… y'all have some relationship issues and I'm scared. Explosive arguments and accidental (or premeditated) murderous tendencies aside, you gave me an interesting selection of tales ranging from relationship drama to action-adventure to mystery to sci-fi and fantasy. Thank you for writing, and I look forward to seeing works in progress further developed.

Winners Announcement:

Honorable Mentions

Alice Wilson | @Ali_OMalley

Cara says: I'll be honest and say this story concept is not my favorite. However, there is no denying that your writing is crisp and solid.

L.T. Dalin | @ChessnySilth

Cara says: This is a rocking action sequence. The end is a little ambiguous (is the voice reminding the driver of the deal about the dune buggy or is something more menacing about to go down?) but I enjoyed the overall feel of the piece.

Hunter Frost | @HunterFrostMM

Cara says: And the relationship drama gives way to refreshing and amusing honesty. Good character interactions and clean writing.

Week 121 Winner

Josh Peters | @joshbgosh

Cara says: This tiny sci-fi tale is at once terrifying and sad. Alma's AI/computer logic adds to the sadness with a touch of childlike confusion as Jed's final request counters any chance of survival. The building sense of inevitable tragedy is maintained throughout with solid writing and a clear concept.

Jed opened his eyes and saw only darkness. The air in his space suit tasted stale.

“Alma, open visor,” Jed said.

A moment later the computer replied, her voice smooth and calm.

“Rebooting.”

Jed remembered the repair had gone well but on his return to the airlock he saw a flash then nothing.

“Warning,” Alma said. “Low Power.”

“Alma, open my visor,” said Jed.

The dark visor cleared, giving him a view of Nexus 3 hanging below, his body floating in a cloud of debris.

He drifted in space, floating toward the planet.

Jed checked his power and air supply, confirming both at minimal levels, 30 minutes at best. He went over his options, ran possibilities through Alma, and came to terms with the situation.

“Alma, send message to Evie.”

“Warning. Power required to send message will deplete available supply.”

“Understood. Let’s do this.”

“Do this?” questioned Alma.

Jed felt strained and light headed. He sighed.

“You know what I mean. Compose message.”

“Every day without you feels like a year and now it will become forever. Make sure Terra knows how much her father loves her and misses her every day. I love you always.”

Jed felt a tear slide down his cheek.

“Send message.”

“Message sent. Shut down immanent.”

Jed watched the planet below as the cold of space crept into his suit.

The sun began to rise at the edge of the planet and Jed smiled. His smile lasted an eternity.

Congratulations Winner Josh, Alice, L.T., and Hunter! Don't forget to claim your badges and display them with pride. You certainly earned it!

Pass on the great news on Twitter, Facebook, Google Plus, shiny mirrors, Morse Code, and signal flags. Check out all the stories here. Thanks for stopping by and happy reading! :)

Cover Reveal! Exquisite Trouble by Ann Mayburn

Welcome to the Weird, the Wild, & the Wicked for a very special event. My friend Ann Mayburn, one of the coolest women I know asked if I'd be willing to show off her upcoming release. Hello, do greyhounds chase rabbits? YES! Her new book, Exquisite Trouble, comes out August 2nd 2014.

This is a New Adult erotic biker romance and knowing Ann, it'll be hot stuff. :)

Here's the blurb:

Before I met Smoke I'd never been kissed, really kissed, by a man, let alone a biker sex god bent on taking my virginity and my heart.

I got dragged into the deadly world of the Iron Horse MC by my crazy twin sister who is engaged to the club’s President and the schemes of my even crazier mom who only cares about herself. Smoke has been assigned by the club to keep me safe even though he’s everything that I should be afraid of. He's the kind of man who lives by his own rules and does whatever he wants whenever he wants, but he treats me like I’m something rare and precious, not a socially dysfunctional basket case who has no idea how to love, but needs him more than her next breath.

Not that my feelings matter, because if we don't find my mother soon, the only thing I'll have to be worried about is who is going to kill me first.

About Ann

Ann is Queen of the Castle to her wonderful husband and three sons in the mountains of West Virginia. In her past lives she's been an Import Broker, a Communications Specialist, a US Navy Civilian Contractor, a Bartender/Waitress, and an actor at the Michigan Renaissance Festival. She also spent a summer touring with the Grateful Dead-though she will deny to her children that it ever happened.

From a young age she's been fascinated by myths and fairytales, and the romance that often was the center of the story. As Ann grew older and her hormones kicked in, she discovered trashy romance novels. Great at first, but she soon grew tired of the endless stories with a big wonderful emotional buildup to really short and crappy sex. Never a big fan of purple prose, throbbing spears of fleshy pleasure and wet honey pots make her giggle, she sought out books that gave the sex scenes in the story just as much detail and plot as everything else-without using cringe worthy euphemisms. This led her to the wonderful world of Erotic Romance, and she's never looked back.

Now Ann spends her days trying to tune out cartoons playing in the background to get into her 'sexy space' and has learned to type one handed while soothing a cranky baby.

Thanks for stopping by. Keep an eye out for Exquisite Trouble, coming August 2nd 2014. Happy reading. :)

#ThursThreads - The Challenge That Ties Tales Together - Week 121

Welcome back to the Weird, the Wild, & the Wicked. It's Thursday today, so get your flash ready. Writing a #flashfiction thread! Welcome to Week 121 of #ThursThreads, the challenge that ties tales together. One new thing: We now start at 7 am MOUNTAIN TIME. Want to keep up each week? You're welcome to join the FB #ThursThreads group where we'll do events and make announcements. Need the rules? Read on.

Here's how it works:

• The prompt is a line from the previous week's winning tale.
• The prompt can appear ANYWHERE in your story and is included in your word count.

Rules to the Game:

• This is a Flash Fiction challenge, which means your story must be a minimum of 100 words, maximum of 250.
• Incorporate the prompt anywhere into your story (included in your word count).
• Post your story in the comments section of this post
• Include your word count (or be excluded from judging)
• Include your Twitter handle or email (so we know how to find you)
• The challenge is open 7 AM to 8 PM Mountain Time
• The winner will be announced on Friday, depending on how early the judge gets up.

How it benefits you:

• You get a nifty cool badge to display on your blog or site (because we're all about promotion - you know you are!)
• You get instant recognition of your writing prowess on this blog!
• Your writing colleagues shall announce and proclaim your greatness on Facebook, Twitter, and Google Plus

Our Judge for Week 121:

Sci-fi adventurist, Typo Sniper, and #flashfiction Master, Cara Michaels.

Cara on Facebook

Cara on Twitter

Cara on Goodreads

Cara Google Plus

And now your #ThursThreads Challenge, tying tales together.

The Prompt:

“Know what I mean?”

All stories written herein are the property (both intellectual and physical) of the authors. Now, away with you, Flash Fiction Fanatics, and show us your #ThursThreads. Good luck!

Mid Week Tease: The Bone Flute - Things Get Serious

Welcome to the Weird, the Wild, & the Wicked for a new year of Mid Week Tease hosted by Sandra Bunino.

Authors: this is a great opportunity to spotlight a few lines or even a paragraph or two from a new release or backlisted title. Readers: you get to sample some delicious snippets! We’ll do our best to tease, titillate and tantalize you into the weekend.

I'm working on a new paranormal romantic suspense set in Las Vegas, entitled The Bone Flute. In this unedited snippet, Jozsef reminds Rain of the curse laid on him by her ancestor. Unfortunately, he loses his temper. This is in Rain's POV.

“Come, lady, surely you know the story of the bone flute and what it means to your family.” Disgust twisted his handsome features.

She looked at him blankly. “The bone flute?”

“The bone flute and the curse.”

His voice rumbled with anger and regret.

“There’s a curse attached to that bone flute?” She glanced at the box again. What the hell had she inherited?

He growled and her eyes snapped back to him. “There’s no need to play innocent. I’ve realized the mistake I made and I’ve paid and paid and paid for it. Tell me how to undo the curse and I shall leave you and your family alone for once and for all.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Have done, my lady!” His arms dropped to his sides, his hands fisting as anger suffused his face. “I’m sorry for the death of your relative, but you must know I’ve paid for my mistake. Now release me.”

Rain stared at the man glaring at her like an ancient barbarian warrior and wondered if he was an asylum escapee. She’d thought him nuts when he stood at her cubicle like some sort of Renaissance Faire reject, but now he just confirmed her suspicions. He definitely wasn’t dealing with a full deck.

Shaking her head, she flicked the knife blade at him.

“Get out. Take your delusions and weirdness with you and get out of my house.”

“By all the saints!” He vaulted over her island and pinned her to the counter with his weight as he ripped the knife from her hand. “I can’t leave your house until you release me from the curse your relative laid on me!”

The force of his fury broke through her courage and she blinked as tears leaked out the corners to slide down the sides of her face. In his rage, he could kill her without much effort, and all anyone would find would be her body.

Gathering what little courage she had left, she took a deep breath and raised her chin.

“Please don’t hurt me.”

Thanks for stopping by and happy reading. If you want to read more from other authors, click the link and enjoy...
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Snippet Sunday - Bronco's Rough Ride - Map of Experience

Welcome to the Snippet Sunday on the Weird, the Wild, and the Wicked. Sorry I haven't been around much, I've moved locations, found the internet, and now can do more. Thank you so much for visiting. If you choose to comment today, I really appreciate it. The snippets are from my upcoming release, Bronco's Rough Ride, a military romantic suspense set in Las Vegas. It's a prequel to The Navy's Ghost, set 10 years earlier. No paranormal critters in this one, though there's plenty of kick-ass adventure and hot sex. You can read last week's snippet HERE.

Lindsey is trying to make an awkward situation better by talking to John as she attempts to get him dressed. Not quite like dressing a baby doll. For example, he's bigger, heavier, and far more aware of what she's doing.

She reached for his arm and gathered the heavy limb, enjoying the scent of his skin and the rough texture of his palm. She rubbed the calluses with her thumbs, noting the locations of them. The calluses spoke of experience and understanding of weapons. Something about them sent excitement shooting to her groin. Damn, military men are sexy.

“You have beautiful hands, John.” She turned his arm over to look at the veins and muscles beneath the dark hair of his forearm. “I love the strength in them. They show your experience without being ostentatious. You don’t have to scream about your knowledge. Your body shows your capabilities.” She raised her gaze to his. “It’s beautiful.”

I couldn't agree more with Lindsey. ;) There are several great authors on the Weekend Writing Warrior list and in the Snippet Sunday Facebook group. A few of my favorites are Charley Descoteaux, SJ Maylee, Gem Sivad, Goran Zidar, Veronica Scott, and Karla Doyle.

If you're interested in more from Bronco's Rough Ride, here's the blurb:

What happens in Vegas, stays in the heart...

Chief Petty Officer John "Bronco" Andrews only meant to stay one night in Vegas for a little R&R before resuming his duties as a US Navy SEAL in Coronado. But someone slips him a mickey in the bar and he finds himself in Madame LeBeau's sex trade. As the product. Doped up on ketamine to keep him docile, Bronco has no choice but to let it ride.

Detective Lindsey Jarvis has been undercover in LeBeau's sex slave racket for two years and she almost has enough evidence to take it down. Between abduction, prostitution, and murder, she has LeBeau by the short hairs. All she needs is a "product". John is the perfect witness if she can get him out before the drugs shut down his heart. Then she'll be free to start a normal life.

Lindsey doesn't count on her overwhelming attraction for Bronco or her need to see him through detox. But she's a cop in Vegas and he's a Navy SEAL, two lifestyles with too much unpredictability to maintain a relationship. Neither have time for more than one wild rough ride, and what happens in Vegas, stays. Forever.

It's now available at Smashwords, Amazon, B&N, and All Romance eBooks. Thanks so much for stopping by and happy reading. :)

#ThursThreads - Week 120 - Winners

Week 120 of #ThursThreads had some terrific tales. I'm honored to see all of the returning writers and read your stories. Thank you for coming back again and again to write and for helping me celebrate these years of flash. It was also wonderful to have some new folks stop by. Welcome! Great thanks to Silver James for judging this week. Be sure to check out the #ThursThreads #flashfiction group on FB to keep up with news, etc.

Entries:

• Sheilagh Lee | @SweetSheil
• Jessica West | @West1Jess
• L.T. Dalin | @ChessnySilth
• Anna Lund | @AnnaLund2011
• Siobhan Muir | @SiobhanMuir
• Cate Derham | @Cate_Derham
• Cara Michaels | @caramichaels
• M.T. Decker | @mishmhem
• Anastasia Vitsky | @AnastasiaVitsky
• Louisa Bacio | @LouisaBacio
• Josh Peters | @joshbgosh
• Kelly Heinen | @Aightball
• Hunter Frost | @HunterFrostMM

Silver says: Everyone who submitted this week should be very proud of your work. It was my honor to be your judge. Well done to all you!

Winners Announcement:

Honorable Mentions

Anna Lund | @AnnaLund2011

Silver says: Story through prose with a very "Gravity" feel to it. Lovely stuff. I reread it several times just to enjoy it again.

Cate Derham | @Cate_Derham

Silver says: Wonderfully written scene that captured the characters' personality and relationship in so few words. You've got me all curious about them now.

L.T. Dalin | @ChessnySilth

Silvers says: I do love an alpha male with 'tude and a girl who takes no guff from him. Well written, fun, and I like to know the back story and what happens to them.

Louisa Bacio | @LouisaBacio

Silver says: Whoa! Hot stuff here but the writing beautifully illustrated the scene through sound cues, texture, and the tension in the POV character.

Week 120 Winner

Cara Michaels | @caramichaels

Silver says: Cara's entry was well-written, flawless, and even as I was going "awwwww", I was laughing. There's nothing better than being entertained on multiple levels. Plus, I admit to a certain fondness for "smartaft" AI. I definitely want to read this one because I have the feeling Captain Sinjun Levy might be a new book boyfriend.

I lifted my eyes to the sky where the first stars twinkled in the deepening indigo. I missed the black, something I’d never thought possible. I curled my toes into the tilled dirt beneath me even as my soul reached.

“I need some space.” Wide open possibilities. Weightless. Limitless. “Know what I mean?”

I turned to Levy, who gave me his back as he walked away, his carriage stiff.

“Sinjun, where are you going?”

The pirate half turned, enough for me to make out a bitter smile.

“To give you space, love.”

“I meant—” The door banged shut behind him. “Outer space.” I kicked the ground. “You know. Stars, travel, flying.” Explaining myself to myself lacked a certain satisfaction. “Idiot.”

I was pretty sure I meant him.

|He could have given you a chance to finish.| Ursula tutted in my shiplink. |Men are so melodramatic.|

“And ships are nosy.”

The AI trilled in response.

|How else am I to learn about my new crew?|

“I don’t know, Ursula.” Hell, I couldn’t manage to learn about one person in the galaxy. And he liked me well enough to kiss me. “Conversation is usually a good place to start.”

She made a rumbling, snorting sound.

|Yes, of course. Because that tactic is working so well for you and Captain Levy, yes?|

“Great. My ship is a smart ass.”

|Technically, I have no ass. I suppose my stern—oh—aft!| Ursula’s vocals distorted. |I am a smart aft.|

“Laugh it up, rustbucket.”

Congratulations TWELVE TIME WINNER Cara, Anna, Cate, L.T., and Louisa! Don't forget to claim your badges and display them with pride. You certainly earned it!

Pass on the great news on Twitter, Facebook, Google Plus, shiny mirrors, Morse Code, and signal flags. Check out all the stories here. Thanks for stopping by and happy reading! :)

#ThursThreads - The Challenge That Ties Tales Together - Week 120

Welcome back to the Weird, the Wild, & the Wicked. It's Thursday today, so get your flash ready. Writing a #flashfiction thread! Welcome to Week 120 of #ThursThreads, the challenge that ties tales together. One new thing: We now start at 7 am MOUNTAIN TIME. Want to keep up each week? You're welcome to join the FB #ThursThreads group where we'll do events and make announcements. Need the rules? Read on.

Here's how it works:

• The prompt is a line from the previous week's winning tale.
• The prompt can appear ANYWHERE in your story and is included in your word count.

Rules to the Game:

• This is a Flash Fiction challenge, which means your story must be a minimum of 100 words, maximum of 250.
• Incorporate the prompt anywhere into your story (included in your word count).
• Post your story in the comments section of this post
• Include your word count (or be excluded from judging)
• Include your Twitter handle or email (so we know how to find you)
• The challenge is open 7 AM to 7 PM Mountain Time
• The winner will be announced on Friday, depending on how early the judge gets up.

How it benefits you:

• You get a nifty cool badge to display on your blog or site (because we're all about promotion - you know you are!)
• You get instant recognition of your writing prowess on this blog!
• Your writing colleagues shall announce and proclaim your greatness on Facebook, Twitter, and Google Plus

Our Judge for Week 120:

Forensic photographer, "Newfie" owner, and paranormal romantic suspense author, Silver James.

 

Silver on Facebook

Silver on Twitter

Silver on Google Plus

Silver on Goodreads

And now your #ThursThreads Challenge, tying tales together.

 

The Prompt:

“I need some space.”

All stories written herein are the property (both intellectual and physical) of the authors. Now, away with you, Flash Fiction Fanatics, and show us your #ThursThreads. Good luck!

Mid Week Tease - The Bone Flute - The Visitor

Welcome to the Weird, the Wild, & the Wicked for a new year of Mid Week Tease hosted by Sandra Bunino.

Authors: this is a great opportunity to spotlight a few lines or even a paragraph or two from a new release or backlisted title. Readers: you get to sample some delicious snippets! We’ll do our best to tease, titillate and tantalize you into the weekend.

I'm working on a new paranormal romantic suspense set in Las Vegas, entitled The Bone Flute. In this unedited snippet, Rain is home from work and reminiscing about the weird guy she met that day. Until he shows up again.

Rain shrieked, jumping backward until she landed against the counter with her knife block. She grabbed the first knife she could and held it out against the figure of a tall, broad shouldered man standing just beyond the island.

He snorted at her choice of weapon and she realized she held a paring knife, but she’d make do if he thought he’d take her easy.

“Who the hell are you and what the fuck are you doing in my house?”

He stood silently, his legs braced apart and his arms folded over his chest, and just looked at her with the same chocolate brown eyes she’d been imagining. He towered above her, at least 6’2”, and his body had enough muscle to be about 200 pounds of derisive male. He had a full beard trimmed short the same color as the hair on his head and she saw a stone pendent on a leather thong hanging around his neck.

“What are you planning to do with that, my lady?”

“I’m planning on getting you out of my house!” Rain wished she’d grabbed a better knife. She darted to the side and ripped open a drawer with her larger knives, keeping the long side of the island between them.

He watched her carefully, shifting with her as she brandished a long bread knife at him. It increased her reach by a good twelve inches and it had a serrated edge for maximum damage. She figured she could cut a limb fairly deeply with it if she had to.

“Did you follow me? Are you stalking me? Get out of here before I call the cops.”

Her heart pounded and her stomach knotted, but she held her hand steady and glared at her intruder.

He raised his hands up in a placating gesture. “Becalm yourself, my lady. I’m not here to hurt you. You brought me here, I didn’t follow you.”

“What the hell are you talking about?”

Keeping his hands where she could see them, he moved to the side and pointed at the long box on the table. She followed his motions, glancing quickly at the box, then back to him.

“The bone flute, my lady. I’m bound to it. Where it goes, I must also go."

Thanks for stopping by and happy reading. If you want to read more from other authors, click the link and enjoy...

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Snippet Sunday - Bronco's Rough Ride - Always Carry a Knife

Welcome to the Snippet Sunday on the Weird, the Wild, and the Wicked. Sorry I haven't been around much, I've moved locations and my office is just now getting set up. Thank you so much for visiting. If you choose to comment today, I really appreciate it. The snippets are from my upcoming release, Bronco's Rough Ride, a military romantic suspense set in Las Vegas. It's a prequel to The Navy's Ghost, set 10 years earlier. No paranormal critters in this one, though there's plenty of kick-ass adventure and hot sex. You can read last week's snippet HERE.

Lindsey has received her special delivery and she just has to remain calm enough to get the nullifier in to Bronco and get him out the door.

Lindsey grabbed a glass in her kitchenette and filled it with water to calm her nerves. She’d swept the room for bugs earlier, but her whole mission depended upon her appearing completely at ease. Even if they can’t see or hear me. She refused to admit her nervousness came from the man lying on the bed in the other room.

She gulped down the last of her water and headed for the room. He needed to be untied and dressed. She chuckled and shook her head. This isn’t going to be like dressing a baby doll. None of her dolls had ever been fully articulated, much less anatomically correct.

The orderlies had laid him on the bed on his back, his hands and ankles bound. Growling, she darted to her purse. She might only have a small decorative pocketknife, but zipties still broke before steel. Who knew a TV show would come in so handy? Rule number nine: Always carry a knife.

Who says TV isn't educational? ;) There are several great authors on the Weekend Writing Warrior list and in the Snippet Sunday Facebook group. A few of my favorites are Charley Descoteaux, SJ Maylee, Gem Sivad, Goran Zidar, Veronica Scott, and Karla Doyle.

If you're interested in more from Bronco's Rough Ride, here's the blurb:

What happens in Vegas, stays in the heart...

Chief Petty Officer John "Bronco" Andrews only meant to stay one night in Vegas for a little R&R before resuming his duties as a US Navy SEAL in Coronado. But someone slips him a mickey in the bar and he finds himself in Madame LeBeau's sex trade. As the product. Doped up on ketamine to keep him docile, Bronco has no choice but to let it ride.

Detective Lindsey Jarvis has been undercover in LeBeau's sex slave racket for two years and she almost has enough evidence to take it down. Between abduction, prostitution, and murder, she has LeBeau by the short hairs. All she needs is a "product". John is the perfect witness if she can get him out before the drugs shut down his heart. Then she'll be free to start a normal life.

Lindsey doesn't count on her overwhelming attraction for Bronco or her need to see him through detox. But she's a cop in Vegas and he's a Navy SEAL, two lifestyles with too much unpredictability to maintain a relationship. Neither have time for more than one wild rough ride, and what happens in Vegas, stays. Forever.

It's now available at Smashwords, Amazon, B&N, and All Romance eBooks. Thanks so much for stopping by and happy reading. :)

Snippet Sunday - Bronco's Rough Ride - Playing the Game

Welcome to the Snippet Sunday on the Weird, the Wild, and the Wicked. Happy Mother's Day to those who are moms. Thank you so much for visiting. If you choose to comment today, I really appreciate it. The snippets are from my upcoming release, Bronco's Rough Ride, a military romantic suspense set in Las Vegas. It's a prequel to The Navy's Ghost, set 10 years earlier. No paranormal critters in this one, though there's plenty of kick-ass adventure and hot sex. You can read last week's snippet HERE.

 Lindsey has laid out the plan for extraction with both Bronco and her handler, but no safe house materialized. Instead, she found a place they could disappear for a while. Now she just has to set the pieces in order and let the game play out.

When she arrived in her suite, she hung John’s suit and unzipped the bag. It wouldn’t fool anyone on close inspection, but in a Club with hundreds of people jostling in strobe lights, he’d look like a decent date for Mistress Black. She’d dated a few others in her term undercover just to give legitimacy to such activities, but she’d never run with a man before.

Here’s hoping I make a decent kidnapper.

She snorted as she sat at her little laptop and typed out a request for her toy to be delivered to her suite that evening. While not common to have a private audience with purchased products, it was allowed upon occasion. This is a great occasion. Lindsey hit enter and headed for the shower. Anything to calm the excitement building as the time approached. She had to be cool or she’d give away the whole game. And I’m not losing this one.

Lindsey is one helluva player. ;) There are several great authors on the Weekend Writing Warrior list and in the Snippet Sunday Facebook group. A few of my favorites are Charley Descoteaux, SJ Maylee, Gem Sivad, Goran Zidar, Veronica Scott, and Karla Doyle.

If you're interested in more from Bronco's Rough Ride, here's the blurb:

What happens in Vegas, stays in the heart...

Chief Petty Officer John "Bronco" Andrews only meant to stay one night in Vegas for a little R&R before resuming his duties as a US Navy SEAL in Coronado. But someone slips him a mickey in the bar and he finds himself in Madame LeBeau's sex trade. As the product. Doped up on ketamine to keep him docile, Bronco has no choice but to let it ride.

Detective Lindsey Jarvis has been undercover in LeBeau's sex slave racket for two years and she almost has enough evidence to take it down. Between abduction, prostitution, and murder, she has LeBeau by the short hairs. All she needs is a "product". John is the perfect witness if she can get him out before the drugs shut down his heart. Then she'll be free to start a normal life.

Lindsey doesn't count on her overwhelming attraction for Bronco or her need to see him through detox. But she's a cop in Vegas and he's a Navy SEAL, two lifestyles with too much unpredictability to maintain a relationship. Neither have time for more than one wild rough ride, and what happens in Vegas, stays. Forever.

It's now available at Smashwords, Amazon, B&N, and All Romance eBooks. Thanks so much for stopping by and happy reading. :)

#ThursThreads - Week 119 - Winners

Week 119 of #ThursThreads had some terrific tales. I'm honored to see all of the returning writers and read your stories. Thank you for coming back again and again to write and for helping me celebrate these years of flash. It was also wonderful to have some new folks stop by. Welcome! Great thanks to Jeff Tsuruoka for judging this week. Be sure to check out the #ThursThreads #flashfiction group on FB to keep up with news, etc. And next week there will be NO #THURSTHREADS. We'll be back on May 22nd.

Entries:

• Sandi Layne | @sandyquill
• Sheilagh Lee | @SweetSheil
• Anna Lund | @AnnaLund2011
• Anastasia Vitsky | @AnastasiaVitsky
• Siobhan Muir | @SiobhanMuir
• Kelly Heinen | @Aightball
• Robin Abess | @Angelique_Rider
• Olivia Starke | @OliviaStarke
• Josh Peters | @joshbgosh
• Silver James | @SilverJames_
• M.T. Decker | @mishmhem
• Hunter Frost | @HunterFrostMM

Mardi says: This was really hard to do. All of the entries were interesting.

Winners Announcement:

Honorable Mentions

Robin Abess | @Angelique_Rider

Jeff says: Beautiful, lyrical prose & strong imagery.

Olivia Starke | @OliviaStarke

Jeff says: Love the whole feel of this piece. Great imagery-- especially the rain & the wetness-- and the ending is just perfect.

MT Decker | @mishmhem

Jeff says: Tight, tense little piece of office nastiness. Very effective use of repetition with the prompt.

Week 119 Winner

Anastasia Vitsky | @AnastasiaVitsky

Jeff says: Perfectly captured slice of life. Just enough of the history between the characters is dropped in and it ends with a moment we've all lived through at least once in our lives. Love the clean, clear prose.

Andria slides her hand over my collarbone, slipping the satin pink bra strap over my shoulder. I bat her hand away and adjust my bra.

“Ouch,” she says, withdrawing to her end of the couch. “I took a shower this morning.” She picks up her neon pink coffee mug and takes a sip.

“I love you.” I scan my pile of papers, frantic to finish my report before the deadline. “I’m just…”

“Busy,” Andria offers. She takes another sip, watching me.

“I’ve got to finish before Grandma’s birthday party tonight.”

At the silence, I realize my mistake. “Look, I’m sorry. I know you want to go, but it’ll be tapioca pudding and cake with dull conversation.”

Two patches of pink appear on Andria’s cheeks, and she clinks her cup onto the ceramic mosaic coaster. We chose the set together when she first moved in. “You act like you’re ashamed of me.”

I groan. “We’ve gone through this a thousand times. That’s not how my family works.”

“Huh.” Andria stands up and carries her mug to the kitchen sink. “Thought I was part of your family.” She returns to the living room and sits in the chair furthest away from me.

I pound away for five full minutes until I give in. Andria has silent treatment down to a science. I can apologize, but it won’t change anything. “I need some space,” I plead.

“That can be arranged.” She stalks out of the room and slams our bedroom door.

Congratulations Anastasia, Robin, Olivia, and MT! Don't forget to claim your badges and display them with pride. You certainly earned it!

Pass on the great news on Twitter, Facebook, Google Plus, shiny mirrors, Morse Code, and signal flags. Check out all the stories here. Thanks for stopping by and happy reading! :)

#ThursThreads - The Challenge That Ties Tales Together - Week 119

Welcome back to the Weird, the Wild, & the Wicked. It's Thursday today, so get your flash ready. Writing a #flashfiction thread! Welcome to Week 119 of #ThursThreads, the challenge that ties tales together. Want to keep up each week? You're welcome to join the FB #ThursThreads group where we'll do events and make announcements. Need the rules? Read on.

Here's how it works:

• The prompt is a line from the previous week's winning tale.
• The prompt can appear ANYWHERE in your story and is included in your word count.

Rules to the Game:

• This is a Flash Fiction challenge, which means your story must be a minimum of 100 words, maximum of 250.
• Incorporate the prompt anywhere into your story (included in your word count).
• Post your story in the comments section of this post
• Include your word count (or be excluded from judging)
• Include your Twitter handle or email (so we know how to find you)
• The challenge is open 7 AM to 7 PM Pacific Time
• The winner will be announced on Friday, depending on how early the judge gets up.

How it benefits you:

• You get a nifty cool badge to display on your blog or site (because we're all about promotion - you know you are!)
• You get instant recognition of your writing prowess on this blog!
• Your writing colleagues shall announce and proclaim your greatness on Facebook, Twitter, and Google Plus

Our Judge for Week 119:

Daily Picspiration contributor, #flashfiction host, and monster-story writer, Jeff Tsuruoka.

Jeff on Facebook

Jeff on Twitter

Jeff on Google Plus

And now your #ThursThreads Challenge, tying tales together.

The Prompt:

“That can be arranged.”

All stories written herein are the property (both intellectual and physical) of the authors. Now, away with you, Flash Fiction Fanatics, and show us your #ThursThreads. Good luck!

Mid Week Tease - The Bone Flute - Stuck on You

Welcome to the Weird, the Wild, & the Wicked for a new year of Mid Week Tease hosted by Sandra Bunino.

Authors: this is a great opportunity to spotlight a few lines or even a paragraph or two from a new release or backlisted title. Readers: you get to sample some delicious snippets! We’ll do our best to tease, titillate and tantalize you into the weekend.

I'm working on a new paranormal romantic suspense set in Las Vegas, entitled The Bone Flute. In this unedited snippet, Jozsef Kiraly is the ghost cursed into the bone flute. Rain takes him out of the offices and out to the foyer, not realizing she's the only one who can see him. And that she's stuck with him.

“Here’s my card if you need to contact me directly, but please make an appointment and I’ll be happy to meet with you.”

She handed him a little rectangular piece of thick paper and gave him a politely dismissive smile before retreating back through the door. It closed behind her with a final-sounding click.

Jozsef stood there for a few moments, gaping at the closed portal. She dismissed me. He huffed out a breath in disbelief before he dropped his gaze to the little card he held in his hands. A wolf’s skull and white writing on a black background covered its surface. Most of the writing was incomprehensible to him, but the largest writing at the top of the card was clear.

Rain Szép.

Jozsef staggered against the wall and clutched his gut.

Holy God in Heaven, she’s a Szép! He moaned and closed his eyes. The story of my treachery has probably been told to all members of the family far and wide.

Jozsef wallowed in his misfortune for a few moments. Thank God Rain didn’t seem to realize his spirit was locked in a twilight existence connected to the bone flute. He had no desire to remind her of her ancestor’s curse. Oh, Marika, I’m so sorry.

Jozsef scrubbed his face with his hands and tucked the card into his belt pouch. By the saints, I’ll have to tell her. She’d told him to go, but there would be no chance of that.

Dark humor rolled through him and he snorted again, this time ruefully. If Rain kept the bone flute, she’d be keeping him, however inadvertently. He’d go for now and try to keep his presence invisible even to her, but they’d have to face each other sooner or later.

I just hope she can forgive all my trespasses.

Thanks for stopping by and happy reading. If you want to read more from other authors, click the link and enjoy...
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#SnippetSunday - Bronco's Rough Ride - Don't Mess With Mistress's Toy

Welcome to the Snippet Sunday on the Weird, the Wild, and the Wicked. Thank you so much for visiting. If you choose to comment today, I really appreciate it. The snippets are from my upcoming release, Bronco's Rough Ride, a military romantic suspense set in Las Vegas. It's a prequel to The Navy's Ghost, set 10 years earlier. No paranormal critters in this one, though there's plenty of kick-ass adventure and hot sex. You can read last week's snippet HERE.

Bronco is finally coming out of the drugs just in time for the tech to come in to give him his next dose. Lindsey found out they give him 42 milliliters of ketamine every two hours, enough to sedate a draft horse. She turns on her dominant Mistress Black to have the dosage changed.

Lindsey raised her chin. “I require you to decrease the dosage on my toy to thirty milliliters from now on.”

“Ma’am, I can’t—”

“Don’t hand me excuses, mister. I paid for my toy and I want to use him as I see fit.” Her voice brooked no argument. “You will decrease the dosage to my specifications for the usage of my product. Is that clear?”

“But he could regain some of his strength, ma’am.”

“You have him secured. The straps are rated for dangerous mental patients, are they not?” When the tech nodded, she added, “There, now, we’ll be fine. Only thirty milliliters from now on. Do you understand?”

“Yes, ma’am.” The tech gathered up his equipment and cart as he prepared to leave.

“Don’t try to weasel out of it, young man. I’ve had enough chemistry to know how to read a syringe.”

 

Don't mess with Mistress Black. ;) There are several great authors on the Weekend Writing Warrior list and in the Snippet Sunday Facebook group. A few of my favorites are Charley Descoteaux, SJ Maylee, Gem Sivad, Goran Zidar, Veronica Scott, and Karla Doyle.

If you're interested in more from Bronco's Rough Ride, here's the blurb:

What happens in Vegas, stays in the heart...

Chief Petty Officer John "Bronco" Andrews only meant to stay one night in Vegas for a little R&R before resuming his duties as a US Navy SEAL in Coronado. But someone slips him a mickey in the bar and he finds himself in Madame LeBeau's sex trade. As the product. Doped up on ketamine to keep him docile, Bronco has no choice but to let it ride.

Detective Lindsey Jarvis has been undercover in LeBeau's sex slave racket for two years and she almost has enough evidence to take it down. Between abduction, prostitution, and murder, she has LeBeau by the short hairs. All she needs is a "product". John is the perfect witness if she can get him out before the drugs shut down his heart. Then she'll be free to start a normal life.

Lindsey doesn't count on her overwhelming attraction for Bronco or her need to see him through detox. But she's a cop in Vegas and he's a Navy SEAL, two lifestyles with too much unpredictability to maintain a relationship. Neither have time for more than one wild rough ride, and what happens in Vegas, stays. Forever.

It's now available at Smashwords, Amazon, B&N, and All Romance eBooks. Thanks so much for stopping by and happy reading. :)

Recipe for Romance: Spring has Sprung so Walk the Talk

Good morning! Welcome to the Weird, the Wild, & the Wicked. I was thinking about a new blog sequence and decided I'd write a bi-monthly spot (first and second Saturdays of the month) called Recipe for Romance. Just in time for Saturday night, yes?

What's a Recipe for Romance? Good question. I've heard a lot of women (in particular) read romance to find a little excitement and romance in their lives when maybe their current relationships aren't nearly as romantic. Wouldn't you love to have someone set out some romantic moments for you to celebrate your love? I would. So why wait for someone else to do it? You can try it yourself, for yourself, or for your loved one, and you can use things you have around the house or are easy to get at the local stores. It doesn't have to be expensive or extravagant to be romantic.

Spring has sprung, at least it has here in Las Vegas, and that means it's time for flowers and sunshine and being outside before the desert summer heat hits. Right now the sun goes down about 8:00 pm our time and it's the perfect time to go for a walk with your lover. Turn off the cell phones, throw the dog on the leash, and take a walk around the block with your loved one to admire the flowers.

RECIPE FOR ROMANCE
Two feet
One (or more) loved-one
Dusk or Sunset
Neighborhood or Park
Dog with leash (optional)

Assemble the ingredients and head out the door. The great thing about a simple walk with your lover is you have a chance to reconnect without all the social distractions that help distance you. You can unwind, talk about the day, enjoy some lovely scenery, and remember all the times when you used to share sunsets before life got busy. You can reconnect with your sexy partner(s) and share some quality quiet time with each other you don't get during the busy days.

Alterations to Recipe for Parents of young children:
For those who can't walk away from your kids sleeping upstairs because of age restrictions, you may substitute sitting out on the back deck, patio, balcony, or porch with a bottle of your favorite cool drink, and watch the sunset. Again, unwinding is so important for romance, and reconnecting with those you're most intimate with. It solidifies your relationship and brings you back to the beginning when your love was newer.

Mix and serve immediately. Feeds the souls of two or more. :)

So what kinds of spring recipes for romance do you cook up in your love life? Aspiring cooks want to know! :)

#ThursThreads - Week 118 - Winners

 

Week 118 of #ThursThreads had some terrific tales. I'm honored to see all of the returning writers and read your stories. Thank you for coming back again and again to write and for helping me celebrate these years of flash. It was also wonderful to have some new folks stop by. Welcome! Great thanks to Mardi Maxwell for judging this week. Be sure to check out the #ThursThreads #flashfiction group on FB to keep up with news, etc.

Entries:

• Sheilagh Lee | @SweetSheil
• Wendy Strain | @WendyStrain
• Lisa McCourt Hollar | @jezri1
• Siobhan Muir | @SiobhanMuir
• Silver James | @SilverJames_
• Kelly Heinen | @Aightball
• Mark Ethridge | @LurchMunster
• Warren C. Bennett | @warrencbennett
• Louisa Bacio | @LouisaBacio
• M.T. Decker | @mishmhem
• Hunter Frost | @HunterFrostMM

Mardi says: This was really hard to do. All of the entries were interesting.

Winners Announcement:

Honorable Mentions

Siobhan Muir | @SiobhanMuir

Mardi says: This entry was intriguing and it left me wondering what the two characters would do in the morning and what was going on.

Hunter Frost | @HunterFrostMM

Mardi says: this one pulled me into the scene as if I was standing in the kitchen watching and listening to it take place.

Wendy Strain | @WendyStrain

Mardi says: This entry left me wondering if the character Sue was a serial killer and what she was going to do about the nosy neighbor Marjorie.

Week 118 Winner

Silver James | @SilverJames_

 

Mardi says: Silver James’ entry was the most intriguing. It left me wanting to know what happened next. Also, in 250 words she managed to give me a good idea of the two characters personalities and how they were connected to each other and what situation they were in.

The stench burned Meloni Karras’s nose. She wasn’t about to breathe through her mouth because she didn’t want that oily taste saturating her tongue. There wasn’t enough tequila in the world to kill that taste.

“What’s that smell?” She inhaled shallowly through the impromptu mask of her hand pressed over the lower half of her face.

“Scorched goblin.”

“No really, what is it?”

“Scorched goblin. Really.”

She glared at the very sexy man standing beside her. Nikos Constantine would make any woman’s motor hit the RPM redline. “Ha, ha. Very funny.”

“Miss—”

“Doctor,” she corrected.

“Doctor Karras, I assure you will know when I am joking.”

Mr. Macho, Muscled, and Mental ducked into a smaller tunnel. Mel had to follow. She would have serious words with the director when she got back to the CDC. She didn’t do field work. And she damn sure didn’t do it with hot-as-hades dragon enforcers.

“You think too hard, Doctor.”

Now the guy was a freaking mind reader? He chuckled and the sound washed over her like melted chocolate. Oh, now there was a thought—her dipped in chocolate and him licking her like a Tootsie-Pop.

“That can be arranged, Meloni.”

His gravelly voice rubbed her the right way, all the way to her toes.
“Stop.”

He did. And she plowed into his back, her arms circling his waist in self-defense.

“When I start, you will beg me never to stop.”

Now there was a promise she’d make him keep.

Congratulations SEVEN TIME WINNER Silver, Hunter, and Wendy! Don't forget to claim your badges and display them with pride. You certainly earned it!

Pass on the great news on Twitter, Facebook, Google Plus, shiny mirrors, Morse Code, and signal flags. Check out all the stories here. Thanks for stopping by and happy reading! :)