Originally published at The Official Website of Michele Bardsley. Please leave any comments there.

My menage a trois (with dragon shape-shifters!) erotica, MAKE MINE A DOUBLE, received a Recommended Read from Joyfully Reviewed, which said, “Make Mine a Double stirs fantasy, whimsy and scorching hot sex into a surefire winner! Author Michele Bardsley delivers a threesome tale that sizzles and burns like the sun…”

Originally published at Michele's Mutterings and Musings. Please leave any comments there.

So, I’m sitting at the kitchen table in the home of the fabulous Dakota Cassidy. (I’m blogging because Terri Smythe has threatened to take away my chocolate if I don’t. Terri don’t mess around, honey.) Me, Terri and Renee George have arrived in Dallas as the official cheerleading entourage of She Who Is an Emotional Wreck.Dakota’s first major release, The Accidental Werewolf, hit bookstores today. I’m afraid Dakota herself might hit the floor. “You know this is gonna be bad, don’t you?” she asks us constantly. She’s referring to the Day My Writing Career Ends a.k.a. The Book Launch Party, which will commence on Friday, February 8th at 7 p.m. “There will be four of us,” she laments. “You better eat the cookies. Everyone here better eat the freaking cookies!”

I am fully prepared to eat cookies, freaking or otherwise.

We have reassured Dakota that not only will her book launch party be a mondo success, but so will her hilarious paranormal about a make-up-selling, lavender-wearing, poodle-owning woman named Marty who is accidentally bitten by the sexy werewolf, Keegan. Fun, right? Hey, don’t take my word for it. You can read Chapter One HERE. Oh, hell. Just order it! You will love it! Yes, I’ve read it and yes, I loved it. Duh.

I’ll keep you apprised of our progress. Today, we are off to the bookstores so we can sign stock. And go to Starbuck’s. We are all about the white chocolate mochas, forget the calories!

If you’re in Dallas or within driving distance (or even if you’re not … there’s still time to book your flight), here’s the 411 on the new book and party:

THE ACCIDENTAL WEREWOLF
By Dakota Cassidy
http://www.dakotacassidy.com

When Marty Andrews gets bitten by a mangy mutt while walking her teacup poodle, her blond hair darkens, the hair on her legs starts growing atan alarming rate, and her mood swings put her dream job as a sales rep for Bobbie-Sue Cosmetics in serious jeopardy.

Then a drool-worthy man shows up at her door claiming that he accidentally bit Marty. And since he’s a werewolf, she is now, too.Thinking Keegan Flaherty is clearly insane, Marty refuses to believe a word until a kidnapping makes her realize there’s more at stake than just her highlights. And she must put her out-of-control life in the hands of the man who makes her blood run wild in more ways than one…

Read Chapter One
http://www.dakotacassidy.com/AWexcerpt.html

Order from Amazon.com (Seriously. Do it now.)
The Accidental Werewolf

THE ACCIDENTAL WEREWOLF LAUNCH PARTY

February 8 — 7 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Barnes and Noble
Creekwalk Village
801 W. 15th St. Suite E
Plano, TX 75075

EVERYONE WHO GIVES DAKOTA SOME LOVE ON MY BLOG WILL BE ENTERED TO WIN AN ARC OF BECAUSE YOUR VAMPIRE SAID SO!

Originally published at Michele's Mutterings and Musings. Please leave any comments there.

Rookery Cove Aphrodisiacs:
Make Mine a Double

Brim and Stone are dragons who were hatched on the island nearly a hundred years ago. Now, they live in the dark caverns below the factory, guarding the Heart, which is the very essence of Rookery Cove. As their first-century birthday approaches, Brim and Stone are experiencing the quickening. They desperately need a female to sexually facilitate their joining so they can complete their permanent transition.

Thanks to her overprotective male relations, Charlotte “Charli” Maguire’s current love life is non-existent. She yearns to fulfill her fantasy: Hot sex with two men. Hah. She might as well wish to visit the moon. Then Charli wins a contest sponsored by Rookery Cove Aphrodisiacs: An all expense-paid vacation to Halifax, a tour of the factory, and $500 worth of sex aids.

During the tour, the guide takes her to the “fantasy room.” Charli finds herself the sensual participant in a threesome with two gorgeous men. Forget the sex toys. Forget the nearest exit. These two hunks are better than any prize!

http://www.changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=726

EXCERPT

“The room I’m taking you to is very special. In fact, we like to think of it as the place where your deepest, darkest fantasy can come true.”

With Charli’s heart beating a sudden, rapid tattoo, she followed Elwyn through the dimly lit hallway. At some point the concrete floor gave away to the grit and bumps of natural stone. They walked up a short set of stairs carved into stone and through an arched doorway.  

Holy canole! The room was all black marble; the unrelenting dark was softened only by the recessed lighting in the ceiling. Charli noticed the huge, circular bed on the right. The glossy shine of black silk sheets caught her gaze. A dozen black pillows in all shapes and sizes filled the top part of the bed.  

“What’s your fantasy?” asked Elwyn.

“Do I have to tell you?” She wandered away the magnificent room, her stomach squeezing in excitement. “This is an interesting place, all right.”

“If you sit on the bed and make your wish,” he said, walking to it and patting the covers, “you might get exactly what you want.”

“So, this is a magic room? Oh, c’mon.” Still her pulse raced at the very possibility. Maybe they had researched her and found out she wanted two men to make love to her. Yeah. God. What if they had? What if part of her prize package was trying out Rookery Cover’s sex-tastic room o’ fun? Charli gazed at the bed. Really, she should be thinking more clearly about this situation.

She was caught between doing the right (and boring) action or taking the risk — the risk that Elwyn wasn’t teasing her or that she wasn’t crazy.

“So, if I sit in this room and think about my favorite sexual fantasy… I’ll get it?” Her gaze flicked to his. “That’s quite a leap of faith.”

“That’s the thing about faith,” he said. “You always have to jump for it.”

http://www.changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=726

Originally published at Michele's Mutterings and Musings. Please leave any comments there.

EDITING BOOT CAMP
How to Become a Better Self-Editor in 10 Days
By Michele Bardsley

GOOD NEWS! One participating student will win a very special prize: a critique from Kara Cesare, Executive Editor for New American Library. She will read and comment on the first two chapters and synopsis of the winning student’s work. NAL is an imprint of Penguin Group (USA). Ms. Cesare is the editor for many talented authors, including J.R. Ward. Winner will be chosen by random drawing.

READ ON…

Instructor: Nationally bestselling author Michele Bardsley will show writers how to polish their work until it shines. With twenty-three years of editing experience, she has worked with newspapers, publishers, and authors to craft better prose. She’s presented Editing Boot Camp and other workshops at numerous conferences and online venues.

Workshop: In ten days, you will learn how to examine your work with the eyes of an editor. After Editing Boot Camp, you’ll be able to deliver cleaner, better written manuscripts. As part of the class fee, Michele will critique five pages OR a synopsis for each enrolled student.

Students will be subscribed to the workshop list. Michele will post information and homework each day. The course is at your-own-pace. Your participation level is up to you. The list will remain open for discussion and questions during the full two weeks.

We will cover the editing process, word choices, description, passive writing, critique groups, and much more!

When: November 26th – December 7th. Monday – Friday.

Where: Online. After payment is received, students will be subscribed to the workshop list.

Fee: $20.

Payment information:
http://www.geocities.com/michelebardsley/editingbootcamp.html

Don’t have time to take the class? Get the full 28-page workshop for $10. (Please note ONLY students in the course qualify for the drawing to win a critique from Kara Cesare.) Order the book here:
http://www.geocities.com/michelebardsley/editingbootcamp.html

Originally published at Michele's Mutterings and Musings. Please leave any comments there.

When he’s not making idiotic thieves pay financial homage to the Family, who owns everything in Los Regalos, demon Simon LaRue mixes cocktails at the Dusty Star Casino & Lounge. If you want a drink with pizzazz, you ask Simon for the Virgin’s Kiss.

Miranda Boson is a scientist raised by an aunt who believed in intellect over emotion. She knows something is missing from her life. After all, she’s never had a friend, a lover, or even a birthday party. When her aunt dies and leaves her a fortune, she jumps at the chance to do something unexpected and fun. She’s delighted when Hot Spot Destinations books her on a fantasy vacation to Los Regalos.

When Miranda stumbles into the wrong section of town and is nearly mugged, Simon rescues her. Their attraction is undeniable. Miranda is hoping for an affair to remember. What she doesn’t know is that Simon adores her body, but it’s her purity that really turns him on. There’s nothing sexier to a demon than an innocent soul begging to be corrupted. And all it takes to start the hellfires burning is a real virgin’s kiss…

http://www.changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=695

EXCERPT
The bar was badly lit, crowded, and smoke-filled. All the same, Miranda spotted Simon right away.

And he spotted her.

He patted the bar top. The crowd parted and allowed her to sit on the stool.

“Neat trick,” she said as she slid onto the worn leather. “Got any more?”

“Yes,” he said, flashing that wicked grin that made her stomach flip-flop. “How about we go somewhere private and I’ll show a few of my better ones.”

She shrugged, trying to remain cool in his saliva-inducing presence. That, and she had no idea how to flirt.

He leaned on the counter. His eyes were such an odd color, caught between gold and amber. There was something animalistic about their shape. Come to think of it, his whole demeanor was animalistic. The idea of being his prey was both terrifying and exhilarating.

If he was really chasing her… what would he do when he caught her?

“So, you said something about a Virgin’s Kiss?” she asked casually.

The words were barely out before his lips captured hers. He thrust his tongue into her mouth, a swift hot attack that made her knees go wobbly. She grabbed the edge of the bar to keep from toppling over. The mad kiss went on for longer than all of eternity. She felt a ball of fire burst inside her, its heat radiating to every point in her body.

Simon let her go and she nearly fell off the stool. Shaking and discombobulated, she couldn’t quite get her breath back. Against the wall was a mirror that ran the full length of the bar. She saw her own shocked reflection: the dazed look in her eyes, the swollen, wet look of her lips.

He studied her, his expression a cross between arrogant and lustful. “How was that?”

“I was referring to the drink,” she said, her voice quivering.

“It helps if you’re specific. That way we both know what you want.” He whipped out a cocktail shaker and starting pouring liquid into it. Out of the five liquids he poured, the only one she recognized was pineapple juice. He also added a pinch of pungent black powder.

“Is that pepper?” she asked. She didn’t know much about alcoholic beverages, but really, who put pepper in their cocktails?

“It’s not pepper. It’s my little addition of magic.”

“Magic?” She couldn’t keep the cynicism out of her tone.

“Yes.” His left eyebrow quirked. “Don’t you believe in magic?”

She laughed. “I’m a scientist. Trust me when I say magic does not exist.”

He only grinned as he shook the concoction. Opening the top, he strained the mixed drink over a glass filled with ice. He added a cherry then slid the Virgin’s Kiss to her.

Miranda sipped the drink, which tasted tangy-sweet and strangely smoky. It was lip-smacking good. Before she knew it, the cocktail was gone. The cherry sat forlornly among the ice cubes. Simon plucked it from the glass.

He traced her lips with the sticky sweet fruit then he laid it on her tongue. She closed her mouth and he pulled the stem out. As she chewed, he watched her, his gaze dark and hot.

“Thank you for the drink,” she said, reluctant to leave. She was just getting the hang of flirting. “I have reservations at Joy.”

His animal eyes pinned her. “I’ll see you again, Miranda. Sooner than you think.”

http://www.changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=695

Friend us at the Viva Los Regalos MySpace!

Originally published at Michele's Mutterings and Musings. Please leave any comments there.

Originally published at Michele's Mutterings and Musings. Please leave any comments there.

Lela Davidson tagged me in … er, June. Hey, we’ve established that I have time and/or organizational issues. Robin D. Owens tagged me, too, and we’ll get to her next. Eventually.

Seven Random Things About Me…

1. My dad calls me Shelly. And so does Laura Shinn (hmm … maybe I should tag HER!).

2. I own a cat who has extra toes on her paws. Okay, that’s not about me, but whatever.

3. I won the Grand Prize in the 72nd Annual Writer’s Digest Writing Competition. I am the only one who continues to be amazed by this.

4. One of my favorite books of all time makes me laugh and want to yark. It’s called GRAVEROBBERS WANTED (NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY) by Jeff Strand. If you read it, you’ll know what I mean.

5. I hate rabbits. My sister rescued one and gave it to us. It was white with pink eyes and sharp teeth (which he used to BITE me). He was evil. My daughter named him Howard. It didn’t make him any less evil. We found him another home. Now, I see a bunny and think, “You are evil in soft fur.” What can I say. I was emotionally scarred.

6. I had to borrow Dakota Cassidy’s razor to shave my legs. Neither one of us was thrilled with this arrangement, but that’s what friends do: Make sacrifices. (Mostly that was Dakota’s sacrifice.)

7. My very first rock concert was Rick Springfield.

If you can not see this video click the link …… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adaYUM5wl7c

As for tagging other people … nah. I won’t torture you. This time.

Originally published at Michele's Mutterings and Musings. Please leave any comments there.

Check out the Broken Oklahoma Movie I made HERE.

Originally published at Michele's Mutterings and Musings. Please leave any comments there.

Originally published at Michele's Mutterings and Musings. Please leave any comments there.

Me at the Friday Oh-God-It’s-Early Morning Mixer with MaryJanice Davidson and Jackie Kessler
Photo by Kate Douglas

I feel like I’ve been running a never-ending marathon. From April 25th to April 29th, I was in Houston at the Romantic Times Convention. I was on one panel (But Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?) with Angela Knight, Cathy Clamp, and Erin McCarthy. If you’re wondering why I was on there, well, I freaking begged Charlaine Harris to put me on a panel. She is merciful, that lady.

If you Google “RT 2007,” you’ll hit a number of blogs that discuss all the cool (and one or two not-so-cool) things that happened in Houston. Overall, I had a TERRIFIC time. If you don’t wanna Google, check out these blogs:
http://www.romantictimes.com/2007/05/rt-convention-highlights.php
http://blog.terrises.com/?p=176
http://carnalcomedy.blogspot.com/2007/04/i-heart-jessica.html
http://richellemead.com/blog/archive/2007_04_01_index.htm
http://jackiekessler.blogspot.com/2007_04_01_archive.html

I brought a camera that I never used (I had rechargeable batteries that I left at home … duh). So, I found some pics taken by authors who brought and USED cameras. Check out some cool RT photos:
http://www.katedouglas.com/id43.htm
http://www.terrises.com/photogalleries/RT2007/index.html

I mostly hung out in the bar with writers and readers, among them my keeper Terri (she wore an LED tag that read Michele Bardsley’s Bitch), and her hubby Jose (who kept me in chocolate strawberies), Dakota Cassidy (who made me laugh and is a tiara whore, gawd I love her) and her sweetie pie Rob (Nine Inch Nails RULE), Renee George (my soul sister), and Nancy with a Y (who kept me in chocolate), and Tricia (whose sister lurves me!) and then there was Cici and Mippy and Jaynie and Jessica (my publicist! woot!) and a lot of others. You guys rocked!

Let’s see … I got to hang out with J.C. Wilder (mwah!) and Carolyn Ivey and Todd Stone (author of NOVELIST’S BOOT CAMP), his wife Terri (get published already!), and his daughter Sarah (who is so smart and she’s going to Scotland, that bum!), and Pauline Baird Jones (I’m so glad I got to see you!), and I saw Lena Austin (luv ya), Sahara Kelley and Judy Mays and my CP editor Sheri and my Loose Id editor Maryam (who both RULE). I met Gena Showalter and P.C. Cast. They live in Oklahoma, too. OK has a lot of romance writers. Lemme see … sheesh! I’m losing track of who I saw and hugged and laughed with. Oh! I got to meet Lacey Savage and she’s cute as hell and such a great writer. Whew! RT is more like a family reunion for me. I also went to MJD’s party for her Yahoos. Charlaine Harris arrived with fifty something people. LOL. MJD gave out ARCs of UNDEAD AND UNEASY (which I didn’t win), but Tricia did, so it was okay. She was so excited about that ARC! LOL.

Me, that unknown author MaryJanice Davidson (I keep telling her she’ll break into the big time one day), the most excellent writer and roommate Jennifer Dunne, and the tiny lady with the big smile, is the very talented (and don’t believe her, she’s not shy) Jackie Kessler.
Photo by Terri Lugo

Desperately clutching my empty wine glass and MJ’s books, I’m standing next to the gorgeous and hysterical Dakota Cassidy, and next to her is the lovely and talented Renee George. If only we were wearing tiaras…
Photo by Terri Lugo

Changeling Press authors & staff. (I’m in the back!)
Photo by Kate Douglas

Wow. That’s me being goofy. Watch out for that pen!
Photo by Richelle Mead

Okay, so on Sunday, the 29th, I started feeling really damned icky. Thank goodness the flight was only an hour and a half. When I got home, I crawled into bed and demanded Nyquil and one point, last rites, LOL. I figured I would snap out of it the next day, but nope. By Thursday, I was still miserably sick. But I was a speaker for the 2007 Oklahoma Writer’s Federation, Inc. conference and I wanted to be there. So, my husband drove me to Oklahoma City that afternoon and got me settled into the hotel room.

On Friday, I gave my Editing Boot Camp workshop. A ton of people showed up and totally freaked me out. I didn’t have enough handouts and I felt like a doofus. Don’t you love it when the teacher is unprepared? D’oh! On Friday night, was the Famous Authors Dinner and my picture and book cover was flashed on two big screens. There were 30 authors honored that night and it was cool to be included among them. After the dinner, I hosted a Buzz Session about Paranormal Fiction in my room. We had a blast talking about everything from vampires to slash novels. I also got to spend time with my buds, Meg Reid and Susan Shay. After ten years of living elsewhere, I finally returned to Oklahoma and with friends like Meg and Susan, it’s like I never left.

On Saturday, I gave a luncheon workshop about web design and holy cow, ninety minutes was NOT enough time to go over all my material. Man, it was fun, though. I hope I get invited back next year. I just love this conference! That night was the awards banquet. OWFI has a killer contest. For $20, you can enter as many categories (there are 33) as you like. I couldn’t remember how many I’d entered (it was seven). I placed in three, getting first place in the Science Fiction/Fantasy/Horror short story for “A Demon Is A Girl’s Best Friend.”

Now, there are two awards I’ve coveted for the last thirteen years (I’ve been an OWFI member since 1994). The first was the Best Book of Fiction Trophy Award. I won it in 2005 for WILD WOMEN. The second award I’ve always wanted to win was the Creme de la Creme. Thirty of the categories are for unpublished works. All the first place entries are sent to judges who pick the best one and award it a very shiny trophy (you know how I feel about shiny awards) and $500.

Guess who won?

Yeah. ME. How cool is that? I feel so honored that my really sick horror story about a succubus and her mortal best friend carving up a body WON. I was in line to get my picture taken with my award certificates when Contest Chair (and the new OWFI President)Amy Shojai announced that my story won the Creme de la Creme. My first thought: Holy shit. My second thought: Quit gaping and get up to the stage, you idiot!

Once again, I was camera-less and I have yet to find any 2007 photos (oh, Google, why hast thou failed me?). That might not be a bad thing because I was sick and not exactly looking my perky writer best. The poor guy taking the photos of the contest winners was having a helluva time taking a good photo of me. Eek.

I also need to give a shout-out to Lance Hawvermale, who totally freaking rocks. He was the judge in 2005 who choose WILD WOMEN for Best Book of Fiction. He also happened to be the judge who awarded First Place to my crazy short story. Does he have fabulous taste in fiction, or what? BTW, Lance placed in EIGHT categories. He’s sickeningly talented. The kind of talented I both admire and envy.

As for deadlines … I finally turned in my next NAL erotica novel: FANTASYLAND. I’m nervous about it (when am I not nervous about new book releases?). It’s pure sex, people. These couples are on tropical islands and they get to do really interesting things to each other, but it’s all about the bedroom games. My favorite story is called A Bond Like No Other and it takes place on Bondage Bay. My editor’s favorite is Pirate’s Pursuit (I wanted to call that The Pirate in My Pants LOL). The other two fantasies are I Only Have Eyes For You (which unfolds in Voyeur Village) and Two to One (which is a menage story!). FANTASYLAND hits shelves in November. Did I mention how nervous I am about its release? And that it’s mostly sex?

I’m finishing up CHASED BY YOU for Changeling Press. I’m surprised my CP editor hasn’t sent me threatening emails. I’m finishing it, Sheri! I swear it!

I’m also working on BECAUSE YOUR VAMPIRE SAID SO. It comes out in Spring 2008. Woo-hoo!!!

Okay. I have blogged. Enjoy this entry. God knows how long it will be before I update it again. LOL!

Originally published at Michele's Mutterings and Musings. Please leave any comments there.

I swear I would have no blog material if friends didn’t send me stuff. LOL. Thanks to Nancy for this cool name generator!

Your Vampire Name Is…

Empress of the Night

Originally published at Michele's Mutterings and Musings. Please leave any comments there.

My friend Evangeline sent this along to me and I thought: Hey, blog material! So here’s four things (or so) about me…

Four jobs I have had in my life:
1. Assistant Manager, Alfalfa Video Store ~ Tulsa, OK
2. Managing Editor, TCC Connection ~ Tulsa, OK
3. Acquisitions Editor, Huntington Press ~ Las Vegas, NV
4. Romance Novelist ~ Tulsa, OK

Four movies you would watch over and over:
1. While You Were Sleeping
2. The Matrix
3. Dodgeball
4. Howl’s Moving Castle

Four places you have lived:
1. Placentia, CA
2. Las Vegas, NV
3. Tampa, FL
4. Tulsa, OK

Four TV shows you love to watch:
1. Blood Ties
2. Supernatural
3. Dresden Files
4. Futurama

Four places you have been on vacation:
1. Disney World ~ Orlando, FL
2. Las Vegas, NV
3. Virginia City & Reno, NV
4. Grass Valley & Nevada City, CA

Four of my favorite foods:
1. Godiva chocolate
2. Thai (Amazing Beef)
3. Seafood
4. French Onion Soup

Four places I would rather be right now:
1. Ireland
2. Italy
3. A hotel with room service and comfy beds
4. New Mexico

Originally published at Michele's Mutterings and Musings. Please leave any comments there.

So cute! Thanks to the Mipster for sending this to me!

If you don’t see the YouTube image, click this link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epUk3T2Kfno

Originally published at Michele's Mutterings and Musings. Please leave any comments there.

EROTIC TALES FROM THE LUST BASTION:
WISH UPON A PRINCE
By Michele Bardsley

Egyptian Goddess Bastet has spent several millennia watching over the relationships of men and women. She thinks modern-day humans need a little help expressing their sexuality and a lot of help finding true love. That’s why she’s opened The Lust Bastion Erotica Emporium: where your pleasure is her business.

When Kira Maxwell decides to trade in her lousy sex life for a very expensive vibrator, she visits the classiest joint on the Las Vegas strip to make her purchase. She hopes to at least keep her body satisfied. Because her heart has yet to find satisfaction from any man.

However, The Great Smenkare vibrator isn’t a regular sex toy. Cursed because his selfish behavior caused the death of Bastet’s favorite priestess, Smenkare has paid the price over and over for his selfish use of women. He wants nothing more than to be freed from Bastet’s service. Until he meets the funny and sweet Kira.

A spell is cast between two people who can heal each other, but the magic holding Smenkare in Kira’s arms only lasts thirty days…

READ AN EXCERPT

DOWNLOAD NOW

Sex-bot Nefertari 9.0 shows millionaire Chester P. Hiddles the meaning of “sex
you up.” And down. And sideways. But Chester can’t stop thinking about her beautiful creator, robotics engineer Shannon Brown.

5 Hearts! “Michele Bardsley delivers a stunning tale … The sensuality is explicit but is also very tastefully done, imparted with a light, dry, touch of tongue-in-cheek humor. I recommend this one highly and anticipate more entries in this series!”
~The Romance Studio

READ EXCERPT/ORDER E-BOOK

Originally published at Michele's Mutterings and Musings. Please leave any comments there.

Oh yeah, baby!

If you don’t see the YouTube.com picture, try this link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pi2t58CRmbU

Originally published at Michele's Mutterings and Musings. Please leave any comments there.

I loved this! Go JOY! (And thanks to Daisy Dexter Dobbs for posting it on her MySpace Blog!)

Originally published at Michele's Mutterings and Musings. Please leave any comments there.

The last installment in the Diary of a Demon Hunter series is now available from Changeling Press! Woo-hoo!

ABOUT THE BOOK
Maggie Mortis goes after the demon king Abatu — who plans to give “hell on Earth” a whole new definition. Maggie will risk everything to entrap the demon — even the love of Raphael. It will be a battle that will either save her soul… or condemn it.

Publisher’s Note: This title is part of a serial — books which share a universe and are meant to be read in order.

EXCERPT (ADULT)
“This one is nice,” said Raphael. He held up the magazine. The dress looked like something Cinderella would wear to the ball, all big and fluffy and diamond-speckled.

“You like that gown?” she asked as she took off her weapons.

“Don’t you?”

Maggie took off her boots then wiggled out of her demon-hunting suit. Still in her black lace bra and panties, she crawled onto the bed and snuggled next to Rafe. As she stroked the hard muscles of his stomach, she looked at the picture again then at her fiancé. “If you like that frou-frou shit I guess I could wear it.”

Rafe’s blue eyes twinkled. “You must love me, Maggie, if you would even think about showing up to our wedding dressed in frou-frou shit.”

She lightly punched his shoulder. Then, feeling vulnerable and guilty and in love, she sat up and cupped his face. “I would do anything for you.”

His eyes went dark and he leaned forward to capture her lips. Electric heat raced through her, and she slid onto his lap. Pressing her sex against the lengthening bulge in his jeans, Maggie broke their kiss long enough to unclip her bra and throw it to the floor.

Rafe cupped her breasts, bringing one succulent peak to his mouth. He tugged the nipple between his teeth, flicking the aching tip with his tongue. Maggie moaned, her hands drifting down to stroke at the juncture where her pussy met his jean-clad hard-on.

Rafe seemed to be in a lazy lovemaking mood, which suited Maggie just fine. She wanted to relish every moment in case… well, in case nothing. He would forgive her. He would understand her reasons. Maybe he’d be pissed off for a while, but he wouldn’t leave her. And even if he did — her breath caught in her throat—then he would be alive. That was the important thing. If he was walking around and breathing, wasn’t that worth sacrificing his trust?

I would do anything for you, Raphael.

Her heart kicked up a frantic beat, caught between the unfurling lust heating her inside out and the adrenaline-spiked guilt threatening to cool her ardor.

Goddamn it. As despair jabbed her, she pushed aside all her worries and focused on Rafe and on how he made her feel.

Right now, there would be only love.

She would think about all the rest tomorrow.

READ ANOTHER EXCERPT

FMI ABOUT THE SERIES

VISIT MAGGIE AT MYSPACE

Originally published at Michele's Mutterings and Musings. Please leave any comments there.

I had soooooooo totally avoided getting tagged. Not because I’m fast or clever, mind you. I’m just very, very quiet. Even MaryJanice Davidson got tagged, but not me. Nope. I was in the clear … until Jackie Freaking Kessler! Oh, don’t think I won’t throw a cinnamon bun at you during the RT Breakfast Mixer. Fear flying pastries, woman!

Ten Random Things About Me

1. I like watching CMT’s “Trick My Truck.” There’s something sexy about dismantling then rebuilding big ol’ trucks. And the Chrome Shop Mafia are funny.

2. I own a mutant cat. Her name is Littlefoot. She has six toes on her front paws and five toes on the back paws. She sits weird, her purr is so soft you have put your ear against her to hear it and she looks like a gray and white patchwork quilt gone awry. We think she’s beautiful. She’s thinks she’s a princess. Spoiled. Her? Nevah.

3. I once worked as an editor for Huntington Press, the publishing company of gambling expert Anthony Curtis.

4. My novella STARS IN HER EYES, which appears in CUPID, INC., is a valentine to Keanu Reeves.

5. I love sexy nerds. I think Jon Heder is sooooo cute. But I especially like sexy nerds who can cook like the hilarious Alton Brown.

6. I once met Dana Plato. I worked as an assistant manager at Alfalfa Video in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She walked in and asked for some of her movies (we didn’t have any). She was very nice. I tried to play cool and didn’t ask for an autograph.

7. I love British mysteries. LOVE them. I really enjoy watching Midsomer Murders and the Inspector Lynley series. Right now, I’m reading the Inspector Richard Jury series by Martha Grimes.

8. I watch cartoons. My kids and their friends (and hell, my friends) think it’s funny that I watch Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon. I don’t care. I adore Courage, the Cowardly Dog and Johnny Bravo, which don’t come on that often. I love Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends, Camp Lazlo, and The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy. I watch Spongebob Squarepants, Invader Zim, and Jimmy Neutron. Of course, I love Futurama and Family Guy, too. My all-time favorite cartoon is Where are You, Scooby Doo? I loved the live-action movies, too. I cheered when Scrappy Doo turned out to be the villain. I always hated that puppy. I also like Avatar, Xialin Showdown, and Mr. Meaty. I told you. I watch cartoons. Here’s one of my favorite Courage, the Cowardly Dog episodes, “Freaky Fred.”

9. My son’s name is Reid. I once hurried through a library looking for him and calling, “Reid! Reid!” The library patrons looked at me like, “What do you think we’re doing, lady?”

10. I collect teapots and I love herbal and loose teas. My favorite place is Teavana, but they don’t have one in Oklahoma. Wah!

Originally published at Michele's Mutterings and Musings. Please leave any comments there.

I’M THE VAMPIRE, THAT’S WHY.

Unfortunately, I don’t get a shiny award for this honor, which sucks because I really like shiny awards.

Like a lot of authors, I’m obsessive about checking my reviews and rankings at Amazon and at Barnes and Noble. Carol, the reviewer who bestowed the honor of Worst Vampire Book upon my novel, gave me one-star (sorry, soooo not shiny enough!) and four enlightening sentences about why I’M THE VAMPIRE, THAT’S WHY deserved the award.

I would like to thank Carol for nominating me … my publisher for paying me in advance … my agent for keeping me as a client … and my editor for feeling sorry enough for me to buy two more books in the series.

Originally published at Michele's Mutterings and Musings. Please leave any comments there.

CANDY FOR VALENTINE, my February release, is the story of an ostracized blogger and a rare vampire who hook up at a romance reader’s conference. Check out these terrific reviews!

Five Angels! “Valentine was an amazingly biting character who covered her pain and hurt behind cutting remarks. … Michele Bardsley has penned a phenomenal follow up to Christmas for Eve and tied things up very nicely.”
—Serena, Fallen Angel Reviews

Five Blue Ribbons! “I loved everything about CANDY FOR VALENTINE. The characters and the plot were fantastic. I couldn’t wait to read about what would happen next. … Michele Bardsley never fails to amaze readers with her quirky and witty characters, the fun and hot sex, and as always an amazing storyline to go with it.”
—Willowxand, Romance Junkies

“Michele writes erotica in ways that men will enjoy. I secretly think she’s the editor of Penthouse Forum. … I was able to get vampires, a little Valentine’s Day romance and incredible sex writing in one great story.”
—Tony Miller, The Horror Fan

CLICK HERE to read an excerpt or to download the story for a mere $2.99!