Rough Edges
Multi Author
Blurb: For the book overall:
Work hard, play hard, love hard…
Nothing
is sexier than someone who knows what they want and has the confidence go after
it. This anthology is crammed full of hot romances featuring those kinds of rough-around-the-edges
alpha personalities–stories about the kind of men and women who ride horses
during the day and their partners at night, who speak few words but mean every
one of them, and who would never break their own personal code of honor. We're talking about cowboys... and cowgirls.
This
anthology contains seven romances with a Western theme that run the gamut from
sweet to sizzling.
Buy Links:
All Romance Books:
https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-roughedges-2002518-362.html
Amazon: (Kindle) http://amzn.to/1pXpaAG
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/rough-edges-8
Emma’s Ride by Christine Morgan
Bio:
Christine Morgan spent many years working
the overnight shift in a psychiatric facility, which played havoc with her
sleep schedule but allowed her a lot of writing time. A lifelong reader, she
also reviews, beta-reads, occasionally edits and dabbles in self-publishing.
Her other interests include gaming, history, superheroes, crafts, cheesy
disaster movies and training to be a crazy cat lady. She can be found online at
https://www.facebook.com/christinemorganauthor and
https://christinemariemorgan.wordpress.com/
Story Description:
Emma is a demure young lady from Back East,
or so she appears until her stern parents discover her inclination toward lusty
leanings, and decide she'd best be safely married off before she can ruin the
family reputation. She finds herself on a stagecoach bound West, set to wed an
old man she's never met. When a strapping cowboy boards the same stage, Emma
realizes this might be her last chance to give in to her wild and wanton ways,
but the journey may yet have some surprises in store for them both.
Excerpt:
What angered Emma the most was that she was
being punished for something she hadn't done. Or, rather, that because she was
being punished for it, she wished she'd gone ahead and done it.
How easy it would have been, how delightful! And they had, almost.
If she'd been less coy, dash it all! If she'd not played at maidenly demure
resistance, and made him pant vows of undying adoration in
her ear... why, it might have been long over with by the time Papa
came in, and the ache, the terrible need in her, might finally have been met.
The need that had burned since she'd discovered the books. She had never
dreamed people did the deeds described in their pages, depicted in their
drawings.
The flame had begun then, flickering, lapping, making her think of
things she had never considered before.
Time Machine Cowboy by Trayce Primm
Bio:
By day Trayce Primm transforms women into
goddesses with her flashing shears; by night she uses her razor sharp words to
transform boring reality into fantasy. She is a poet, published author of
sensual romance, and is currently awaiting publication of a reincarnation
murder mystery.
Story Description:
A boring end to a cold winter's day means
shedding work clothes and popping a frozen dinner into the microwave. But once in a magical while, the package
contains a sizzling surprise that heats up more than a cold heart.
Excerpt:
A sharp, mechanical ping from the microwave
summoned her back to the kitchen. She picked up a pot holder and pulled on the
oven door, frowning slightly when it wouldn’t open. She pulled harder, then
turned the timer on and off, hoping it might be of some help. A spark arced
inside, setting off a humming, buzzing sound. Before she could move, a
kaleidoscope of multi-colored, neon-bright light erupted from the small
machine, filling the room with streaks of smoke and jagged blue bolts of
lightning.
She tried to get out of harm’s way, but it was too late. The
Technicolor web held her fast, paralyzed with fear, yet unhurt. Visibility dropped
to zero, and she felt disoriented by the cacophony of light and sound. The
noise intensified to a horrible crescendo, then settled down to a plinking,
rhythmic regularity, familiar somehow.
Her senses returned one by one, picking up a jumble of isolated
images. The sound of a badly tuned player piano—the tinkling dance hall
classic, A Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight—the yeasty smell of beer mingled
with the acrid pall of cigar smoke, a glimpse of a polished wooden bar and rows
of bottles lined up behind it and the tantalizing aroma of hickory-smoked
barbeque. As the colored aura cleared, she realised she wasn’t alone anymore.
Lady of Lacrymosa by Brantwijn Serrah
Bio:
When she isn't visiting the worlds of
immortals, demons, dragons and goblins, Brantwijn fills her time with art:
sketching, painting, and cover design. She can't handle coffee unless there's
enough cream and sugar to make it a milkshake, but try and sweeten her tea and
she will never forgive you. She moonlights as a futon for four lazy cats and
can spend hours watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer while she writes.
In addition to her novels, Brantwijn has
self-published erotic short stories available on Amazon. Her short stories occasionally pop up at
Foreplay and Fangs, her blog at http://brantwijn.blogspot.com.
Story Description:
When Katarina started her shift in the
saloon, it was a night like any other. That was before the silent lady
gunslinger strolled in through the batwing doors. Katarina can’t keep her eyes
off the woman, and when the gunslinger starts to dance, sensuously spinning a
black magic spell, Kat finds herself hopelessly, utterly lost. By morning,
nothing will be the same.
The West gets weird, the night the
strangers come to Lacrymosa.
Excerpt:
Once she’d tended to her needs and tidied
herself again, she slipped into the poorly-lit passageway between the saloon
and the boarding rooms above. She crossed to the barroom door, still flustered
and distracted, and didn’t notice the hand reach out from under the stairs and
haul her back.
A short cry barely made it to her lips when
there came a hot, soft mouth upon her own. Katarina felt the rough wood of the
pantry door at her back, and a slender hand slid round the back of her neck,
holding her captive to the kiss. A slim leg nudged between her thighs, rustling
her skirt. She might have panicked but even before the scent of leather and
magnolia hit her she knew who the phantom would be.
“What are you doing?” she whispered.
Putting her hands up between them she nudged the lady away. “You don’t belong
here. Get out, get back into the bar, or I’ll scream...”
Lady Gunslinger gave a husky, quiet little
laugh, but she said nothing. Her hand found Katarina’s wrist in the dark, and
without a word, she tugged the saloon girl towards the stairs.
Hunted and Haunted by Jen DeLuca
Bio:
They say write what you know. When Jen
DeLuca was 6, she wrote stories about girls who had dogs, played tennis, and
took naps. She’s branched out a little
since then, and now her stories usually include some snark, some angst, and
some kissing. A Floridian by way of Virginia, Jen loves Hokies football,
latte-flavored lattes, and the Oxford comma. She no longer plays tennis but she
takes as many naps as she can.
Story Description:
A key witness in her ex's corruption trial,
Anna needs to lay low for her own safety. While she's stashed in a remote
hunting cabin in Montana, her nightly erotic dreams make her wish that
sheriff’s deputy Gabe McKenna’s protective custody was a little more hands-on.
Then she learns about the ghost who shares the cabin with them and discovers
it’ll take both men to keep her safe… and satisfied.
Excerpt:
“Tell you what?”
“Tell me I’m safe. Tell me you’ll stay.” I
had come out here because I was afraid, but that feeling was long gone, replaced
with something much more primal. I wanted him in my room, in my bed, but my
mouth couldn’t form the words.
Something must have shown on my face,
because he started toward me. Slowly, deliberately, the soles of his boots like
ominous music against the wood floor. “You’re safe,” he reminded me. “I’m not
going anywhere. Nothing’s going to happen to you.”
His voice was a growling whisper, and I
strained to hear it as he walked closer still. Heel, toe. Heel. Toe. Clomp-clomp. Clomp-clomp. The
closer he came, the harder my heart thudded in my chest, a counterpoint to his
footsteps. I didn’t shrink back at his approach, just kept my eyes on his as he
came closer.
He stopped a scant inch away, the heat from
his body radiating toward mine. The quick rise and fall of my breath brushed
the soft fabric of my camisole against his chest in a barely-there whisper. He
was a large man, and this was a very small cabin. With anyone else, I would
have felt threatened, but this was Gabe and I wanted nothing more than to curl
into his body.
My Midnight Cowboy by Pumpkin Spice
Bio:
Pumpkin Spice is the published author of
adult romantic fiction. Her naughty fairy tale line “Scarlett Hood & The
Hunter” and “Goldlie Locks & The Brothers Bear” is published by Evernight
Publishing along with her Cupid Conquest romance, “The Hart Moment.” Pumpkin’s
favorite time of year is fall when the leaves are turning, the weather is
crisper and the nights are a whole lot longer. Write to her at: pumpkinspicecom@yahoo.com Follow her on Twitter: @PumpkinSpiceU2
Story Description:
If chocolate is the way to a man’s heart,
then pastry chef Lucy Baker has the recipe for success. But will her culinary
skills melt the most-hard hearted bachelor in Wyoming?
A chance encounter on a New Year’s Eve flight
leaves two strangers to discover unbound pleasure and a hunger for more sexual
discovery.
Excerpt:
I sat alone in complete darkness until the
tram pulled into a stop. When the doors opened, light poured into the car and
suddenly Ben stood before me. I gasped. He said nothing.
The tram resumed moving toward another tunnel and darkness overtook
the tram. I felt for him, but he was no longer in front of me. A brief pocket
of light before the next tunnel spliced through the tram and Ben was on the
bench seat beside me, his voice in my ear.
“Hey,”he said.
“Hello.”I waited for him to touch me. “I wondered where you went.”
“I promised to look after you and I plan to keep that promise.”
“People break promises.”
He reached his hands into my hair and pulled me toward him. His
mouth grazed my neck and nibbled at the tender skin. “I don’t break promises
and neither will you.”
“Maybe.”I dug my fingers into his thick, wavy hair. “Maybe not.” I
toyed with him and his hold on me strengthened. The ferocity of his kiss
ignited my senses and made my skin prickle with pleasure.
Coming Up Roses by Anna Kyle
Bio:
Anna Kyle spent her youth reading about and
dreaming of horses and scheming (unsuccessfully) how to convince her parents to
get her one. That led to writing her first story about a girl and her horse
which in turn led to a lifetime love of writing. As an adult she reads
everything from histories to mysteries but romances are definitely her
favorite. These days she writes the paranormal romance series, the Wolf King,
at World Weaver Press. SKYE FALLING was published last summer and the origin
novel, OMEGA RISING, will be out late spring 2016.
Story Description:
To get the long-coveted D.V.M. initials
after her name, healer Rose is forced to spend the last two weeks of her
internship at the Finnegan Ranch she left eight years ago, where she spent and
best and worst times of her childhood.
Now Rose had to contend with using her rusty healing abilities to help a
wounded, angry donkey and deal with the sexy shapeshifter cowboy who broke her
heart.
Finn’s wolf did the unthinkable eight years
ago – attacked the girl he loved. Then years later she’d unknowingly saved his
wolf, and him. Now he has two weeks to convince Rose that the bite which drove
them apart also binds them together. Because letting her go this time might not
be possible.
Excerpt:
If he let her go now nothing would stop her from leaving him.
Forever. His wolf whined, a high-pitched , mournful sound.
No. If Rose thought she’d be happier without him, he would stand
aside and let her walk away. Her safety and happiness were all that mattered.
But he couldn’t let her stumble away, raw and hurting and believing he’d ever
hated her.
Murmuring soft words in her hair like she was a scared filly at the
crossroads of trusting or bolting, Finn held her. He wasn’t sure how long they
remained locked together, swaying gently back and forth. Inch by inch her body
relaxed until her arms crept around his waist and she sighed against his neck.
The soft, contented noise she made was a gift so tender and precious that it
stole his breath. Too soon she untangled herself and scrubbed her face.
Jump Without Looking by TJ Dodd
Bio:
TJ Dodd is a frequently sweary,
occasionally inappropriate former teacher and acknowledged black sheep of her
family. She’s okay with that. She shares her home with her pit bull named
Piddles, who outgrew the habit but got stuck with the name. She’s made up
stories her whole life and thought it might be fun to try to get some of them
published. So far it has been.
Story Description:
Jackie has a veterinary practice, her
family’s ranch, and a habit of avoiding men. The last thing she needs is a
giant, blonde cowboy who tears down her fence and rattles her nerves. Russ has
no job, a beat-up old pickup, and a rundown ranch he just inherited. He needs
everything except the beautiful, angry neighbor who turns him on and then runs
him off. Can one pregnant cow, two horses that love to jump, and three long
kisses prove them both wrong?
Excerpt:
Not that his thoughts were angelic. In
fact, they’d send him straight in the other direction. Jackie O’Neill was
exactly the kind of woman who turned him on: spirited, strong, and sturdy. She
was more of that kind of woman than anyone he’d met, so much so that she may have
just become his definition of that kind of woman.
He wondered if she felt what he did, something like two magnets
pulling them together. He wondered if her skin was as soft as it looked, and if
it would dimple between his fingers when he held her thighs and kissed her full
round breasts. They wouldn’t bruise each other, that was for damn sure. He’d
fit right into her cushioned body.
Sitting next to her was a gift.
1.
How did you start writing erotic romance?
I read too many romance
novels that end up
disappointing me. I feel romance and erotica aren't taken seriously as literary
genres... and authors weren't taking their work in the genres seriously either.
I wanted to write something that
was not only erotic and
emotional, but had a strong story and solid plot as well. I’ve discovered I really enjoy the freedom and
creative potential of writing erotic stories.
2.
Plotter or pantster?
I plot, mostly, though
I don't like to use outlines or other more 'structured' methods. Most of my scenes come to me in little
nuggets, and I sort of 'massage' them into a plot. This usually relates to music, playlists, and
soundtracks I’m listening to.
3.
What are three things you have on your writing desk?
Lately it’s been my
Kindle, my new Galaxy Grand Prime, and a large ice tea. I’m an email addict and
I need to have at least one device which will access my email at hand. And
while I work I love to enjoy a good, crisp ice tea.
4.
Favorite food?
I love Macaroni and
Cheese, especially if it's sharp cheese or white cheddar.
5.
Tell us a little about your new release. What character in the book really
spoke to you?
For Rough Edges, I contributed a dark tale
of lesbian romance called Lady of
Lacrymosa. Without a doubt, it’s the character of the lady gunslinger—never
named in the story—who really spoke to me. I can’t say too much about lady
gunslinger, though, without giving too much away. Her co-star, Kat, is a bit
more accessible... Kat came out of nowhere and somewhat rescued me from a cycle
of poor starts to this story. I tried to write maybe 4-5 other tales in the
weird west setting before she came along with a brassy, no-bullshit,
"let's-tell-this-story" look in her eye, and as soon as she did the
narrative came through loud and clear. I've sometimes told folks, there's a
wild west saloon somewhere in my mind, and that's where all my characters go to
between sets. The vampires, the faeries, the steampunk pilots, the cowgirls,
the sci-fi heroes...no matter what story they come from they all end up around
the tables in that mental saloon. Kat, I think, has taken her place as the
eternal bartender for all of them.
6.
I write because I have stories to share, and my biggest
dream is to know
others might enjoy hearing them as much as I enjoy telling them.
7.
What is your favorite type of character to write about?
I'm usually a big fan
of powerful women with a "weak spot", something making them
vulnerable beneath their tough exterior. My vampire, Rhiannon; my fae Knight,
Reagan; and now Kat, all fall under this archetype, although in different ways.
8.
What is the sexiest scene you ever wrote?
Recently an erotic
author I admire suggested an erotic prompt to me, challenging me to write out a
story where the lovers have the capability to alter one another’s bodies, but
not their own. The result was a very edgy story, to me at least, and I loved
the harsh tone of it and the transgressive experiment. There’s body mod and
gender swapping involved, and while it’s not the most transgressive act I’ve ever written of, it certainly
feels like the rawest, most graphic sexual scene I’ve written in a while.
9.
What advice would you give new authors in the erotica/romance field?
Read with an attentive
ear. Listen to how professionally published authors sound, listen for the voice of their narrative. There are some
qualities of writing that can’t be learned so much as they are absorbed from a
good habit of reading. The more you listen to the voice of other writers the
more you will develop a stronger voice of your own.
10.
What is next on your writerly horizon?
I’m still working on the
next books in both my Blood and Fire and
Four Courts series, as well as my
fantasy BDSM. Meanwhile, I’m trying to clean up a fantasy western series that’s
been gathering dust for several years.
Author Name: Brantwijn Serrah
Author Bio: When she isn't visiting the worlds of immortals,
demons, dragons and goblins, Brantwijn fills her time with artistic endeavors:
sketching, painting, customizing My Little Ponies and sewing plushies for
friends. She can't handle coffee unless there's enough cream and sugar to make
it a milkshake, but try and sweeten her tea and she will never forgive you. She
moonlights as a futon for four lazy cats, loves tabletop role-play games, and
can spend hours pencilling naughty, sexy illustrations in her secret notebooks.
Brantwijn
has two romance series currently in-progress with Champagne Books. She's also had short stories published in
several small press anthologies. She has author pages on GoodReads and Amazon, and loves to see reader
comments on her work. Her short stories and audio readings occasionally pop up
at Foreplay and Fangs, her blog at http://brantwijn.blogspot.com.
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