FREE READ Saturdays- Seducing The Chambermaid

Here's a sneak peak at book 2 of my Notorious Nephilim series, SEDUCING THE CHAMBERMAID, coming August 2012 from Siren-Bookstrand...

Blair Lorring stared at the emerald and sapphire necklace on Elizabeth Stanton’s dressing table. Really, the woman should know better than to leave expensive jewelry in plain sight at a hotel. Blair had only been working here three weeks but already she knew the owners encouraged their guests to make use of the hotel safe to store expensive items.

When she picked it up, the weight of the piece surprised Blair. Imagine having fine jewelry like this and being able to wear it anytime you wanted? It was even prettier than the jewelry she’d found in the alley last month. Why had she attempted to pawn those items in Chicago? She was the daughter of a bookie. She should have known they hadn’t been left there by accident. Why had she let herself believe it was her ticket to freedom, even for one fleeting moment?

She sank onto the bed and tried to shake away the image of Frankie’s Fillipone’s hatchetmen. The scent of their cheap cologne was still fresh in her mind. It was a stroke of pure luck that she’d peered through the crack of her partially open bedroom door at the precise moment they stood in the living room, casually asking her father what she was up to these days. She hadn’t recognized them, and didn’t know at the time they worked for Frankie, but something in the tone of their voices had set her internal alarm bells clanging.

Blair fingered the piece again. A beautiful necklace like this should be treasured and protected, not left laying carelessly about. She stood up and crossed to the mirror, slipping it around her neck. The sapphires made her eyes look even bluer and the emeralds went nicely with her honey blonde hair. If she’d been born to different parents, she might have a necklace like this to wear out to dinner and a show. But that wasn’t going to happen to someone like her.

Blair jumped when a door slammed. She dropped the necklace into the pocket of her apron because she didn’t want to get caught trying to rearrange it on the dresser where she’d found it. Heart hammering in her chest, she peered out into the sitting room, but no one was there. The noise must have come from the hallway. Best to finish up here quickly.

She hummed softly to calm her frayed nerves while she finished dusting and tidying up the various newspapers and other trash Mrs. Stanton had strewn about her suite. When her eye fell on a recent Chicago Tribune newspaper she froze, her pulse quickening.
Blair’s fingers trembled as she picked up the newsprint and read the headline: West Side Man Found Dead; Latest Victim of Frankie Fillipone? The dead man’s face was one she knew well. Lenny Wilson was the man her father had tried to force her to marry.

She sank into the nearest chair and hugged her elbows as the memories assaulted her. The fear and revulsion were still as fresh as if she’d fled her home yesterday rather than three weeks ago. Would the memory of his breath, ripe with boiled cabbage and rotting teeth, ever fade? He’d stood inches from her face as he whispered the depraved acts he planned to force on her once they were married, and Blair’s panic had nearly immobilized her.

This man had been an associate of her father’s since Blair could remember, and he was at least twice her age. That her father would simply hand her over to such a man was the worst betrayal. So what if Lenny had offered to front the money her father owed Frankie? She was his daughter, not a bargaining chip.

Blair wiped the tears from her face and stood on shaky legs. She had to finish her duties. Men were shitheels. They all lied, they all hurt women, and they were all crooks. But she couldn’t lose this job. Chicago was only fifty miles from Fox Lake, but she felt safe here. This resort was exclusive and protected. Its owners worked hard to keep it that way, and from the moment she’d walked through the front doors, tired hungry and scared, she’d felt a sense of peace envelope her. Frankie and her father wouldn’t find her here as long as she kept her wits about her.

Blair forgot all about the necklace until she’d finished her work for the day and returned to her modest room in the staff wing of the resort. She fished it out of her pocket, alarm spreading through her. The right thing to do would be to march straight back to Mrs. Stanton’s room and explain. But explain what? That she’d dropped it into her pocket and forgotten about it because she’d been frightened by a slamming door and a newspaper headline?

She banged her fist on the dresser top and fought back fresh tears. How did the daughter of a bookie who had unknowingly stolen jewelry from his gangster boss move on and live a straight life? Was it even possible?

Blair opened the top drawer and dug underneath her bras and panties, stuffing the necklace between them. The lingerie wasn’t even hers. She’d shown up here with nothing but the clothes on her back. The owners had offered her a job and shown her around the place. Then they’d brought her to this room where she found it stocked with clothes and toiletries. Blair had never asked how or why.

There were a lot of odd things about this place Blair noticed, but she wasn’t one to look a gift horse in the mouth. Tomorrow she’d put the necklace back in Mrs. Stanton’s room and put this entire incident behind her.

*

Leonard Fallon perched on the edge of Andras Neville’s desk and shuffled through clippings from the Chicago Tribune over the past month. “It’s definitely Blair.” He studied the grainy photograph under the headline: Daughter of local bookie wanted for theft. Fillipone involved? There was no doubt the pretty face staring back at him belonged to the newest chambermaid they’d hired.

“We didn’t check her background,” said Andras, shrugging.

From across the room, Zach Neville lifted his gaze from the mountain of balance sheets on his desk. “I remember you both telling me not to worry about her past. Just hire her, you said.”

Andras stood and stretched. “You’re right. I take full blame for this. But what was I supposed to do? She walked here from Chicago. Just walked through the woods and followed the lights outside.” He glanced at Leo. “You saw her. She looked like she hadn’t slept for weeks.”

“She’s being hunted by Frankie Fillipone,” said Leo. “Her own father has accused her of stealing from him and his clients.” They’d managed to stay in business for fifteen years by catering to goons like Frankie. It kept the gumshoes from becoming too curious about them and brought in a steady stream of guests. If Frankie was looking for this dame and got wind of her working here, it could jeopardize the resort.

“Her father is a crook and works for Frankie. He’ll say what Frankie tells him to say.”

“Andras, you don’t know that.” Leo picked up the news clippings. “We’ll give her a chance to explain but if it turns out she is involved with Frankie, we’ll have to let her go.”

“You’d turn a beautiful girl away? Just like that?”

Leo shook his head. “We have a resort full of great looking dames. What if she’s a moll?”

“Why would she be here then?”

“Frankie could have sent her to keep an eye on things. She had a vague story as it was. I’ll bet you a sawbuck there’s more to this than either Blair or the newspapers are saying.” Leo hadn’t believed one word of Blair’s story that her parents were dead and she’d been living on the streets. The news stories proved his instincts had been right. He’d never admit this to Andras, but from the moment he’d laid eyes on her all he wanted to do was shelter and protect her. She looked like the kind of girl who’d never been treated right. And she had the prettiest blue eyes he’d ever seen.

“Have you forgotten how Frankie tried to muscle his way into our business?” asked Andras.

“Of course not.”

“Then where’s your compassion, Leo? This girl is obviously in trouble.”

“So what are you saying, Andras? That we should let her hide here to get back at Frankie?” He glanced at Zach. “Do we have any information on her other than the fake story she told us?”

He shook his head. “Like I said, you said hire her, so I did.”

“At least give her a chance to explain,” said Andras.

“I said I would.”

“You always did have a thing for blondes.”

There were times when Leo wanted to shake Andras until his lackadaisical attitude fell to the ground. When was he going to take this resort seriously? “I seem to recall you were the one who couldn’t take your eyes off her.” Liar. You stared at her with your mouth open.

Andras shrugged again. “She’s a looker and I’d be sorry to see her go.”

“And I’d love to tell Frankie to stick it up his ass, but if we get on his bad side this resort goes under. Even you must understand that.”

“Yeah, okay, okay. I get it. We’ll talk to her in the morning.”

Guest Blogger: Emma Shortt

Sex: Regency Style

When you think about the Regency Era you probably imagine sweeping dresses, dashing rakes and crowded ballrooms. Regency romance is something to be savoured. The marriage of convenience vanquished by the sweet love of a lord and a lady, the duke and his countess finding happiness after an abduction by a cad. The maid falling for the squire...the list goes on. 

But what happens after the romance, when it comes down to the nitty gritty? What about Regency sex?

Well if there's one thing I've learnt writing romance is that you can go back as many hundred years as you like, but be it Regency, Medieval or even Victorian, like or no, people had sex. Lots of sex. And they liked it. 

Men and women. Oh, yes, there was a reason so many young girls were ruined! One might think that women only achieved sexual liberation, and therefore enjoyment, with the advent of the birth control pill, that prior to that they simply lay back and thought of England. Nuh uh. Women have been enjoying the durty for quite some time, and in the Regency period they had some interesting ways to do so...

Lube

Apparently, and I can not confirm this (read it on a random blog), but olive oil was used as lube. Now I'm an olive oil fan myself and can see where they were coming from, it's slippy stuff. But dribbling it on the old nether regions... just pass me the bread.

The leather dildo

Before the advent of the squishable material we find on our dildos these days, you know the stuff that is meant to feel like the real deal, Regency craftsmen were using leather. These dildos were made of wood and then coated in leather to make them usable. I've seen pictures though and they don't look very comfortable. Studded and such--ouch! (FYI this set sold for over three grand recently)

The stone dildo

As per the leather only methinks a bit colder. 

The candle

For those who couldn't afford a leather dildo there was the option of a nice, thick candle. Though a dark night might have been ahead...or maybe not...and then the burning...and the possible erm...scent...I'll stop there. 

Massage

Self massage has been around for yonks, and the 'massage' that was popular in the Regency period was thought to calm a woman's nerves. Basically they meant the women should have a wank, because her 'hysteria' came from 

sexual issues, so crack one out and be on your way. 

The Fan

Regency women were fond of fans. This is what comes of living in a world with no AC. So they fanned themselves...in more ways than one. Now personally I'm not sure how gusts of cold air actually helped a woman to get off, but to each her own right?

I can find no evidence of other, slightly weirder activities -- to my disappointment. As an example the Egyptians used honey and ants...snakes and their slithering tongues...whilst the cavemen used a weird concoction involving wilder beasts, a flint, and a side of steak (okay, I made that up), but the Regency folk? It seems fans and oil were as good as it got. All in all Regency Era sex was a lot like today's. Only the poor people may have buggered up their PH balance (I'm sure olive oil is alkaline) and done without the vibrate action we've all come to love today. 

So thoughts? Jump in because I'm giving away one copy of my Regency filth, sorry did I say filth?? I meant novella, The Flighty Fiancee. I'll pick a winner from the comments and you can find out just how much those ladies loved a spanking....

Potpourri Thursdays - I Blame The Sting

I think it must have been Paul Newman's blue eyes and Robert Redford's boyish charm that started my fascination with Chicago in the early part of the 20th century. The Sting came out when I was in high school and it's still one of my favorite movies.

Organized crime in Chicago and other US cities is certainly not glamorous, and the 20's, 30's and 40's had their share of historical events we'd all rather forget, but there's something fascinating to me about Chicago, and these three decades.

In Notorious Nephilim, my current series for Siren, a group of fallen angels is sent back to earth on a mission during Prohibition. Prohibition in the US started in the 1840's and was instituted with the ratification of the 18th Amendment in 1919. Congress passed the Volstead Act in October of that year, but most large US cities weren't interested in enforcing it. This left an understaffed Federal service to go after bootleggers, and helped paved the way for organized crime.

The 21st Amendment repealed Prohibition in 1933, but by then organized crime had a foothold that is still in existence today. Organized crime in Chicago dates back to the 1880's. By the 1920's Al Capone had established his headquarters at the Lexington Hotel, on the corner of 22nd Street and Michigan Avenue. In 1927 Al Capone's Chicago Outfit earned 108 million dollars. And everyone has heard of the St. Valentine's Day massacre in 1929. In 1931 the National Commission of the American Mafia was formed, with some believing Al Capone now reported to Frankie La Porte, the boss of Chicago Heights crew.

In my series, the twelve Nephilim who make up the heroes of the six books in the series, were part of a larger group of angels sent to earth to watch over humans who were becoming too violent in their opposition of booze. But our twelve heroes got caught up in the lifestyle of the day instead, getting drunk and seducing women. Their favorite form of seduction was two men for one woman.

For their sins, they were punished by being cast down to earth for the remainder of eternity. As a constant reminder of their vices, if they wanted to have a lasting relationship with a human woman, she would have to choose two of them. That was the only way they could live a mortal existence. Otherwise, they'd remain Nephilim, never growing old or getting sick, and never dying. But they'd also never experience true love, and their favorite pastimes would never completely satisfy them.

In 1921, as retaliation for their punishment, the twelve started an exclusive resort

in the forests of Fox Lake Illinois. My inspiration for this resort is the legendary Mineola Hotel. The name of the resort in my series is Lilith’s Playground. Lilith is a demon who, for extra fun, cast a spell on our twelve as part of their punishment because they spurned her affections.

The resort quickly gained a reputation for catering to its guests' EVERY desire, and attracted women looking for a bit of discreet, no-strings-attached fun and pleasure. In the early days of the resort, the owners operated a speakeasy, and this attracted the attention of mob boss Frankie Fillipone.

I'm Sicilian, and although I don't have actual documentation to prove it, the rumors in our family always connected both my biological maternal grandfather and the man I knew as my grandfather to the Mafia in Chicago and New York City. My biological grandfather's last name was Fillipone. He died in WWII and my grandmother remarried a man with the first name of Frank. I named the fictional mob boss in my series after them both.

Frankie doesn't make an actual appearance in the books, but his existence plays a role in books 2 and 6. Book 1, SPANKED BY AN ANGEL, due out June 21st, takes place in contemporary times. Abigail Cosslin is fleeing memories of a recent divorce and her controlling father. She takes a two week vacation at Lilith's Playground at the suggestion of a friend, and gets more than she bargained for as she becomes involved with two of the owners, Zach Neville and Emmett Fallon.

In this book, Abigail finds old scrapbooks and discovers the secret of the resort. The owners who have already found true love are introduced by way of Zach and Emmett relaying their history to Abigail. The owners adopted the surnames of Fallon and Neville, telling everyone they were cousins. Neville is a play on "Nephilim" and Fallon is a play on "fallen".

Book 2, SEDUCING THE CHAMBERMAID, is due out in August from Siren. This book takes place in 1936 where our heroine, Blair Lorring, is being chased by Frankie Fillipone's men. She's caught with a necklace belonging to one of the guests, and two of the owners, Leo Fallon and Andras Neville, make her pay off the debt in their beds.

Book 3, TEMPTED BY TWO ANGELS, takes place in 1943. The speakeasy by then has turned into a nightclub, and Caleigh Kensington is hired to sing in it. She flirts with two owners, Sterling Neville and Hugh Fallon, getting much more than her curiosity satisfied as she learns the truth about the resort and its mysterious owners.

Books 4 will take place in the 1950's, and books 5 and 6 will return to contemporary times. In book 6, our heroine turns out to be Frankie's great-granddaughter. I chose to set 3 of the books in the past so I was able to trace the history of the resort and give each of my Nephilim their chance to tell you their story. All books are M/F/M menage, and will feature plenty of hot sex!

Two of my favorite scenes in The Sting are when Henry Gondorff (Paul Newman) is playing cards on the train with his mark, Doyle Lonnegan (Robert Shaw), and Doyle realizes he's been had. These men were such amazing actors. The other is the scene near the end where you're led to believe Henry really did shoot Johnny Hooker (Robert Redford). I admit the first time I saw this movie in the theater I thought he was dead, didn't you?

Writing Wednesdays - Guest Blog Post and Another Acceptance!

I'm so pleased to announce that book 2 of my Notorious Nephilim series, SEDUCING THE CHAMBERMAID, has been accepted by Siren! It will be released in August and go to print in January 2013!

You can read an overview of the series HERE, and I'll share cover art and blurbs from books 1 and 2 as soon as possible!

Don't forget to join me on LEIGH SAVAGE'S BLOG this week to learn more about my erotic M/F fantasy romance from Siren, HIS MAJESTY'S SECRET, and for a chance to win a copy!

Today I'm at CAMILE CARSON'S BLOG, and you have another chance to win a copy of HIS MAJESTY'S SECRET!

I'm about one third finished with book 3 of my Notorious Nephilim series, TEMPTED BY TWO ANGELS! My goal is to finish and sub before we move in a couple of weeks.

Tuneful Tuesdays - Torch Singers

Because I love the music of the 1940's, especially the torch songs, I'm going to talk about some of the songs and singers that have inspired me as I write books 2 and 3 of my Notorious Nephilim series.

In book 2, SEDUCING THE CHAMBERMAID, Blair, the heroine, is introduced to the speakeasy-turned-nightclub at Lilith's Playground, the exclusive resort where all six books take place. While there with the heroes, Leo and Andras, she's impressed by a singer with a smoky voice, who reminds her of her beloved 1930's movie stars.

In book 3, TEMPTED BY TWO ANGELS, I decided to make the heroine one of those soulful singers. Her name is Caleigh and she's tempted by our two heroes, Hugh and Sterling. Caleigh is a Julliard-trained singer who prefers singing in clubs to the bright lights of Broadway.

The book is set in 1943 and the biggest artists of the day were The Mills Brothers, Bing Crosby, Al Dexter and His Troopers, Glenn Miller and Harry James. It's been a challenge finding women singers to give Caleigh her voice, her song choices, and her personality.

Of course there is the fabulous Judy Garland. I wanted to give Caleigh that smoky contralto sound, so I immediately thought of Judy. But Judy's style tended more toward vaudeville and Broadway, so I turned to the clubs themselves, and found what I was looking for.



Lena Horne joined the chorus of the Cotton Club at age 16. Her sexy sultry voice recorded such hits as That's What Love Did to Me and Stormy Weather - my personal favorite of hers. Caleigh sings this song in TBTA.



Dorothy Dandridge was born in my hometown of Cleveland Ohio, and is probably most famous for her performance in Porgy and Bess, but she has a string of credits to her name. In the 1940's she recorded very little, and it was with others as part of the Jimmy Lunceford band. But it's her voice and her looks that inspired me.



And of course, Ella Fitzgerald. With a vocal range spanning three octaves, she was noted for her purity of tone, impeccable diction, phrasing and intonation, and improvisational ability.



She began singing regularly with Webb's Orchestra through 1935 at Harlem's Savoy Ballroom. Fitzgerald recorded several hit songs with them, including "Love and Kisses" and "(If You Can't Sing It) You'll Have to Swing It (Mr. Paganini)". But it was her 1938 version of the nursery rhyme, "A-Tisket, A-Tasket", a song she co-wrote, that brought her wide public acclaim.

And last but certainly not least, Peggy Lee. From her beginning as a vocalist on local radio to singing with Benny Goodman's big band, she forged a sophisticated persona, evolving into a multi-faceted artist and performer. She wrote music for films, acted, and created conceptual record albums—encompassing poetry, jazz, chamber pop, and art songs.

Potpourri Thursdays - Memorial Day

Monday marks a holiday here in the USA - Memorial Day. Memorial Day is a federal holiday observed annually in the United States on the last Monday of May.

Formerly known as Decoration Day, it originated after the American Civil War to commemorate the fallen Union soldiers of the Civil War. Southern ladies organizations and southern schoolchildren had decorated Confederate graves in Richmond and other cities during the Civil War, but each region had its own date, and most of those were in May. By the 20th century Memorial Day had been extended to honor all Americans who have died in all wars.

Memorial Day is a day of remembering the men and women who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. Many people visit cemeteries and memorials, particularly to honor those who have died in military service. Many volunteers place an American flag on each grave in national cemeteries.

The preferred name for the holiday gradually changed from "Decoration Day" to "Memorial Day", which was first used in 1882. It did not become more common until after World War II, and was not declared the official name by Federal law until 1967. On June 28, 1968, Congress passed the Uniform Holidays Bill, which moved four holidays, including Memorial Day, from their traditional dates to a specified Monday in order to create a convenient three-day weekend. The change moved Memorial Day from its traditional May 30 date to the last Monday in May. The law took effect at the federal level in 1971.

Many people observe Memorial Day by visiting cemeteries and memorials. A national moment of remembrance takes place at 3 pm local time. Another tradition is to fly the flag of the United States at half-staff from dawn until noon local time. Volunteers often place American flags on each grave site at national cemeteries.

For many Americans, the central event is attending one of the thousands of parades held on Memorial Day in large and small cities all over the country. Most of these feature marching bands and an overall military theme with the National Guard and other servicemen participating along with veterans and military vehicles from various wars.

One of the longest-standing traditions is the running of the Indianapolis 500, an auto race which has been held in conjunction with Memorial Day since 1911. It runs on the Sunday preceding the Memorial Day holiday. The Coca-Cola 600 stock car race has been held later the same day since 1961. The Memorial Tournament golf event has been held on or close to the Memorial Day weekend since 1976.

Because Memorial Day is generally associated with the start of the summer season, it is common tradition to inaugurate the outdoor cooking season on Memorial Day with a barbecue.
The National Memorial Day Concert takes place on the west lawn of the United States Capitol. The concert is broadcast on PBS and NPR. Music is performed, and respect is paid to the men and women who gave their lives for their country.

Most school districts that had their school year begin in late August will end school on the Friday before this day, while schools that started the school year the day after Labor Day in early September will remain in session until early June.

No matter how you choose to celebrate Memorial Day, please remember the men and woman who have fought - and continue to fight - for our freedom in this country.

Writing Wednesdays - Tempted By Two Angels

Book 2 of my Notorious Nephilim series, SEDUCING THE CHAMBERMAID, was finally submitted this weekend! Wish me luck!!

I'm already hard at work on Book 3, TEMPTED BY TWO ANGELS.

Here's an overview of the series...

Twelve fallen angels were part of a larger group sent to earth to watch over humans who were becoming too violent in their opposition of booze during Prohibition, but they got drunk and seduced women instead. Their favorite form of seduction was to share a woman between two of them. As punishment for indulging in their sins rather than fulfilling their mission, they were cast down to earth for the remainder of eternity. So they started an exclusive, secluded resort north of Chicago as a way to indulge their favorite pastimes, and to thumb their noses at the archangels who had a hand in their punishment.

Book 1, SPANKED BY AN ANGEL, is set in contemporary times.
Book 2, SEDUCING THE CHAMBERMAID, is set in 1936.
Book 3, TEMPTED BY TWO ANGELS, is set in 1943.
Book 4, HER WANTON WAYS, will be set in the 1950's.
Books 5 and 6, PRIVATE LESSONS and DANGEROUS DESIRES, will return to contemporary times, picking up where Spanked By An Angel left off.

Each book features two of the bad-ass sexy Nephilim as heroes, and one heroine. Each book is HOT M/F/M menage with scorching sex scenes, including spanking, flogging, sex toys and anal sex. But don't worry...there's a story in each as well!

The series is meant to trace the history of the exclusive resort, named Lilith's Playground, in Fox Lake Illinois, told through the stories of two heros at a time.

I'll share blurbs and cover art for the books as soon as possible!