Visit us at RT and Our Website

Read all about it on our website.

Playing games has never been sexier

Than what you'll find in Roll Play by Rowan West. In her debut novel from Ellora's Cave, Rowan has crafted a tale where fantasies come to life and passion sparks hot enough to melt your computer screen.

Here's a little tempter about the book to get your motors running:

Amara has loved Griffin since she was a teenager but hasn't seen him since. He has figured prominently in her fantasies and as the hero of her books. Now she is flying to California to help turn her book into a screenplay. As dazzling as the prospect is, it pales in comparison to discovering that Griffin heads the studio.

Griffin met Amara while participating in role-playing games with her brother. Although he had feelings for her, he couldn't make a move on his best friend's little sister. Until now. Now he has the means to bring her to him — and the magic to create a place for them to experience all the passion they feel for each other.

Each night, a roll of the enchanted die brings Amara and Griffin into a dream realm where their every desire becomes reality. By day she gets to know the man, by night the lover. But is it only a game for Griffin? Because Amara knows her heart — and she is playing for keeps.

Honey, there's heat in spades in this book and Rowan is definitely a new author to keep your eye on. This Hussies is definitely looking forward to the next exciting offering from a very hot new voice in erotic romance.

Being the dear she is, Rowan consented to letting me ask a few questions:

Q: Rowan, could you tell us a bit about your latest release?

A: ROLL PLAY is the first book I have ever had published and I am thrilled to be part of the Ellora's Cave family. EC was my first choice from the moment I started reading erotic romance e-book.

The book is a contemporary with a strong paranormal element in the form of an enchanted 10-sided die (like the kind used to play dungeons and dragons). Amara and Griffin met each other as teens playing role-playing games, but nothing came of their feelings then. Now Griffin has found a way to bring Amara back into his life. By day she is working on a screen play for his company. By night, she rolls the die and awakens in a magical realm where Griffin makes all of her erotic fantasies come true. Getting to know the man and the lover makes Amara certain she wants Griffin to be a permanent part of her life, but first she has to be certain that their time together isnt just a game forhim

Q: And honey, you did a fantastic job of creating characters who set the pages on fire. Can you tell us a little about your current WIP's?

A: I am currently working on a short erotic contemporary romance about a woman who's greatest fear in her relationships is being too deeply known, too deeply seen. She likes to keep people at a distance. Of course, the man she loves and who has come back into her life is a painter, someone who sees all of her.

I am also working on a contemporary that I hope to submit to EC's Exotica line called RIGHTS OF THE MASTER about a woman who must once again spend time with the man who was not just her sexual equal, but the man whose dominance matched her submissive soul.

Q: Oh Yumm. I can't wait! How do you come up with your ideas?

A: Just about anything can end up becoming a story idea from an article in a magazine (I keep a file of favorites) to hearing about an interesting job to a passion of mine. I am determined to write a book where chocolate figures prominantly. That will make for some great giveaways for readers, dont you think? One of my current ideas is for two stories about twins born on different days (one born just before midnight, one just after) and their names are Eve and Dawn. What enables me to follow through with an idea is the characters. If I have discovered compelling characters, I stay with the story to see how it turns out for them

Q: How do you balance family and writing?

A: This is an important part of my life. I know it is a challenge for a lot of writers - heck, for women in general - and it is something I have worked hard at. For almost six years I have been an at-home-mom (I was never good at the 9-5 world), and I have two sons who will be 8 and 5 in December. My younger son just started half-day preschool so for the first time in nearly five years I have time without kids during the week. It's only two hours, but right now that seems like a lot. I try to get as much done as I can in this time.

Most of my day, however, still involves them. By the time they are in bed, I am too tired to write so I have learned to blend writing and parenting. If I write in the dining room, they take out their "work" and create along side me. More recently I have found that I can ask for short blocks of time (an hour to an hour and a half) to work in my office (it's the garage, but it's all mine!) where they watch a movie and I write.

Since the publication of ROLL PLAY they understand better that Mommy's writing is a real thing and that she needs time for that just like Daddy needs his time at his office. One thing that works is when I ask for time to write, I write. And when I go back to my family, I am fully with them. Oh the occasional bribe works, too. I was on a deadline for a book for The Lotus Circle and I told them that if they gave me the time I requested then when the deadline was up they would each get a new Webkinz. It work. I made the deadline and there are happy kids with new stuffed animals in our house.

LOL, sounds like you've managed to successfully balance things out so that everyone is happy. Good for you! Rowan, thanks for being our Featured, Must Read Author. It's been a pleasure and a delight and all of the Hussies will be eagerly awaiting your next book.

Thanks for being here and learning more about this exciting new writer. Visit Rowan's sites at the links below to learn more about her and keep up with what delights she has in store for us next.

LINKS: Personal website: http:www.rowanwesterotica.com
Reader group: http://www.passionsmuses.com.
Myspace http://www.myspace.com/rowanwest

Until next time, this is Ciana for the Hussies with a littler reminder: We're not wanton and wicked. We just write that way. Can you dig it?

Submission at its sexiest

Is, of course, found in Masked Submission by Claire Thompson. If you've not yet read this book, then all I can say is "Boy have you missed out!!!" This is one smokin' hot read, babies. Consider this:


When Dylan Reese first sees Tomas, the sensual masked Dom at Club Chained, he instantly feels the connection between them. Falling under his dark spell, Dylan is unable to resist his commands, baring his body and his soul for his masked lover. In an intense exchange of sensual power, Dylan submits with an honesty and a passion he’s never known. He finds himself falling hopelessly in love with a stranger who can’t or won’t reveal himself.

Dr. Jack Marchand, a professor of medieval history, is smitten the moment he lays eyes on Dylan, the green-eyed PhD candidate he is mentoring. As their friendship blossoms, so does their trust—freeing Dylan to confess his submissive orientation while Jack admits his naturally dominant impulses. A tumble into bed after too much to drink convinces Jack he must possess Dylan on every level.

But just as Dylan is captured by a fantasy, Jack is held prisoner by a secret of his own creation. Jack finally realizes the only way to liberate Dylan’s heart is to confess what he has kept hidden from the world.



Wowza!! That's what I'm talkin' 'bout! The chemistry between Dylan and Jack is electricifying and will have you opting for iced coffee over a steaming cup because there's enough heat between these two to melt your ice cubes.



I was curious about the mind behind this and other great books and Claire was nice enough to spend some time with me.



Claire, tell me about yourself. How did you get started writing?

I started writing erotica and erotic romance back in 1996 as a way to explore my own sexual fantasies in a safe, secret way. At the time I wasn’t yet comfortable with my submissive, masochistic sexual orientation. When I dared to share my writing with a few close friends, they encouraged me to try and get my work published. Writing led to actual exploration in real life and boy, what a long, strange FUN road it’s been! Lately I’ve been writing male/male erotic romance and having a great time entering the minds and hearts of strong, sexy men who aren’t afraid to be vulnerable.

Could you tell me about your backlist.

I have published over twenty five novels. The novels at Renaissance.com primarily focus on BDSM erotica, not necessarily romantic, though a number of them are in fact romantic in nature with happily ever after endings. Please click on this link to see all the novels there. http://clairethompson.net/books/renaissance/index.html

Novels available in paperback can be viewed and purchased here: http://clairethompson.net/books/printbooks/index.html

My novels and quickies with Ellorascave.com can be viewed and purchased here: http://clairethompson.net/books/ellorascave/index.html

What genre do you write? What drew you to write in that genre? If you mix genres talk about that too.

I write BDSM both consensual and nonconsensual. This was my first love, as I find the passion possible in a loving D/s relationship to be combustible. It began as my own secret exploration. As I grew in my own life, experiencing the lifestyle I’d only dreamed of, that experience colored and enriched my work. I began to branch out with some science fiction (Pleasure Planet:Eros), vampire tales (True Kin Series) as well as a historical novel (Seduction of Colette) and my witch tale (Cast a Lover’s Spell). My latest passion is male/male erotic romance. I’ve written six male/male romances, three with a BDSM theme and three vanilla but sizzling hot. (you can check them all out at: http://clairethompson.net/books/ellorascave/index.html ). My latest venture is a ménage a tois between two bisexual men and a woman who signs up to be their submissive sex slave (Two Masters for Alex, coming out in Jan, 2008 with Elloras Cave). I had a lot of fun exploring the sexual tension, jealousy and difficulties that naturally arise when two become three, not to mention the super hot sex!

Do you like hearing from readers?

There is nothing, I repeat, NOTHING, more thrilling than getting an email from a reader! A writer creates a story in a vacuum. The editor is a good first barometer, but it isn’t until someone actually writes and lets me know what they thought that I can breathe easier. I also love to read reviews. I still can hardly believe people actually buy and read my stuff, much less take the time to write a considered review of my work. It’s the ultimate compliment and most certainly not one I take for granted. I don’t have any contests on my site at the moment, but I often post excerpts during chats and do giveaways at that time.

What are your plans for the future?

My dream is to write fulltime. Right now, with three children at home to support and a husband who is partially disabled and only works part time, I can’t quit my day job! But someday I hope to devote myself exclusively to my passion.

Have you ever started a book and then have it completely turn around and change course? Tell us about it.

That has happened a couple of times! For example, Island of Temptation began as a novel about a spoiled young woman, a driven professional guy and a bisexual laid-back artist who are stranded together on a tropical island. Instead it evolved into a story about a gay super sexy laid-back artist and a straight guy. As they struggle just to survive they develop the kind of close relationship men in combat develop. Their friendship evolves into something much more intense.

Any words of encouragement for unpublished writers?

Follow your heart and your passion. Don’t write for a particular genre or “craze”. Write what moves you—what matters to you. Before you submit anything, proofread the hell out of it! Print it out because it’s easier to catch errors on the page than on the screen. Once you complete the manuscript, let it sit a few weeks and “gel”. Come back to it with a fresh eye. Read the dialog aloud to see if it rings true. Stilted dialog throws a reader out of the story. Don’t get discouraged with rejections!! (Boy is THAT easy to say but not to do!). Remember, J K Rowling was refused by a number of publishers before her Harry Potter series found a home!

What is the hardest part of writing?

For me the hardest part is getting a good plot going with a hook that will capture the reader’s interest. The first few chapters are always the toughest for me. Then I get into a groove and just take off.

What was the release date of your first book? Why did you write it, who published it and can you tell us about receiving the “call”?

My very first book came out in 1996. It was entitled Sarah’s Surrender and it was released in print as a paperback with Masquerade Books (now defunct). I had wanted to call it Sarah’s Awakening, and when the rights reverted back to me, I changed the title accordingly. It was one of those flukes of good luck and timing that I managed to publish the first novel I ever wrote, and was offered a contract before I’d written more than three chapters! I wasn’t really serious about it back then, so maybe that’s why it worked out (beginner’s luck). Plus the market was much smaller and the necessity of an agent much less acute back then. Whatever the reason, I sent the first three chapters of a book about a young woman’s sexual awakening, specifically her fascination with D/s (Dominance/submission) to the publisher of Masquerade and a few weeks later I got a phone call from him. He said, “Okay, we got the first three chapters of your book. Where’s the rest?” It was the most thrilling phone call! He bought the book right there on the phone. I never made much money on it with them (having no agent to negotiate for me, I suppose) but it was my first advance and my first novel and from then on I had the bug!

Thanks, Claire, I appreciate you taking the time to answer some questions for us. Now, before we close, I want to mention another of Claire's books, Odd Man Out.

Attending a wedding with his ex-lover wasn’t the smartest thing Ben had ever agreed to do since Carl could really be a horse’s behind, but one look at David, the groom’s best man, and he was willing to change his mind. The man was sex personified and it was apparent he was used to conquering his lovers with his masculine appeal and confident, sexy manner.

David is an actor-model, happy to play the scene, definitely not looking for love. Ben is a New York stock research analyst, more than likely a man interested in a discussion of stock-market trends, the latest high-finance maneuvers or who was embezzling from whom. David was willing to play since Ben’s looks intrigued him but he didn’t see anything in the future for them. They were worlds apart, right?

Wrong. Ben and David fall for the intoxicating allure of hot, steamy nights neither can resist nor control. Too bad Carl decides he’s not ready give Ben up to David. If he can’t have him, no one will.

Again, I want to thank Claire for being our Must Read Featured Author and all the time she so generously shared with me. Claire, honey, you know I'll be eagerly awaiting your next book (so write fast baby!!)

Thanks for joining us here on The Hussies Book Slam Blog where you can read about exciting books and the luscious minds behind them.

This is Ciana for the Hussies saying have a great day and remember ... in the hussy zone it's all about the romance (erotic romance that is!)

Cheers :)

She's got it, yeah baby she's got it

I'm talking about Lauren Dane, of course. A talent for romance, and all things erotic, Lauren's books have been inspiring us (and heating us up) for several years. Today, I'd like to feature one of her recent releases from Ellora's Cave, Threat of Darkness.


This book is a spinoff of Lauren's Witches Knot Series, but if you haven't read this series and want to start with this book, it can be read alone.



Mei is a Warrior for the Balance. She stands between good and evil. So when her boss tells her she's got to head to Tir na nOg to help the Fae she is most displeased. Mei's mother Aine, the queen of the Fae, betrayed and exiled her millennia ago. Or so she's been led to believe.

But Aine was misled by her own sister, and suddenly everything Mei has thought was true for thousands of years falls down around her ears as she looks up to see the face of her husband. Her first husband, a man she'd thought was dead.Jayce MacTavish is surprised to find that his wife, thought millennia dead, is alive, but his joy is tempered by the realization that she's got another mate.

Mei, Card and Jayce must find a way to be together as three while a threat from the Dark Fae and a new enemy darkens the horizon.

This is fantasy at its best and Lauren really pulled off the ménage with sizzle, but more importantly with emotional depth. It's a tale of love and loss, of the battle between darkness and light and a tale where hope doesn't die, but is kept alive by love.

Lauren has received rave reviews on this book.

Pam at My Book Cravings gives THREAT OF DARKNESS five flowers and says in part: The sexual encounters between the three mates are everything you could wish for in a ménage grouping…sizzling hot, steamy and above all loving. It’s all that you could ask for in a fantasy romance. I eagerly look forward to the next book by Miss Dane. Read and enjoy!



Aris at Alternative Read says of Threat of Darkness: Let the magic fly. A powerful story of love and the loss of that love, then finding even stronger love, in being bound to two. Hot, steamy, sexy, and tender, all you could want in a romance.


Lisa at The Romance Studio gives THREAT OF DARKNESS four and a half hearts and says in part: (…) it is very apparent this author spent a lot of time organizing her notes and crafting a riveting tale of dark forces battling the good. Mei’s relationship with her mates, Jayce and Card, is the most important part of this story. Their love and concern for her keeps her sane and bolsters her spirits when her body is depleted of magic. We get to revisit characters from the Witches Knot series, and that’s always exciting to see how past heroes and heroines are faring
Serena at FAR gives THREAT OF DARKNESS four angels and says in part: (…) this was a fantastic book. The characters are well-rounded and truly real ‘feeling’. (…) Both Jayce and Card were definitely drool-worthy and I loved Mei’s strength throughout the book. I truly hope that we are able to revisit the relationship that’s been established in this book.



If you haven't yet read Threat of Darkness, then WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? Hurry on over to Ellora's Cave and while you're there, check out all of Lauren's other great books.


And just who is this fabulous writer? Well, Lauren describes herself as a suburban mom with a salacious imagination that she’s put to good use with her writing. Her favorite thing is when people tell her that she doesn’t look like “someone who’d write those books.”

She lives in the Northwest with her husband and three very rambunctious kids. She writes everything from paranormals to contemporary BDSM books and develops terrible crushes on all of her heroes.


Even though she lives in her head a lot, she does venture outside from time to time to collaborate with other authors, oh and to buy shoes too.


Well, I think this suburban mom has one heck of a talent and I'm looking forward to a lot more books from her. Do visit Lauren's site for more on her and her writing.


Thanks, Lauren, for being our Must Read Featured Author, and hey girl, this hussy is looking
forward to the next time we catch up!!


Thanks everyone for visiting. Hope to see you again soon. And as our Genuine Hussy Sahara
reminded me -- remember: When we're good, we're good. When we're bad, we're better :) Come on over to the Hussy Zone and get bad with us!!


Happy Hump Day!!

Ciana for The Hussies
Sally Painter, Sahara Kelly, Nicole Austin, Nathalie Gray, Ann Wesley Hardin and Mary Winter

Does mainstream fiction fill our yearnings for love?

In some cases yes. Like the writing of Terry Odell. A fellow Floridian and great friend, Terry hit the scene with Cerridwen Press like a rocket and has been going strong, producing one great read after the other.

One of my favorites is What's in a Name? A woman on the run who runs right into mystery and danger? My kind of book. Since it's my trademark not to reveal too much, I'll only give you a blurb about the book, then none of it will be spoiled during the read.

What's in a Name?

What happens when you're running for the wrong reason? Kelli Carpenter is afraid someone will connect her to the self-defense killing of a former lover. She's changed her identity, found a new career and thinks she's safe, but prefers to keep distance between herself and everyone else.

When handsome stranger Blake Windsor shows up purporting to be a handyman doing much needed repairs at the wilderness jobsite where Kelli is working, a site to give inner city kids temporary respite from their lives dominated by concrete and drive-bys, Kelli's instincts tell her to leave, but the man has her boss's approval, and without him, the project won't be completed on time.

Blake, corporate executive who accepted his boss's request to find out if Kelli Carpenter is really Casey Wallace, begrudgingly returns to the blue-collar construction lifestyle he vowed to leave behind. The woman he meets bears little resemblance to the woman he's supposed to find, but something about her mystifies him, and he decides to continue with his deception to learn more about her.

When someone comes after Kelli, she runs—but she takes Blake with her. Keep your friends close but your enemies closer is her philosophy. And Kelli is convinced Blake knows something that will link her to her lover's death, ending her life as she knows it.

Now aren't you ready to rush over to Cerridwen and get a copy of this book?? And I bet you're curious about the mind that created this tale, so let me share a little info with you about Terry, in her own words:

From Terry:

First, let me thank you for inviting me to share some of your blogspace. I've noticed that a common question is some variant of, "how did you start writing/how long have you been writing/when did you know you wanted to be a writer?"

Well – I got into this by mistake. Yep. Never really thought I'd actually put words to paper (or screen, depending on how you look at it.) I always made up stories—usually because I thought I could "fix" something someone else had written, or more likely, a better ending for a television episode, or a better scene in a movie. But actually write? No way. I tried it once—sat at the keyboard and after one page of having to type all those commas and quotation marks for dialogue (and, boy, do I love to set my characters loose and let them talk!), I said, "too much work" and went back to writing in my head.

Then, one day my son was home for a visit. As young men are wont to do, he was watching television, which meant he was clicking the remote. He stopped at one show and said, "Have you watched Highlander? It's all about these Immortals who can't die unless you cut off their heads, and then you get all their power."

Being a cool mom, I started watching the show, figuring I'd be able to talk about it with him. After all, hadn't I read a slew of Larry Niven so I could converse with my nuclear-physicist son-in-law on some sort of common ground? Well, after one episode, I figured this was going to be EASY. Who could not like watching Adrian Paul?

I was hooked, and started wondering about the 'rules' of Immortality. I'd never seen the movie, so my world was limited to television episodes. I had questions. I discovered Compuserve forums (this was a while ago!) and from there, found fanfiction. I hooked up with a few authors whose style I admired, and offered to edit (beta read, in their jargon) because I had a decent eye for technique and grammar. One weekend, I was home alone and decided to write a story that had been playing around in my head. What if there was some kind of virus that evolved on the home world of Immortals? I toiled over a short story and sent it to the author I was reading for. She kindly took me under her wing and pointed out all the things I needed to learn. I picked up the gauntlet and started learning a new craft.

Time passed, and I branched out into original fiction. Found a critique group. Starting writing a novel. I thought it was a mystery, but my daughters told me it was obviously a romance, but that's another story. One day, I talked to my son, and being cool, of course, told him I thought it sucked that Tessa had died. He said, "Huh?" I said, "Highlander. You know, Tessa. Duncan's girlfriend/fiancé. They killed her off."

To which he replied, "Oh, I've never actually watched the show. I just thought it was a neat concept."

Not that it was a total waste. I now have 3 novels with Cerridwen (two in print) and several short stories with The Wild Rose Press. And one of those original Highlander short stories evolved into What's in a Name?, the second of my books to be published by Cerridwen. The other two are Finding Sarah, and it sequel, Starting Over, just released – with a fantastic Syneca cover!

Thanks, Terry - for the interesting insight into your writing and for the praise (you know we cover artists get all mushy when we get praise!) And a big thank you for being our featured must read author! We'll be looking forward to more books, and encourage all our readers to head on over to Cerridwen to check out Terry's books, and also to visit her site and learn more about her.

From The Hussies, here's wishing you a fantastic weekend and a reminder that letting your inner Hussy out to play can be a VERY good thing :)

Ciana and Sally, The Hussies