#TuesdayTakeover This week it's the lovely Laura Baird and her sexy shifter

It's Tuesday. Time for #TuesdayTakeover

I'm so enjoying these #TuesdayTakeover posts. (And the new Nine for the Weekend, on Fridays.)
If you fancy taking part in either, just drop me a line here

But for now...Over to Laura...

Hi Raven,

My latest release with EP is book 2 of my Shifter Clans series.

It follows Brennon and Mikki's story: 

Hawk shifter, Brennon Underhill is on a mission to shut down rogue labs and take down those responsible for experimenting with humans and shifters. A startling connection ignites within him after one look at Mikki, the only survivor of horrific deeds, and he knows he’ll do anything to save her and make her his.
One moment Mikki Babineaux is celebrating with friends, the next she realizes she’s been kidnapped and put through torture. Her savior comes in the hulking form of a gorgeous stranger named Brennon who sparks decadent desires. But learning he’s a shifter, and she may now be one as well, throws her world into a tailspin.
Can they rise above the chaos to find love and balance with one another?
 

Excerpt:

Mikki couldn’t say why she knew she could trust Brennon and Max, knowing nothing about them, but they hadn’t killed her yet, so

that was a plus. Hell, the man threw his body against that door to bust her out of that cell she’d been in, powerless to prevent what was

happening to her. That had to count for something. And what a body it was. She may have been deprived of certain things while in

captivity—and God, just saying that made her shudder—but she certainly wasn’t deprived of her ability to appreciate a freakin’ hot

guy.

He towered over her by more than a foot with the most impressive bulk of ripped muscles she’d ever seen. His midnight hair

reached the middle of his back, even with the thick mass bound at the base of his neck. He had a wide face, high cheekbones, and thinner lips than Max—who was cute in his own right with boyish good looks—but Brennon, mmm, Brennon made her insides buzz. And those golden eyes! Mesmerizing, captivating, stimulating.

When she touched the glass opposite his hand, she had felt his heat, as crazy as that sounded. But she felt something else. Something

she couldn’t quite explain. A charge. A knowing. Of what, again, she couldn’t explain. Her body felt different for a scant few seconds. All this through the freakin’ glass! When he wrapped his arms around her after breaking through the door … she had wanted to stay wrapped up in that comfort for much longer.

Jeez!

Brennon touched her arm, pulling her from her fantasies. “If you prefer, Max and I will go into the lab while you wait

here.”

“No way. I’ll face it.”

“I almost hate to ask, but is there anything you remember about what they did to you? Did you ever see others and what was

done to them?”

She shook her head. “I honestly don’t remember much.” Her voice was still raspy and wavered from unpleasant thoughts. “There

were many voices, most of the time speaking Spanish, I assumed. I know very little, honestly. Enough to get me by. I know more French, due to my family and where I live.” She took a deep breath, making herself continue as they walked to the door she knew held the lab. “I remember not being able to see most of the time, like they had a hood over my head, and when they removed it, my vision, it was foggy. Needle pricks, so many needle pricks. And pain. Horrible pain.” Her voice cracked with those last words, shaming her for her weakness. Brennon’s hand on her shoulder instantly calmed her, and she looked up to meet his gaze.

“Hey, you’re gonna be okay. I’ll see to it. You don’t have to say anymore. We’ll give you time to—”

“To what? See how much of my memory returns so I can relive it over and over? I’m sure you’re not the only one who’ll want

to know what the hell took place here.”

His voice softened but it wasn’t condescending. “No, unfortunately, others will want to question you. But we also want to

help you, Mikki.”

“Mikaela Babineaux. My name. That’s my name.” She tried to smile, hoping to hide her mixed emotions of rage and self-pity.

Just what the hell has been done to me? To the others? And how many others are there? Twelve rooms here, but there could be

more.

“Mikki’s fine, though. Most call me that.”

Brennon nodded while Max remained silent. She turned to the door and was the first to put her hand on the handle. Brennon quickly

covered her hand with his and a pleasant zing rushed through her. She caught her breath and heard him do the same. When they looked at one another, his golden eyes held a bit of surprise.

“Your eyes,” she started softly, unable to look away. “Beautiful, gold-rimmed with bronze.” Their skin remained in contact

and she felt warmth spread from her hand up her limb, beginning to infuse her entire body.

“Yours too,” he said.

~~~~~~~

You can get Sights on Her 

here

~~~~~~~

A bit about me and my links:

Wife, mother, former U. S. Army sergeant, and dental hygienist, I can now add published author to the list. I’m slowly transitioning out of hygiene, hoping to make writing a full-time endeavor. After writing for many years, my publishing dreams came true (at the age of 50!) in August of 2017. Since then, I’ve had the fortune to work with four publishers, connect with fantastic people, and am constantly learning on my journey.

A voracious reader myself, I strive to write stories I can be proud of and enjoyed by many; ones that are not only sexy and fun, but thoughtful as well.

I grew up on the East Coast and now reside on the West Coast, having lived in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Massachusetts, Idaho, and Washington State. Hubby and I hope to fill our passports with stamps from many destinations, Scotland and Fiji being at the top of the list. We’ve raised two sons who make us proud, one giving us a grandchild later this year. When not writing, I’m reading, doing house projects, and simply enjoying time with hubby; whether it’s watching college football or a Netflix marathon.

My links:

Website: https://www.laurambairdauthor.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LauraMBairdauthor/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/LauraMBaird

Amazon page: https://tinyurl.com/y98u9mva

Goodreads: https://tinyurl.com/y7o6a3v6

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/LauraMBaird

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/laura-m-baird

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZv584LXPIXBBzK-ERaCtaQ?view_as=subscriber

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/laurambaird

itunes/Apple: https://tinyurl.com/y8qsqa54

~~~~~~~

Thanks, Laura. It sounds fantastic,

Another book on my TBR list.

Happy reading everyone,

love Raven xx

#evermighties time, and this week...my contest experience

Welcome to this week's

And today we're chatting about out contest experience.

I'm a bit short on experience here. If we're talking writing as an adult that is. However when I was the grand old ages of 8, and 9, I entered a Cadbury chocolate competition, where you had to write about how chocolate was made. 

Now if there is one thing I'm sort of in love with, it's good old dairy milk, so when my primary school asked if anyone wanted to take part, I was all for it. Sadly it didn't involve just eating chocolate, but visits to the library to look up facts. I think that is when my love of research began. 

Anyhow, to my surprise and joy, both years our school entered I won the outright contest, and got rather a lot of chocolate, which was shared in class. I did get a bit cross the second year when the teacher, gave us all one each, and I could see there were some left over, told me I couldn't take any home for my mum and dad. (They were tiny oblongs of chocolate about the size of a postage stamp. They used to come in a box, and I've forgotten what they were called)

I must have been a bit of a arsy B even then because when the headmaster congratulated me, I complained. Strangely, several appeared so mum and dad got a couple, and three for me. As, the head said, I'd won it I deserved a few extra! Guess the staffroom went short then!

Fast forward to around eight years ago, to a write a first chapter for Mills and Boon contest.

Not to put too finer a point on it, I was pants! (and not the nice lacy, sexy sort either.) It was rubbish. Stilted, one-dimensional, cardboard characters. Awful. I wrote as I thought I should not as I could. No wonder I got nowhere.

I went back to this

But as I've said many times, from that competition, I met a group of likeminded newbies, we formed a support group and, I wrote as I could, not as I thought I should. 

The next year I got my first contract, and I've never looked back.

Happy reading,

love Raven xx

Three posts in a row... No I'm not building a fence,I'm celebrating

I am however trying to be interesting entertaining and...well you decide. Hopefully not irritating.

(source pinterest)

It sometimes takes a while to get back in the groove... this week has given me so much to be thankful for, including good friends, lovely hubby, and two books out. The chance, inclination and shouty muse to get writing again, and to do it.

Two books. That's a bit special so of course I have to crow and dance a bit. (or should that be Raven not crow?)

Pic, source pinterest)

Whichever, I'm just happy this week. 

So today's book is Impulse, book 2 in my Isole dei Sogni series is out (Book 1, Temptation came out in January.) Both edited by Audrey who puts up with me so patiently. 

(cover by the fabulous Jay Aheer)

This series is very dear to me, not only because it is the last of my books that the lovely Doris o'Connor 'redited' Our name for bets reading. Redit ...red pen it. Also a magic island was one of the first things, a group of us, all wanna be writers wrote about. Several of us got stories from the idea. 

So Isola dei Sogni came about, and I have several stories waiting, not so patiently to be written about the people who go there.

However so far you have Mia and Meryl's stories. Freya's will hopefully follow.

Isola dei Sogni

Where dreams and fantasies come true—if you let them

Blurb

Isola Dei Sogni. Where dreams and fantasies come true—if you let them.

Mia might just strangle her sister. Her fantasy is a good book and a bottle of wine, and she doesn’t have to traipse halfway around the world for that. Until she meets Dylan. This much younger man sends her libido into overdrive and makes her want to fulfill all of his dreams.

Dylan is on the island under protest, until his tiger spots Mia. Suddenly this trip isn’t a chore but pure pleasure. With his mate’s scent in his nostrils nothing is going to stop him from claiming what’s his.

Certainly not the minor detail of Mia having no idea of what really happens on this island, or the fact that shifters exist. When reality creeps into their idyll, will Mia be the strong mate his tiger needs, or will this fantasy end all too soon?

And... your wee tease...

Mia stared up at him. His trousers stretched over his thighs and across his stomach. She glanced at his cock and away again in a hurry. The bloody man had a hard-on. Just by looking at her under the water? It couldn’t be the reason. She was surely all blurry and wavy? Mia had a quick glance down to reassure herself. She wasn’t going to admit it, but she was wet from more than the pool water and her skin tingled with arousal. Even her scalp itched in a good way.

There she was with the most interesting male she’d met in a long time in close proximity—even if he was too young—and she had to stay submerged. Her wet hair flapped around her face, because as typical, she forgot to pin it up. She’d dispensed with a swimmy, so was bare-ass naked, and all of what she thought of as her unimpressive bits were off on show. Mia decided there and then she could never be a femme fatale. Too self-conscious and too aware of outside influences.

However, to use a favorite phrase of her mum’s, boy, was he hot to trot. Hmm. What to do next? Mia cleared her suddenly dry throat.

“Why did you say you were here?”

He grinned. Pure. Devilish. Wickedness. The sort of smile to make even the most hard-nosed woman weak.

Dammit.

“I didn’t,” he said, “say why. Do you want me to say something deep and meaningful, or do you want the truth?”

“The truth.” She hoped.

“Okay, so I did bring champagne.” He waved in the direction of an insulated box. “And unbreakable glasses. But … I cannot tell a lie. I was hoping for a sneak peek at your gorgeous body in the buff. A bit poetic, but truthful. I wanted to see you naked. Still do. Oh, and I’m here to cater for your every desire.”

Mia considered what he said. What the hell? She was on holiday, alone, and while not young, free and single, two out of three would do.She made up her mind. Meryl wasn’t around and had told Mia in no uncertain terms before they left home, that she, Mia, was on her own all week. Meryl had her own agenda. Mia spoke rapidly before she could change her mind.

“Are you married or otherwise spoken for?”

He shook his head. Mia noticed that now his hair was looped back with a string of leather. Very nice.

“Nope,’ he said in a firm, no bullshit tone. “Single now, divorced for twelve years with no significant—or otherwise other—male or female, unless you count the cat. Clean bill of health, only here for a week as a favor to the management. Oh, and definitely financially solvent. So?”

She took a deep breath. She’d go for it. No one would know. He wasn’t likely to fuck and tell, not here. Especially as he said he was doing the management a favor. To screw with and screw up a customer wouldn’t be a good move.

“So? Would you like to join me in here?”

His grin, nod, and a certain part of his body—judging by the hard ridge she could discern under the tight denim jeans—were one hundred percent hot, aroused male.

“Hold on.” Mia started to panic as he began to unbutton his shirt. “What about dinner? And what are you going to wear?”

“For dinner? Up to you. For now? Nothing. Oh, and while I remember. About dinner? On hold ’til you ask for it.” His hand went to the next button and he lifted his brow in silent query. In the subtle light, Mia only just noticed but nodded anyway. His shirt was unfastened and he threw it onto the lounger to rest on top of her bikini bottoms. Well, now she knew how he’d had confirmation of her nudity. Her bikini top was still fluttering away like a flag at a rally.

“Okay.” She did her best to ignore the rumba in her tummy and the butterflies dancing on her clit. Mia couldn’t take her eyes off him as his hands moved lower.

Oh, God, now his jeans. I wonder if he’s going commando? And then what?

“That, love, is your call.”

For fuck’s sake, she had to zip it.The think-it-and-spew-it scenario was so embarrassing. Unable to look away, but feeling a terrible voyeur, Mia watched as he slowly peeled his jeans down his legs. Her suspicions—or was it hopes?—were right.

Commando. What a body. She gave a silent inward whistle. W … h … a … t … a…

Dylan smiled. “Thank you,” he said gravely. “Do you want me to stand here a bit longer or shall I get in the pool?”

“What? Oh, hell, I’ve done it again, haven’t I?” She could have sworn she hadn’t spoken aloud.

“’Fraid so.”

“Just get in.” She laughed, a rich, deep, sexy laugh that surprised herself as much as it seemed to him. His eyes widened and he chuckled. “But do it slowly,” she added. She might as well enjoy the show.

Dylan let himself slide into the water slowly, as requested. He winked and appeared as if he was enjoying himself as much as she was.

Mia held her breath as he swam across to stand in front of her. He didn’t touch, he just looked, and she thought—hoped—admired.

“You,” he said slowly as he stroked her cheek, “are my fantasy come to life. I want to caress you, explore you. All over. And over and over again. To feel those wonderful breasts pressed against my chest. To discover the taste of them, the feel of them in my mouth. To have your legs wrapped around me, to feel your body rubbing against mine, to make me even harder than I am now. To push myself into you, to feel myself filling you and exploding in you. To hear you cry as you climax around me. And then to make you feel all those things again and again, with my hands, my mouth, my body—and, oh shit, give me a minute here.”

She rather thought he struggled for composure.

“Thank God for the calming effects of water.” Dylan’s voice was strangled, as if he had trouble forming his words.

Mia let out her breath. Noisily. “I’ll second that.” For someone who didn’t work there, he sure knew how to turn her on. Thank goodness she didn’t say that aloud.

His lips twitched.

“What?”

“Nothing, just give me a minute. Then we’ll talk.”

Mia nodded. Why didn’t the water have its usual shriveling effect on his cock? He leaned against the side of the pool and swished his legs, creating ripples and waves that concealed the lower half of his body, but his arousal was nipple-hardening, clit-clenching, and juice-collecting evident. Mia swam toward him and trod water.

“I’ve decided,” she said. “I have my fantasy now. Do you think you’ll be able to remember it for me? It’s totally out of character for me, but very simple.”

“Go on.”

“You. Your fantasy. I want it!”

You can get hold of Impulse here

Happy reading,

love Raven xx

#SexySnippets with a hero on a losing streak...

Welcome to this week's, #SexySnippets. Where in just seven sentences I attempt to give you a flavour of a book or WIP.

This week, I think it's time to share a little bit of my latest Regency,

Miss Simpkin's School for Seduction

Which is now available from all the best places, including Evernight Publishing, right here at the reduced price of $3.74 for a limited time.

Blurb...

Where seduction is the game and success is the aim.

 It seems that husbands need to be shown that given the chance, their prim and proper wives can be more fun in the bedroom than any mistress. Therefore, who better to advise the young ladies of the ton about sexual satisfaction than Molly Simpkins the ex-mistress of an Earl?

 Molly’s methods are unorthodox, and would send the dowagers into fits of apoplexy if they knew what went on behind closed doors. However, compete discretion is assured.

 Meet Flora, Lydia, Miranda, Jane and Molly herself as they introduce their partners to the sexual delights to be found in relationships that flout convention.

and your #SexySnippets

(Felix is trying to explain to Miranda why he feels they can not suit)

I am a man who wants it all—everything and  I would never settle for anything else. I know what I enjoy, and don't feel it would be fair to subject a young and impressionable lady to my ideals. You need a man who is younger, more virile and less…" He paused to find the word that fitted best. "Less extreme."

Her eyes flashed and the finger she poked perilously near his cock hurt. "Balderdash. You are scared." 

Catch all the other #SexySnippets here

Happy reading,

love Raven xx