It's that in between books stage...and I'm twitchy

Hi all, it's Tuesday, 
I'm on the settee with a cup of coffee on the table, eyeing up the cakes just out of reach (on purpose), sitting in front of my lap top and toying with a couple of ideas and part stories.

And wondering what to do next.

(pic, source pinterest)

It's not that I haven't got some stories in the making—I have. I'm also half way through writing a Regency mystery-romance with the lovely Cassie O'Brien. That is first on my next list if you get the gist. However it needs concentration as I'm checking we have our timeline and continuity right, and today, there's a lot happening in the Raven household. (No I do not have, or have moved the hammer, sticky tape, made a cuppa found x, y or z...

So, after going over the first chapter three times I've decided that's for when I have a clear, free and uninterrupted few hours later in the week. 

But that means now I'm twitchy. It's all well and good knowing what's on my list for a few days and weeks hence (I sort of do, well for the next week or so anyway) but I like a story on the go. 

And today I have three I could write and none are screaming 'me, me, do me.'

It's a great dilemma in one way, I don't have writer's block just writer's argh, what next.

I think I'll go and read a book, eat the cakes and make another cup of coffee.

How much do you bet I'll get a can you please do this asap email from someone?

Happy reading,

love Raven xx

A note from an absentee blogger, and a BIG shout out for a Doris and Raven paperback

That is me lately.

I've been remiss in blogging, in fact i've been remiss in a lot of things.

I'm still not quite up to par with all things writing. Dammit, I still go to talk to Doris O'Connor before I realise I can't do that any more.

If you see my lips moving and I appear to be arguing with myself, I'm doing both her and my side of any conversation we might have had and I know the outcome. Even if I am thinking I wonder if the outcome could be diff...no, okay. I can hear her in my mind!

Before you think, oh blimey, Raven's doing a woe is me blog, no I'm not. I'm actually doing a happy dance, oohh look isn't this fab sort of post.

Because The lovely Evernight Publishing have brought out our last joint book, The Tattoo Artist's Mate in paperback. along with The Good Bad Boy, and our time slip story, The Dukes Christmas Abductions.

To say I'm excited and over the moon is an understatement. And 'Volume one'!

Luckily I do have some more ides for Bare Alley Ink and those people who visit it or work there. Watch this space.

However for now, shameless link time...

Amazon .com        here

Amazon .co.uk     here

Happy Reading,

Love Raven (and Doris) xx

Ps, I promise to do better, R x

#SundaySnippet with a Regency heroine who is at the end of her tether

Hi All welcome to my #SundaySnippet. Where as The Viscount Meets His Match is out next week I thought I should tease you from there...
(and it is an exceptionally great cover)

And a wee tease, where Josephine is hard pressed to be polite

Even with the lack of intrusive and in-depth queries, keeping her temper was at times a close run thing. After one elderly dowager had blatantly used her age and title to ask what came next, Josephine had to count to ten before she replied.
“The harpist, a quartet, supper and then Miss Jones on the piano,” she said with a composure she didn’t feel. “So, if you will excuse me, I will go and find somewhere to sit.” She curtsied and turned away before anything else was said. As soon as they’d arrived, her mama had behaved as usual and left Josephine to her own devices, so there was no one to call her out for her undoubted rude behavior.

you can find the book at Totally Bound or on Amazon

Happy reading, 
love Raven xx 

#SundaySnippet from a bookkeeper who has to try and dance

Hi All, and welcome to this week's #SundaySnippet. 

Where I'm showing a little bit about Celine's predicament...

~~~ “As a dancer, here in this establishment you are employed to dance for the customers. I am a customer; you are the entertainment. They are the facts.”

There was little she could answer. No Sir, I am not a dancer, but the bookkeeper, who stood in for a friend who has la grippe and the owner, Madame Solange, my friend was in a panic? That wouldn’t show the club up in a good light. The last thing she wanted to do was damage the club’s reputation, but she knew her limits. To be for want of a better word, brazen, was not in her psyche.

Hope that has whetted your interest

Happy reading,

love Raven xx

(My apologies for the mixed up spacing... No idea why, and can't see how to fix it. I need more coffee.)

#TakeoverTuesday... By me because... well, read on.

Yep, today I am taking over my own blog. Sounds weird? Probably, after all I can blog anytime.

But today is special.

Today is the day, The Viscount Meets his Match goes on preorder from Totally Bound.

Am I excited? Heck, yeah. I had so much fun writing this story about two people who are shall we say very much their own person.

They do say the path of true love is a bit stony don't they? They're right in this case. 
I do hope you enjoy how David and Josephine cope with each other and their feelings.

Here's a wee tease...

“Is it all men or only me you have an aversion to?” he asked as she began to walk away. He pitched his voice just loud enough for her to hear. She might ignore his question but there would be no chance of her not hearing it. “For if it is me, what have I ever done to you to deserve your contempt?”

“What?” She turned and took the three steps necessary to get within arm’s reach once more. Her blue eyes sparked in a way he had never noticed before and his body responded accordingly and tightened with interest. Again, she tempted him in a manner he would not have thought possible. How he’d like to shake her out of her present mood, but not in a manner that would be at all acceptable.

Not yet, anyway.

Again a notion to contemplate. Was he really debating dallying with this woman? His head said no, the rest of his body, the opposite. Why had he never really examined her luscious curves before? They appeared perfect in every way.

“Dare you not answer me?”

She frowned as if puzzled by his remark. David repeated himself. “How have I earned your contempt?”

“Sadly, as far as I can see, from my knowledge of your sex it encompasses all men, my lord. Although, with your reputation, I would put you near the top of my list.”

Well, that told him. David bowed and with a swift look around decided, if she thought she knew him, he might as well live up to the sort of person she thought she was. He grasped both her arms, drew her close and pressed a hard, swift kiss to her lips.

The jolt of immediate arousal was as unexpected as it was exciting.

you can preorder your copy

here

Happy reading,

love Raven xx

#SexySnippets with time to deflower a virgin

 I'm so sorry. If anyone was waiting to read this with toe-tapping impatience, tap no more.

It's here.

Home, with the internet and able to do my post.

This week's #SexySnippets and another seven sentences from Miss Simpkins' School for Seduction.

Jane did her best to inch away, but Luke pinned her arms to her sides and before she understood what he

was doing, slipped her gown down them, and somehow had her naked before she could blink.

"How on earth did you do that?" she asked, genuinely interested.

"Practice, and no, I'm not telling you who on. That part of my life is over. I've turned over a new leaf; I'm a reformed character."

"One who is about to deflower a virgin," Jane reminded him with a smile.

"Only one virgin, and then I'll stick to an experienced woman," Luke said. 

I'll be experienced, so does he mean me?

 Miss Simpkins' School for Seduction is available from all good ebook stores including Evernight Publishing, here

And all the other #SexySnippets can be found here

Happy reading,

love Raven xx

#MidWeekTease and an interesting bedchamber

Hi all, here's this weeks tease. I hope you enjoy it...

(Jane is making love with Luke for the first time)

Jane let Luke lead her from the sitting room into the bedchamber. The bed itself, an overlarge four-poster, seemed to dominate the room and the intricate crisscross of silken ropes and ties were, to her mind, excessive. She liked simple plain lines. Not at all the fashion of the day, but then Jane had never been one to follow fashion. Luke caught her gaze.
"I find it exciting to bind my companion's hands and perhaps her body," he said in the same tone he might use to admit he enjoyed a glass of port or a day's riding to hounds. "Only if she's willing, of course." His look was speculative and Jane ignored the dampness between her thighs. The only times she'd ever experience that feeling was with the help of a specially crafted darning mushroom, that had never been near a sock or a hank of wool.
"Of course," she said in the same tone. "And are they?"
"Well, you tell me." Luke set one of the ropes swinging. "I'm not a mind reader, mores the pity."
"I intend to walk before I run, or swing," Jane said and turned into his arms.
Luke held her close, and she enjoyed the feeling of rightness. "Then a cuddle it is. Do you need—" He gestured to the door leading to the bathing chamber. "Everything is in there."
The heat of a blush prickled her skin. "Please? Oh, and my nightrail?"
"Not needed. There's a robe in there for you to wear until you come to bed. I'm going to use the bathing chamber across the hall, and meet you back here. I'm a modern man. I bathe and expect my guests to do so after a day's hunting. We smell, the dogs smell, and I have no intention of my house smelling as well. Cleanliness is next to godliness, and I need all the help I can get." He went out of the room whistling, and Jane chuckled as she made use of the facilities.
She eyed the robe that was indeed waiting for her. It was almost transparent. A robe for a lover. Had he really put it there with her in mind? She took a deep breath, wrapped it tightly around her body, and hurried into the bedchamber. To her relief, she was there before Luke and scrambled into bed, still wearing the robe. It might not afford much protection, but the illusion helped her.
Should she stretch out or sit up? Pull the covers up tight around her neck or strive for nonchalance and let them sit looser? Really it was so complicated.

Miss Simpkins' School for Seduction is available from Amazon, Bookstrand or here from Evernight Publishing

The other #MidWeekTease posts are 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