Introducing Australia and New Zealand Indie Authors - Willsin Rowe

The entire "Consummate Therapy" series in omnibus format. If you haven't caught up with the trials and tribulations of Natasha Blakely, billionaire CEO, then now is the perfect time to get your feet wet.

Title: Consummate Therapy

Author: Katie Salidas & Willsin Rowe

Genre: Erotica

Release Date: December 20th 2012

Purchase Links: Amazon

Amazon UK

WARNING: This title contains graphic language, sexual situations, bondage, discipline, toys, and plenty of billionaire shenanigans.

Submission Therapy

Billionaire CEO of Blakely Incorporated, Natasha runs her empire with an eagle eye for every detail. She's an obsessive, compulsive, micromanaging hard-ass, consumed by the need to control every aspect of her life and her business.

But underneath that seemingly strong façade, Natasha is a swirling mess of anger, anxiety and sexual addiction. Only her therapist, Dr. Benson, knows how close she is to burning out...or exploding. He insists on a radical form of treatment - Submission Therapy - knowing that it's her only hope.

Skeptical but intrigued, Natasha agrees to attend the first session. What she finds there is an erotically-charged environment that will forgive none of her habitual bad behavior. And a steely-eyed man who seems to read her every desire - even the ones she won't admit to herself.

Will Natasha learn what it means to submit? Or will she allow her brittle pride to rob her of what she truly needs?

Occupational Therapy

Natasha's experience at the hands of Master Sweet has left her both drained and enlightened. Wanting nothing more than to curl up against him for as long as she can, she is dismayed when he sends her home to dwell on all she's learned.

But being a creature of habit, Natasha's stubborn and rebellious nature leads her back into her old patterns, threatening to undo all her progress. When her symptoms return in full force, she begins to doubt not only the effectiveness of Submission Therapy, but also the motivations of her Master.

Learning of her disobedience, Master Sweet brings forward Natasha's next session. But recognizing her behavior for what it is - a cry for attention - leads Him to change His approach dramatically. If Natasha thought her first lesson was hard...she's in for a real eye-opener.

Does the embattled billionaire have the internal strength to earn back her Master's trust? And how will she handle it when his intentions suddenly become even more serious?

Immersion Therapy

Accepting Master Sweet's collar is a frightening commitment for pathological maneater, Natasha. Until recently everything in her life, including sex, had been strictly business; a safe zone that Natasha was quite comfortable with.

Submission Therapy ruined all of that. Her recently uncovered desires have left her feeling raw and needy, unable to trust her own judgment. The order and consistency in her life has been shattered by these terrifying newfound feelings and desires. When even her employees find true love, Natasha's world feels somehow unreal. Could this thing called 'love' be real? And could Master truly feel the same for her? 

Now she faces the biggest emotional decision of her life. Will she accept her Master's collar, and the commitment that it entails? Or should she say goodbye to her Master and forever abandon the hope of a loving relationship with the one man who truly knows her?

Submission Therapy

EXCERPT:

© November 2012 by Willsin Rowe and Katie Salidas

FREE ON AMAZON

“If your spirit is the equal of your body...” He ran his fingers across my shoulders and down the gully of my spine. “...then it will be a rare pleasure breaking you in.”

Despite my initial apprehension, his words and his touch sent a thrill through me.

He moved from behind me and my back suddenly felt cold. I watched his muscular form as he prowled to the chair, and admired his grace as he mounted it.

“Bind her. Bring her to me.”

Chloe appeared beside me with a length of smooth rope in her hands. My instincts cried out to run, to fight, but I bit down on them. I could see where this was heading and…and I wasn’t sure I hated it.

With practiced efficiency, Chloe had my wrists secured in under a minute. She led me over to Master Sweet and handed him the loose end of rope.

“Slave, lay across my lap.”

I couldn’t help it. I hesitated. This was so new to me. He curled the rope around his wrist and pulled steadily, with a strength I couldn’t resist. With Chloe’s help he had me prone across his lap, my bare ass angled out and vulnerable. My heartbeat sped with a mixture of excitement and uncertainty. Even though there was something so degrading about being put over someone’s lap, there was a part of me that found it...invigorating. I wasn’t about to let him know I felt that way, though. I held my tongue and watched blankly as Chloe worked, binding me in place.

She took the rope and fed it through the eyelet at the base of the chair, leading it underneath and through a matching eyelet on the other side. She walked around and crouched behind me. From my angle I could only see her hands taking the rope, but I could sense her body heat on the backs of my thighs, feel her breath tickling across my ass…and everywhere else. I wondered if she was there to do more than just tie knots.

The rope’s firm grip around my right knee took me out of that reverie. I watched as Chloe fed the rope back through the loop and then around my left knee. I understood the chair’s construction much better now. Looped around it, with Master Sweet’s strong legs as a cushion, I had nowhere to go. Intriguingly, there was still enough slack in the rope that I could spread my knees apart.

“Look in the mirror.”

I raised my head and stared. I barely recognized myself. In the low light, my black hair almost blended with the room. I could see enough to know it was a mess, though.

He slipped his hand onto my ass and rested it there, soft, unmoving. The deceptively light touch sent chills rippling across my body.

“You’ve earned a spanking for your disobedience. You will watch as your punishment is delivered, and you will count the strokes.”

My breath hitched in my chest. Spanking. I hadn’t had one of those since I was a little girl. So demeaning, and yet the thought of it sent heat rushing between my thighs. There was a part of me that longed for it. In a world where I constantly had to think at least six to twelve months ahead, a consequence that was both immediate and tangible somehow felt like a luxury.

He raised his hand, cocked it like a gun. I followed the movement instinctively, admiring the pure power of it, knowing full well that its force was about to come crashing down on me.

“No. Look into your own eyes.”

I did as instructed. My mouth hung open as I tried to catch my breath, which had begun racing. I clenched my muscles and squeezed my thighs together, waiting for what came next.

The blow, when it landed, cracked like a pistol shot. For the slightest instant all I felt was the jolt through my body. My vision blurred with the impact. Then the sting bloomed on my ass and began to tingle. I watched my own mouth stretch, listened as my breath hissed in. I would not cry out.

“Count it!” he demanded.

Willsin Rowe falls in love with a scent, a playful expression or an act of casual intimacy more easily than with physical beauty. When confronted by any combination of those elements he is a lost cause. He has done many things over and over, done even more things only once, and half-done more things than he cares to admit. He loves to sing and doesn’t let his voice get in the way. He is intelligent but not sensible. He is passionate but fearful. He is not scruffy enough or stylish enough to be cool.

Blog: http://willsinrowe.blogspot.com.au/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/willsin.rowe

Introducing Australia & New Zealand Indie Authors - Karin Cox

Title: Cruxim

Author: Karin Cox

Genre: PNR

Publisher: Indelible Ink Press

Release date: 5 January 2013

Purchase links: Amazon

Apple

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Amedeo is Cruxim, a mysterious, immortal fallen angel. Destined to seek redemption as a vampire hunter, he nourishes his insatiable thirst on their blood. But when the object of his passion, the novice nun Joslyn, is turned and enters a vampire coven, Amedeo's worlds collide. Shattered by the loss of his beloved, he vows to rid the world of vampires once and for all, even if it means destroying Josyln in the process.

Joining Amedeo on his quest to rid the world of the undead is Sabine. Half-woman, half-lioness, she is a Sphinx, a Guardian who has protected humans from vampires since the dawn of time. Yet Sabine comes to this fight pursued by her own enemies.  Dr. Claus Gandler knows the secret of Sabine's mythological past and has vowed to torment her for eternity or destroy her forever. Captured by the evil doctor, Amedeo and Sabine are paraded as sideshow freaks in the Circus of Curiosities. Only vampire Joslyn has the power to intercede. Will she prove Amedeo's redemption, or his destruction? This gothic paranormal novel explores the beast within amid a setting of mythology and forbidden love. 

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Author Bio: 

Karin Cox edits and writes in her "spare time" while being a fulltime mum to a toddler and to a black cat with the improbable name of "Ping Pong."

She is the author of more than 30 trade-published natural history books, biographies, Australian social history books, children's picture storybooks, and travel guides, several of which have won awards. Karin has had poems and short stories published in anthologies worldwide and her ebooks CRUXIM, GROWTH, CAGE LIFE, HEY LITTLE SISTER and PANCAKES ON SUNDAY are available on Amazon.

Thankfully, the busier she gets, the more creative she is (and the more likely to afford to hire a housekeeper). Karin and her partner live in sunny Queensland, Australia, where she writes from her back deck overlooking the pool, her study (overlooking her messy desk) or her couch (overlooking Dr Phil). You can follow her on twitter @Authorandeditor or visit her fanpage on Facebook www.facebook.com/KarinCox.Author or sign up for her mailing list http://eepurl.com/vk_bP  Also, feel free to email her at cruxim@hotmail.com.

GIVEAWAY - Shona Husk's Shadowlands Series

I caught up with two lovely authors on Sunday, Shona Husk and Liia Ann White. We talked about books, sexy cowboys, sparkly vampires, faeries, books, hot men and so much random stuff. And since Shona's Shadowlands series gets an Australian release this April, she has given me all three books to giveaway! You will a signed copy of The Goblin King, Kiss of the Goblin Prince and For the Love of a Goblin Warrior. How awesome is that? Unfortunately the giveaway is for Aussie's only. To win, just fill out the rafflecopter form below!

Once upon a time...

A man was cursed to the Shadowlands, his heart replaced with a cold lump of gold. In legends he became known as The Goblin King.

For a favored few he will grant a wish. Yet, desperately clinging to his waning human soul, his one own desire remains unfulfilled: A Willing Queen.

But who would consent to move from the modern-day world into the realm of nightmares? No matter how intoxicating his touch, no matter how deep his valor, loving him is dangerous. And the one woman who might dare to try could also destroy him forever.

The Man of Her Dreams

He is like a prince in a fairy tale: tall, outrageously handsome, and way too dark for her own good. Amanda has been hurt before, though. And with her daughter's illness, the last thing she needs right now is a man. But the power of Dai King is hard to resist. And when he threads his hands through her hair and pulls her in for a kiss, there is no denying it feels achingly right.

In a Land of Nightmares

After being trapped in the Shadowlands for centuries with the goblin horde a constant threat, Dai revels in his newfound freedom back in the human realm. But even with the centuries of magic he's accumulated, he still doesn't know how to heal Amanda's daughter--and it breaks his heart. Yet for the woman he loves, he'd risk anything...including a retun to the Shadowlands.

Centuries ago, Meryn was thought to be utterly lost--all traces of his soul given up to the ravening goblin horde. But with the curse that enslaved him now broken, he must once again learn to walk in the realm of men.

Nurse Nadine Gilbert likes working the night shift to avoid her disturbing dreams, but her mysterious new patient looks hauntingly familiar. Meryn knows he doesn't deserve a second chance, but Nadine brings out his long-buried human side. Telling her the truth about his violent past could destroy their fragile trust. Could she ever believe in the love of a Goblin Warrior?

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Guest Post with Juliet Madison & Giveaway

From Idea to Publishing Contract in Nine Months

Thanks for having me at the blog today to talk about my debut romantic comedy novel, FAST FORWARD! The idea for this book came about quite suddenly when I was reading in bed one night. I don’t remember the book, I just remember that it mentioned a young character who behaved like they were years older, and I thought it would be great to do a story where the character ages suddenly overnight. I was reminded of movies like Suddenly 30 (13 Going on 30 for those in the US), Big, and 17 Again but wanted to do something a little different where the character becomes an age where they’re NOT in their prime. An age that they don’t want to be. I decided age fifty would be a good milestone to write about, and I chose to make the character a model with no desire for domestic life become a middle-aged housewife and mother overnight.

The title Fast Forward came to me, but I put the story idea aside for a while as I focused on revising two other manuscripts. On New Year’s Day 2012 I was tossing around a few different story ideas in my head and wondering what to start working on next, when as I flipped through a magazine an article caught my eye. It was called Fast Forward. I took it as a sign and started it right away!

I completed the novel in four months, and after editing it, decided to send it out to the world to see if I could get any interest in publishing it. I contacted agents, and pitched to a few publishers, and then after the Romance Writers of Australia conference where a new digital imprint of Harlequin was announced, I started to think about the possibility of digital publishing. I researched and found many reasons to go in this direction, and although the idea of having a print book in your hands is appealing, my main goal was to get my book out to as many readers as possible, as quickly as possible, and I realised that digital would be a good option for that. So I sent off a submission to Escape Publishing knowing I would hear back from them within two weeks if it was or wasn't suitable. This short turnaround was a huge incentive for me as I’m not the most patient person! As expected, in just under two weeks I heard back and was asked to send in the full manuscript. Three weeks after that (at the beginning of October) I received an email accepting the book for publication. So in just nine months, my debut book was born ;)

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Aspiring supermodel Kelli Crawford seems destined to marry her hotshot boyfriend, but on her 25^th birthday she wakes in the future as a fifty-year-old suburban housewife married to the now middle-aged high school nerd.

Trapped in the opposite life of the one she wanted, Kelli is forced to re-evaluate her life and discover what is really important to her. Will she overcome the hilarious and heartbreaking challenges presented to her and get back to the body of her younger self? Or will she be stuck in the nightmare of hot flushes, demanding children, raunchy advances from her husband, and hideous support underwear forever?

Juliet Madison is a naturopath-turned-author with a background in dance, art, internet marketing, and perfume sales (yes, she was one of those annoying people in department stores who spray you with perfume). Nowadays she prefers to indulge her propensity for multiple careers by living vicariously through her characters.

She likes to put said characters into extraordinary situations and take them on a challenging journey to discover their true passion and inner strength, weaving in some laughs, tears, romance, and sometimes a touch of magic along the way.

Living near the beach on the beautiful south coast of New South Wales, Australia, Juliet spends her days homeschooling her son and running her internet business, and her nights writing fiction while doing her best to avoid housework.

Juliet is a proud member and volunteer with The Romance Writers of Australia and she loves to interact online with readers and writers via twitter and Facebook. You can also visit her on her blog and website.

Juliet's first published novel, FAST FORWARD, will be released in February 2013 by Escape Publishing. Click here to buy it!

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GIVEAWAY:

To go in the draw for a $25 Amazon gift card, forward your purchase receipt to fastforwardbook (at) gmail (dot) com - replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .

To go in the draw for a $50 Amazon gift card or the runner up prize of a $25 gift card, leave a comment on this post. Comment on other blogs during Juliet’s February blog tour for more entries into the draw! Winners drawn 1st March.

Cover Reveal - Dark Waters by Liia Ann White

I know I'm late with this reveal, but after two weeks I finally have internet! Check out the beautiful cover for Liia Ann White's Dark Waters, the first book in her Water Lands series. It's smexy right? 

Title: Dark Waters - The Water Lands book 1

Author: Liia Ann White

Release Date: January 24th 2013

Publisher: Evernight Publishing

Purchase Links: Amazon

Evernight

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Randor is a Fae assassin. As the most feared military officer in the Faery Realm, he only got out by striking a deal with the late King to become an assassin for hire. Something he was only able to do because of his place as adopted family member. When he’s ordered to kidnap the Unseelie Faery Princess and deliver her to the Seelie Queen, he doesn’t think twice, until he sees his target. Adora. Unseelie Princess. Most beautiful being in existence and feared witch warrior and his soul mate. Disobeying orders is something he’s never done before. But when he brings her into the Human Realm; his home, he has no regrets. Until his Elvish friend, Kiel, disapproves and an unexpected attack raises questions about his loyalties. The only way that could have happened was if Kiel tipped off the Queen's witch, Maleficent.

Adora was fearless, powerful and intensely unhappy. Until she was kidnapped by a mysterious stranger, who happens to be her half human, half Seelie soul mate. After being attacked, Adora, fearing she'd lose Randor, admits her feelings for her soul mate. The two of them just need to find a way they can survive together - away from the feuding kingdoms. Entering the Seelie castle, under a pretense of needing the witch's help to bind Adora's immense power, they ask for Maleficent, whom they plan to eliminate so she can no longer track them. 

When all hell breaks loose, they're involved in a fight including the witch, Kiel and the Queen. A fight that not all of them will survive. 

Interview with Nicole Flockton!

Today on the blog I have debut author Nicole Flockton. Her contemporary romance Masquerade is available now. Read on to learn more about Nicole and Masquerade.

Welcome to Strange Candy Reviews, Nicole!

Hi!  Thanks for having me today!

For those who haven’t heard about your book, can you tell us a bit about it?

It’s about two people who meet at a Masquerade ball and the attraction between them is instant. They succumb to their attraction as they believed it would be for only one night. Fate has a different idea and they are thrown together in the high stress world of the Emergency Room. Not only do they have to keep the fact they spent the night together from their colleagues they have to deal with their attraction.

How did the idea for your story originate?

It started as an idea one New Year’s Eve. I was home sitting on the couch, as you do with young kids, and the idea of a couple of meeting when one gate-crashes the party. It evolved to a Masquerade Ball and the setting in the medical world.

Have you always wanted to write?

I think it’s always been in the back of my mind as I enjoyed creative writing at school. But it wasn’t until I had my daughter and started to contribute to a romance community forum that my love for writing fully evolved.

Does your writing schedule ever affect your family routine?

More like the other way around, the family routine always seems to interfere with my writing. What with homework, scout activities, sporting events etc.

Did you do any research for you book? Was there anything interesting you discovered?

No I didn't do a whole heap of research. When it came to the medical scenes one of the girls in my critique group, her mum is a nurse so she looked over my scenes and would make sure that I had everything medically correct.

What inspires you to write?

I get a scene or idea and that usually sparks the creative juices. I don’t tend to plot I start with the scene and work from there.

Do you write for yourself or for readers?

I think I started for myself but soon learned that readers enjoyment was far more important than me. I’d like to think my readers go on an emotional journey with the characters.

How exciting is it to have your book published?

It’s very exciting and still a little unbelievable. When I started on this journey it was always what I wanted but seemed like it was light years away. Now it’s here and it still feels surreal.

Is your book part of a series or stand alone? How many books will there be if it’s a series?

I’m planning two more stories from this book. So three in total but of course, sometimes characters pop up and then demand that you tell their story.

Do you try to reach a quota every day? How do you meet it?

I try and get a quota every day, sometimes it doesn't work and I give myself permission to accept that sometimes I can’t do everything! I will sit down and just keep going until I get the goal I've set myself.

Was there any inspiration from actors/models for your characters?

Not when I wrote the story I didn’t have any actors in mind, but now that you ask I think Antonio Sabato Jnr fits the vision I have of Alex.

Thanks for having me!!

After being humiliated by her fiancée, Sophie Franklyn has decided that getting involved with work colleagues and men in general isn’t for her. Now her focus is going to be on her career and her recent promotion. That is until at a New Year’s Eve masquerade ball, she meets a man that tempts her to question her choices.

Alex Scavoni is extremely dedicated to his job, so dedicated that his first marriage crumbled under the pressure of his dedication. Now he’s happily single, with a new job he’s excited to start. When he meets a masked Sophie at the ball, she fires desires in him he thought long dead. He spends a wonderful night with her, but wakes up alone.

The next time the two meet, it’s in the high pressure world of Emergency Room medicine where they must work side by side. While they deal with the stresses of the Emergency ward, they endeavor to keep their feelings for each other on a professional nature. When the desire that pushed them together that one night flares to life again, can they ignore them or will their one night together have consequences neither of them planned on?

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On her very first school report her teacher said ‘Nicole likes to tell her own stories’.
It wasn’t until after the birth of her daughter and after having fun on the community board of eharlequin.com that she finally decided to take the plunge and write a book.
Nicole joined the fabulous Romance Writers of Australia and eventually linked up with a great group of girls and formed “WINKGirls”
The stories she writes are contemporary romances with either a medical setting or in the boardrooms of high powered business. Nicole enjoys taking two characters and creating unique situations for them.
Apart from writing Nicole is busy looking after her very own hero – her wonderfully supportive husband, and her two fabulous kids. She also enjoys watching sports and, of course, reading.

You can find out more about Nicole on her website. You can like her page on Facebook and follow her on Twitter!

Guest Post by Anna Hackett!

Release your Inhibitions

Did you know the average person has about 45,000 negative thoughts PER DAY? That’s a lot of negativity. A lot of telling ourselves we can’t do that, we can’t risk that, we’re no good at that and dwelling on negative consequences that will probably never happen.

Have you ever wanted to just throw caution to the wind? Ever dreamed about what life would be like if you didn’t have that little voice telling you that you can’t? To be one of those wild people who leap and don’t worry about looking?

I think we all know one of those people. They are full of life, a little wilder and much more exciting. Mara in MIND RAIDER is just like that. It’s probably part personality, part because she’s a redhead and a lot because of what life has thrown at her.

There are times we all wish we could release our inhibitions, not worry about consequences and just dive into life. Sometimes we can let fear drive us to never step outside our comfort zone and take a risk.

There are a few easy ways to get a bit of increased confidence and to release just one or two inhibitions:

• Dress sharp – put on that favorite shirt or killer pair of jeans you know you look fab in
• Walk faster – studies show that people with a quicker stride feel more confident
• Contribute to the conversation – find at least one small way to contribute to every conversation
• Take a compliment with a smile – don’t be shy or self-deprecating, just smile

Maybe we can’t all be tough, over-confident mind raiders, but we can all take a risk or two.

Good luck taking a leap!

Anna

MIND RAIDER -- Amazon | Smashwords | All Romance

To learn more about Anna, visit her website, www.annahackettbooks.com, follow her on Twitter or find her on Facebook.