OB – Hey, thanks for having us over, Trina. This is Mario Gutierrez. He drove me over here today, and I thought we were going to die.

MG – What do you expect? My first name is Mario!

OB – Whatever. I should have named you Harold or something. But you were a Mario as soon as you opened your mouth.

MG – Thank God for that. Hey, pass me that lemonade.

I hand him a glass of lemonade, and he adds two scoops of sugar. I see Trina smothering a laugh.

OB – That’s disgusting.

MG – You don’t want to see my sour face. Got any cookies?

OB – We’re not here to eat Trina out of her house. We wanted to catch up with you. I hear you and Carter have this thing…

MG – You hear that, huh?

Mario rolls his eyes and mumbles something about psychotic authors under his breath.

OB – Okay, smartass. So I’m aware of what went down at that house you’re flipping. I was just being discreet, you know. Not everyone has read the book.

MG – Yeah, well you’re right. Carter and I have this thing. You know, we’ve been friends for years, we’ve lived with each other for years, and I swear I never looked at him any way but platonic in all that time.

OB – So what happened? You guys went out for a drink, and all of a sudden he’s desirable to you?

MG – Well, yeah kinda. I mean, maybe there was more than alcohol in that drink. Or maybe I was just not thinking straight—

OB – Oh that’s rich.

MG – Shut it. Now where was I? Oh yeah, the drink. I’d only had one. Two maybe, but not enough to give me beer goggles.

OB – You had a beer?

MG – Oh hell, no. Carter drinks that shit. I had a screaming orgasm.

OB – Trina, what’s this blog rated? Can he say that?

MG – It’s just a drink! I’ll make you ladies one.

OB – That’s okay. Really. Tell me about the house you’re flipping.

Mario settles back in his chair and stirs his lemonade.

MG – It’s coming along. We just finished the den. You know how I hate drywall work.

OB – Oh that’s right. You’re a construction foreman, so you’re used to ordering other guys around, you don’t have to do the dirty work.

MG – Yeah! See? You get it. Explain that to Carter, would ya?

OB – Just finish the project so you two can relax.

MG – Yeah. Carter is painting the trim, and I’d hate to see how that turns out.

The faraway look in his eye tells me he isn’t imagining Carter with a paint brush. It takes me three attempts to pull him out of his daydream.

OB – Mario! Do you need to go?

MG – Well maybe I should. You know, supervise what Carter’s…uh…working on.

OB – Sure. Blame your pickiness. We all know you’re just anxious to get home. Go on then, I’ll catch a ride with Trina later.

Mario’s grin is both boyish and explicitly naughty at the same time.

MG – Thanks, ladies.

Trina and I watch him run to his car and peel out like the Andretti we all know. We shake our heads.

OB – So, what do you think, should we look up the Screaming Orgasm recipe?

Now it’s your turn! Ask Mario any question. He’ll be by to answer in the comments. All commenters will be eligible for a drawing to win a digital copy of Flipped (or any one of Olivia’s backlist). Winner will be drawn tomorrow and posted right here.

For more about Flipped, check out Olivia’s Website.

Flipped * Website * Facebook * Twitter

Curious about Mario? Jesus Luz was the inspiration for him. 

The blog hop kicked off at http://justromance.me so head over there to take the tour from the start if you’re just joining in now. We’re celebrating ebooks and the earth this weekend. 

I’d like to share a fascinating article featuring pictures of grains of sand through a powerful magnifying glass. Amazingly beautiful! No two alike! Find it HERE. 

Below you will find an excerpt from DEATH WISH, the upcoming 5th book in the urban fantasy Alexa O’Brien Huntress series.

If you are new to the series you can meet Alexa in two free short story downloads found HERE and HERE.

Excerpt:

The unmistakable sound of footsteps outside pulled me from Arys’s past. Before I could wonder why he had never told me about his artistic flare, adrenaline had me on my feet. It was still dark though dawn was just over an hour away.

The noise came from the back patio. A heavy tread, pacing back and forth from one end to the other. I moved slowly toward the stairs that led up into the kitchen. The sliding patio doors would be locked but that wasn’t going to stop a vampire who wanted in. And since this wasn’t Hollywood, there was no invitation needed.

I paused on the stairs, listening hard. I reached out metaphysically, trying to get a feel for whoever lurked outside. Vampire, definitely. It was tough to get a read on him or her. There may have been more than one.

I glanced toward the upper floor. Coby was likely asleep or unaware of the potential trouble. The heavy pacing gait continued and I knew it was a trap. I was being lured out.

Knowing this was just what they wanted, I crept silently to the patio door, threw open the blinds and flicked on the outside light. There was nobody there.

As silly as it was, I checked the lock anyway. I was being toyed with. But why bother? Why not just kill me? Or try to.

I waited, knowing that whatever move my unwelcome visitor was going to make, it would happen any moment. To act too quickly could be a mistake on my part. I expected an attack of some kind. I anticipated the moment when a vampire would crash inside and try to kill me. So I was in no way prepared for the patio to burst into flames.

The heat and force of the sudden ignition threw me back. Seconds later the double glass patio doors shattered. Thousands of deadly shards landed where I’d just been standing. A few pieces cut through my pants, biting into my flesh.

Throwing myself through the kitchen into the front room, I reached the door in time to find it engulfed in flames. They’d covered the entire perimeter. Coby and I were trapped inside.

“Coby!” I screamed his name as I ran down a floor to the living room to check the north facing windows, finding a haze of orange.

I snatched Arys’s journal from where it had fallen. Shoving it into my bag with my phone and car keys, I knew if I made it out, it would be all I could take with me.

Again I screamed for Coby. I was frantic in my attempt to find a way out. It didn’t take long for the fire to find its way inside. Smoke filled my lungs and burned my eyes as the shriek of the smoke detectors assaulted my ears.

I slung the strap of my bag around me and ran for the upper floor. I crashed into Coby on his way down. He reached out to steady me on the stairs as I lost my balance.

“We have to get out.” I coughed as the smoke rolled in thicker. My eyes burned and watered, blurring my vision.

Flames crawled through the kitchen toward us, trapping us near the front door which was already a mass of crackling fire. There was nowhere to go but up.

Without a word, Coby pulled me along behind him, back up the stairs to the master bedroom. He slammed the door shut behind us while I ran to open the window. I gulped the burst of outside air into my burning lungs. It wouldn’t take long for the fire to reach us. It was moving fast.

A cold spark deep in my core informed me that Arys was near. I would have wept with relief but we still had a fire to escape. Coby joined me at the window, surveying our only option.

“We have to jump,” he declared. “And we have to do it before that reaches us.”

I followed his gaze below to the wall of flames eating their way through the main floor of the house, climbing up toward us fast. The heat was scorching from where we stood. We were three floors up. High enough for the fall to be risky. We didn’t have another alternative.

I felt Arys’s touch on my mind. His worry was as strong as his rage. There was no time for me to engage with him. Not if I wanted to survive the next few minutes.

Briefly I considered shifting to wolf. We’d be stronger that way. Coby was too new. There was no telling how he would act as wolf. Besides, the neighbors would have called 911 by now. We would have to jump and deal with the damage. 

“You first.” Coby’s hand was firm on my back, urging me to go for it.

I hesitated for just a moment. Casting one last look back around the bedroom I spent so many nights in back when the wolf was new, I saw Raoul’s house for the last time. It had never really felt like mine. Why should it now?

It was the home of many memories, both good and bad. Friendships had formed inside that house. Hearts had broken. Hell, I lost my virginity in the office downstairs. There was no time for nostalgia. My time in Raoul’s house was finally done.

I took one last look into Coby’s hazel eyes, wild with panic. He was new. He didn’t belong here. For some reason, that made it easier to let go. I climbed up into the window frame, steadied myself the best I could, and jumped.

If you send me a question, you’ll be entered to win a free download of Death Wish when it releases later this year. 

Email your question to trinafeil@gmail.com to contribute. Thanks!

The Blog Hop is now over. Thanks to all who participated!

Welcome to the Cupid’s Choice Blog Hop!! The hop kicked off at http://justromance.me so head over there if you haven’t already. Hope to see you all at the chat on Sunday. 

In celebration of this day of love, I have chosen an excerpt from the upcoming 5th book in the Huntress series, Death Wish. Wishing you all a wonderful Valentine’s Day.

Warning: The following excerpt contains an adult scenario. 18 and over only please. 

Excerpt:

Once I turned my full attention to Arys’ memories, recorded decades ago on old, worn paper, I was caught up in his words. Everything else fell away but that night captured on the pages in my hands.

December 5, 1849

They were lovely really. Like usual, Harley’s choice. He has a weakness for virgins. Personally, I prefer a woman who knows what she’s doing and can appreciate the things I do to her. The virgins…they tend to scream. A lot. Of course, I have found virgins to be very quick to beg. And that I just can’t get enough of.

It was easy enough to lure them home. It always is. The right word or gesture and they’re more than happy to sneak away from a party before their companions notice their absence. Harley can sniff out a virgin anywhere. He claims virgin blood to be the nectar of the gods but I find it to be a little too pure for my tastes. These women though, they were divine. A blonde and one with deep scarlet hair who was surprisingly eager when I had her spread-eagle on the chaise longue. 

Once Harley’s shy little blonde began shrieking, things really became interesting. Everything had been going splendidly. My little virgin temptress writhed beneath me as I pleasured her with my mouth. She begged for more and I savored the heat of her womanhood against my tongue as I fed on the burning energy of her desire. It was intoxicating, a prelude to the moment when I would taste her blood.

I had to pause, to focus on taking a breath. I realized I’d held mine while reading. The words sprang to life, pulling me into the scene as Arys’ memory of this night crashed into the front of my conscious thoughts. I was seeing it through his eyes, reliving it as if I’d been there myself.

Screams rang out and my innocent beauty became alarmed. I assured her that there was nothing to fear. Drawn into the lull of my manipulation, she pulled me close, offering herself to me. Harley would have his victim screaming for hours if he could manage it. I wasn’t ready yet to make mine fight for her life. All in good time.

Tight and warm, her body was resistant when I took her. The pained sounds she made as I filled her sent ripples of pleasure throughout me. Her soft whimpers gradually became cries of joy. I was drowning in the waves of her excited energy, drinking it in. I itched to bury my fangs in that delicate throat of hers. Patience is not a virtue I possess. I waited, hoping to time the moment with her climax, preferring to take all that she had to give at once.

I sensed that she was close. My control snapped and I bit deep into her neck. She screamed and I laughed. Blood gushed from the wound and I drank of it greedily. The spell was broken. Free of my thrall, she thrashed violently. I bit her again, pinning her arms above her head. I drank hungrily, her blood coated my tongue deliciously. Though aware that she was in a fight for her life, she couldn’t help but respond to my careful manipulations of her body. Buried deep inside her, I felt her inner muscles clench as climax shook her and euphoria claimed me.

I could taste her. She was mine and I couldn’t wait to taste her death. To be the bringer of it, the master of all that she was. I heard the shallow gasps for breath but didn’t recognize them as my own. I ceased reading as the memory took over.

Arys had drained her completely. Her screams had accompanied those of her friend and the vampires drank their fill of blood and sex. She begged Arys for her life, pleading and promising. It only encouraged him. Her pleas were like fuel on an open flame. Arys killed her and he loved every second of it.

The scent of her was thick in my nostrils. Fear, lust and blood all entwined in one storm of sensation to overwhelm me. I was suddenly beside myself with need.

“Alexa?” Arys’ voice was a distant echo, as if he was far away. “It’s not real, Alexa. Don’t lose yourself in my past.”

I wasn’t seeing him anymore. He had faded along with the rest of the bedroom as I spun headlong into a memory that wasn’t mine. I saw the candlelit room with the cream colored chaise longue and the shrieking woman upon it. She was young, eighteen perhaps. She fought hard once she broke free of Arys’ powerful mesmerism. Some victims would smile happily as they died under his thrall. But others, they fought until that very last breath.

There was a rush of white noise, almost deafening in my ears. I was lost in my kill, Arys’ kill, and my sense of reality shifted. My four fangs filled my mouth and I reached with clawed fingers for a victim that wasn’t really there.

I’m not sure how long Arys shook me for, trying desperately to get me to come back to him. “Come on, Alexa! You’re not part of that world. I was. I need you here and now.”

I mumbled something incoherent. Harley’s devious laughter echoed all around me. I heard his victim wailing. I wanted him to make her stop. To just shut her up. I couldn’t take much more. The screams, the blood and the erotic flavor of terror, it was all driving me into a frenzy.

I was caught between myself and Arys. Feeling his hunger for her and his deep rooted satisfaction when he drained her life away, it conflicted with the need I felt to be the one he claimed in such a powerfully intimate manner. My vision swam, alternating from Arys’ past to the present. I had always been a part of him. Even then, when I had yet to be born.

Arys’ voice was firm when he demanded, “Do you want her? Or do you want to be her?”

It took a few moments before awareness hit me. I was lying flat on my back. Arys straddled me, holding my arms pinned above my head. It became clear what he was asking. He was offering me release from the grips of his horrid memories.

I was flushed with desire for both body and blood. I couldn’t form a response. My mind was a mess of blood stained images. I don’t know what Arys saw in my eyes but he didn’t wait any longer for a reply. True to his nature, he made me the victim.

He slipped a hand between my legs, finding me ready. A dark light shone in the depths of his eyes and a smirk tugged at his lips. “Hell, if I’d known that journal would make you so hot, I’d have given it to you months ago.”

“You did this to me. You made me a monster.” I was rambling without thought, saying whatever danced onto the tip of my tongue.

Arys leaned in close, his lips brushing mine as he spoke. “You were always meant to be a monster. I just make you enjoy it.”

His kiss was gentle and soft, so contradictory to the tension I felt emanating from him. Nudging my legs apart with a knee, he positioned himself between them so that I was comfortably pinned beneath his weight. Every time I closed my eyes I saw her, the redhead sprawled out before him, bleeding and begging even as she enjoyed his touch.

“Look at me.” Arys’ demanding tone startled me. “I want to see terror in your eyes before I bleed you.”

I almost choked on the stifling sensation that flooded me. Fear. Only one other time had Arys frightened me during such an encounter. That same time he’d also threatened me. Once again the promise of pain in his words made me ache for him.

Burying his face in my hair, he pressed his lips to my neck and breathed deeply of my scent. He was encouraging my fear with the taunt of his fangs against my vein. I tensed, uncertain. The thick swell of his erection against me was both exciting and intimidating. I felt him draw on my energy, feeding on my bloodlust, fear and desire.

Arys slipped inside me with a rough thrust, forcing a cry from me. He groaned as the power rose up to engulf us. His mouth was hot on my skin. I could feel him shaking with the strength it took to keep from biting me. Holding out for the right moment when it would throw us both headlong into the abyss that sought to claim us.

There was a change in him, a shift in our dynamic that made Arys the aggressor. He often was but never did I truly feel like a victim with him. Not until now. He peered down into my eyes and all I saw was the predatory gaze of the wolf looking back at me. My wolf. It was an unsettling reminder that Arys had as much of my monster inside him as I did of his.

“Please, don’t,” I heard myself say. I wasn’t sure what I was asking him.

With every slick stroke of his body into mine, my panic began to subside. The energy binding us grew and writhed, wrapping us in its magnificent hold.

He showered me with kisses on my lips and along my jaw. “You know me. You always have.”

There was conflict within me as anguish over his words warred with comfort. Until I really knew what that meant, I couldn’t find either solace or regret in that.

I gripped him with claws that cut deep red ribbons into his flesh. Every time he filled me brought me closer to the edge. He was aggressive, as if he couldn’t possibly get deep enough. We were as close as we could physically get and still it wasn’t the union I ached for. Despite the fervor in which he made love to me, his kisses were soft caresses. But only until his patience ran thin.

With a hand tightly entwined in my hair, he forced my head to the side and bit deep. My heart thundered in my ears at a deafening level as my blood poured into Arys’ mouth. I had a moment of clarity and I wondered if my life would end in his hands. Maybe not today but one day. If our destiny was to destroy each other, it may only be fitting.

The Jingle Bell Blog Hop is now over. Thanks to everyone who participated. 

To celebrate the holidays, my romantic urban fantasy, Alexa O’Brien Huntress Series, is on sale in ebook for $2.99 per book at Amazon Kindle and All Romance eBooks (epub & pdf). Direct links and info are on the book pages to the right.  ——> 

Because wolves play such a major role in my series, I am sharing a few wolf pics for the blog hop. I hope you enjoy. 

Gorgeous art by Luis Royo

I have a weakness for white wolves. 

Beautiful Wolf

Actor Mitch Hewer, who in this pic is a great representation of how I see my werewolf, Shaz, from the Huntress Series.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Welcome to the Halloween blog hop. If you need to find the beginning so you can get on the tour bus, head over to http://justromance.me/bloghop. 

By taking the tour you are entered to win several awesome prizes. However, if you comment on this post you will also be entered to win a signed print copy of Huntress book 1, ONCE BITTEN. 

I couldn’t pick a better model to represent the lead vampire in the Huntress series, Arys Knight. Here is a playful excerpt from the Halloween party scene in Huntress book 2, THE WICKED KISS. 

When Arys emerged from the sea of people lingering near the door, my heart paused and dropped into my feet. I wasn’t sure what I’d done to get so lucky, but as his blue eyes fell on me, I didn’t care. The tingle that swept me with a warm glow woke the power curled up within my core.

I honestly hadn’t expected him to show up in a costume. Not after the comments he’d made about Halloween. So, I was definitely taken aback to see him dressed to the hilt as Johnny Depp’s Sweeney Todd. It couldn’t have been a more perfect fit.

He had the outfit down to a tee. I had never seen him dressed like that. He looked as if he had stepped out of another time.

Desire slammed through me. His hair couldn’t have looked hotter. It was still typically mussed up but with a strategically placed style. Down to the white streak in the front, he had it. He looked sensational.

From the moment his eyes locked on mine, I was frozen in place. Nothing drew his attention from me as the distance separating us fell away.

“You are easily the most heart stopping creature I have ever laid eyes on.” He greeted me, his velvety smooth voice tantalizingly beautiful.

“You’re insanely gorgeous yourself.” I reached up to brush a strand of hair away from his eye where it had fallen. “I can’t believe you dressed up.”

He grinned and leaned in to kiss me softly. “Only for you, my precious wolf.”

Everything about him tested my control. The inviting power of our bond enticed me to sink into the pull, to allow it to control us. It was agony to resist.

“I’m glad.” I beamed up at him, my hand clasped in his. It was warmer than usual. That was a good sign. He slid a hand beneath the front of my skirt where it trailed along the edge of my thigh high stocking. The breath was knocked out of me, and I blushed.

“I knew you’d look sensational. I couldn’t come underdressed.” Despite his neutral tone, the heat from his hand on my thigh caused a rush of blood to flood the private place between my legs. I sucked in my breath and quivered uncontrollably. This brought a smile to his lips, revealing fangs.

Between him and Shaz, I wasn’t sure how I could handle this much smoking hot man flesh. I wanted them both with an equal ferocity but for very different reasons. Was that even possible? I forced the thought from my mind, scoffing at the absurdity of it.

I couldn’t help but look over my shoulder, towards the bar where Shaz had gone. “I seem to have my hands full tonight.”

Those entrancing eyes gazed at me with their perfect frame of silky black lashes. “Is that so?” He followed my gaze to the bar before looking back at me. “Do you think you can handle both of us?”

The blush that warmed my cheeks was instant. Only this bold vampire would head down that trail of thought.

“That’s not what I meant,” I laughed nervously and looked away. “Though I can’t say that I wouldn’t love to find out.” It was something that slipped out freely, something I never would have said to Shaz.

I felt Arys studying me, enjoying my discomfort and embarrassment. He leaned in close so that his lips brushed my ear, whispering, “Be careful what you wish for.”

ONCE BITTEN!

For the next three Fridays leading up to Halloween I will be drawing a winner. Three copies of Once Bitten with the original cover, no longer available, will be given away.  All you have to do is comment on this post telling me either your favorite horror movie character or favorite horror movie creature. 

Not a horror fan? That’s ok too. Just comment telling me your favorite part of Halloween. Costumes, candy, parties?

I’ll get things rolling by sharing that my favorite horror movie character is Ginger Fitzgerald from the Ginger Snaps trilogy. Love her!

Happy Halloween!

]]> http://trinamlee.com/2011/10/11/halloween-with-the-huntress/feed/ 9 trinamlee Ginger-Snaps-Katharine-Isabelle http://trinamlee.com/2011/09/27/author-sara-brookes-guest-post/ http://trinamlee.com/2011/09/27/author-sara-brookes-guest-post/#comments Tue, 27 Sep 2011 02:37:31 +0000 trinamlee http://trinamlee.com/?p=1926 ]]> I’m pleased to have author Sara Brookes here as a guest poster in my blog. She has a delicious new release and is graciously giving away a copy to a lucky commenter. Thanks for being here Sara!

A very special thanks to Trina for having me here today, it’s an honor for me. I loved her first book, Once Bitten, from the moment I picked it up. I’m a huge fan of urban fantasy and her books definitely deliver.

I’ve never made it a secret that I love to write tortured heroes. The more screwed up they are, the better. In my latest release, Perfect Limit, I turned the tables on myself a bit. This time, the heroine is the one who is tortured. Rayna did not have a happy childhood and escaped as soon as she was of age. But she hasn’t completely rid herself of the tumultuous times of her adolescence. The pain and heartache still haunts her and causes her to hide in the shadows when she is at the BDSM club she is a member of. While her Dom, Burke, has always indulged her because he is fully aware of her past, one night he comes into the club and it’s too much for him. He strongly believes she deserves to be shown she isn’t as different as she believes.

It was a nice change of pace to do and now I’d like to know what kind of character do you like. Tortured hero or heroine? Leave me your answer this week and I’ll come back and draw a winner from the comments to receive a download of either of the books in the Sypricon Masters series—Impulse Control or Perfect Limit.

Good luck!

PERFECT LIMIT

2nd book in the Sypricon Master series

Now available from Decadent Publishing (www.decadentpublishing.com)

Deputy Brigade Manager Rayna Donaghy is convinced she’s imperfect. Abandoned and left for dead, Rayna now lives on Sypricon, a frontier planet known for its scarred surface. After a fatal blaze at one of the planet’s quarries, Rayna seeks an escape at the landmark BDSM club, Tawse.

Burke, a Dom at the club, is captivated with the woman who has been under his command for the past several months. However, he’s finally had enough of her self-loathing and is determined to help Rayna overcome her fears. In the center of the action, Burke lays her bare for all to see in order to show her being perfect is simply a matter of perception.

Warning: This book contains explicit sexual content, graphic language, and situations that some readers may find objectionable including but not limited to: D/s, exhibitionism

Find it at Amazon. 

~*~

Sara Brookes is an award winning author who has always been fascinated by the strange, the unusual, the twisted and the lost (tortured heroes are her personal favorite). She is an action movie junkie, addicted to coffee and has been known to stay up until the wee hours of the morning playing RPG video games. Despite all this, she is a romantic at heart and is always a sucker for an excellent love story.

Thanks everyone for entering. My randomly drawn winner is Kari.

Welcome to the Labor Day weekend blog hop! If you’ve stumbled across this post, you can start the hop at http://justromance.me/. 

By taking the tour to the end you are entered to win tons of goodies and ebook prizes. You can also join the author chat. Hope to see you there!

It’s a long weekend. Perfect for some quality reading time. 

Maybe something a little sexy….

Or something a little wild….

Alexa O’Brien, Huntress book 1 & 2, ONCE BITTEN and THE WICKED KISS are on sale this weekend only for just $2.99 in ebook at Amazon Kindle and All Romance eBooks. 

Comment on this blog post and you’ll be entered to win a signed print copy of ONCE BITTEN.

Happy Labor Day!

New to the Alexa O’Brien, Huntress series? Enter to win book 1! All you have to do to enter is leave a comment below with your email address. Or if you prefer (for privacy reasons) you can email me to enter at trinafeil@gmail.com. 

The contest is now closed and I’ve emailed the winners. Thanks for entering everyone!

*Please note: If you do not have an ereader, you can download a free Kindle app for your computer or smartphone from Amazon.com.