Thursday 13 Paragraphs

Welcome to today’s Thursday 13! Today I am sharing with you 13 paragraphs from my February erotic paranormal romance release, NOCTURNAL WHISPERS.

    With a final check of the last item on the list for that area, she was about to return to her office when she noticed yet another box. It was tucked behind a large crate containing a chunk of an obelisk rescued from the area flooded by the Aswan Dam project. The weight of the stone inside made the crate impossible for one person to move, which was likely why someone had not bothered to reach the other box. But Kate refused to be as lazy.

    Dragging out the items next to the obelisk, she half climbed onto the lower shelf and grabbed the cardboard box. Shimmying it from behind the heavier crate, she crawled out into the aisle and pulled the box into the light.

    A fine layer of dust covered it, a testament to how long it had been since anyone had touched the carton. The yellowed cardboard was another sign of age for the roughly two-and-a-half-foot-long package. Kneeling before it, Kate peered at the handwritten note on top.

    “Do not open.”

    There was no signature or date on the warning, and the writing was rather erratic, as if the words had been scratched in haste, or by someone not in full possession of his faculties.

    Kate didn’t need a knife to cut the tape sealing the top; it was so old it had long ago lost its ability to stick.

    She hesitated as she grabbed hold of the box flaps, a combination of nervous excitement and trepidation gripping her. A chill erupted at her core from that mix of emotions, but she pushed aside her fear and opened the box.

    Inside was a small but carefully preserved sarcophagus. The human features painted on it were not quite realistic, as if the artist had been struggling to capture the youth of whoever lay within. Judging from the size, it had to be a rather young child, possibly even a toddler. Despite the age of the inhabitant, green eye makeup enhanced the face depicted on the coffin. Kate recalled that several historical texts and hieroglyphics showed Egyptian children wearing such makeup. It hinted at the fact that ancient Egyptians had thought certain colors possessed sacred energy.

    Kate sat back on her haunches, examining other details on the sarcophagus. Gilding covered a good portion of the burial piece, and at its center, a series of small green amulet stones had been set into the surface.

    It was in such pristine shape and so unusual due to its size that for a moment Kate wondered if this wasn’t some miniature replica created for display purposes.

    Reaching out, she laid her hand on the sarcophagus in the hopes of determining if it was of modern origin.

    But as she did so a shock snaked up her arm and tra veled to her center.

    Longing arose, so sharp and powerful that Kate cried out and fell back, breathing heavily. Physical need had her wet and aching, but that response was twisted together with a yearning so deep it made her want to weep.

NOCTURNAL WHISPERS erotic paranormal romance novella from Nocturne Cravings
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#ManCandyMonday David Beckham & Guest Blog

This morning I was treated to an assortment of posters and little brag books about David Beckham on my way to work. What a way to start the day! So it seems only natural to share his latest photos with you this a.m. If you can’t see the video below, you can click here to see the bodywear ad.

But first, please take a moment to visit with me at the Fantasy Pages Blogspot of Author Denyse Bridger where I am chatting about some of my latest books and my NOCTURNAL WHISPERS Release Party!

Switching it up – Mina and Caridad Trading Places (kind of)

We’re doing a little switching up today! I’ve got my friend Mina Khan visiting today and sharing her wonderful new release and I’m visiting The Naked Hero to talk about Rey Peralta from AMAZON AWAKENING!

So please switch it up by dropping by The Naked Hero to visit with me and by checking out Mina’s wish list for Christmas!

How About A Genie for Christmas?

I think a djinn or genie would be the perfect Christmas gift! Of course, I’m biased as I wrote about a sexy djinn assassin – Rukh O’Shay– in my recent paranormal romance release, THE DJINN’S DILEMMA.

But think about it…

    1. A genie can grant wishes and is a present that can keep on giving. Some, like Rukh, can grant your heart’s most hidden desires.

    2. A genie can take anywhere around the world, without the hassles of security, passport or cramped seats in airplanes, trains or vehicles. Rukh can melt into shadows and fly through the ethereal plane.

    3. A powerful genie can protect you from the bad guys.

    4. They can appear an instant! Rukh surprised the heroine in the shower, and he can be on your eReader with one click!

    5. I don’t know about other genies, but Rukh tastes like dark chocolate. A sexy djinn is just what you’d want to heat up cold winter nights.

How hot is how?

Here’s an excerpt to give you a taste!

    Oh heaven and hell, stop with the tears. Given the day Sarah had just had, the tears were logical. But watching her face crumple, hearing the gut-deep harsh sobs, filled Rukh with an irrational need to pull her into his arms, wrap her in a hug.

    As soon as the urge had gelled into conscious thought, his essence hardened into visibility and his arms slid up around her shivering, wet body.

    Sarah’s eyes popped open and she staggered back with a yell.

    His arms tightened around her, steadying her, keeping her close. Well, shit. At least, she’d stopped crying.

    Fear-bright green eyes stared at him instead.

    Given he was an assassin, sent to kill her, her response was natural, even intelligent. Yet, bitterness churned in his gut at the thought of her fearing him. “It’s okay,” he whispered. “You’re safe.”

    “Am I hallucinating?” Her question came out as a croak.

    “Yes, yes you are.” That seemed a much better answer than the truth.

    She pinned him with her dark, direct gaze. “You’re just a figment of my imagination. A fantasy?”
    “Yes.” He didn’t dare move.

    “Then why are you still wearing clothes?”

    He made the clothes disappear and stood there as naked as her. Skin against skin, the heat from her body melted into his. Warm water washed over them like rain.

So in the spirit of the season…

Genie bells, genie bells
Genie all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride
A Genie all daaaaay! 🙂

The Djinn’s Dilemma Book Blurb:

Rukh O’Shay, half-djinn and assassin, is used to taking out the bad guys. But his latest assignment, Texas Journalist Sarah White, is nothing like he expected. A glimpse of her bright aura reveals her gentle spirit, while her beauty makes him long for only one thing—to taste her.

Sarah shares the raw desire to connect with Rukh. He can turn her on with a glance, and satisfies needs she didn’t even know she had.
But Rukh had been hired to kill her—and the only way to save her is to find out who wants her dead before someone else finishes the job….

Author Bio:

Mina Khan is a Texas-based writer and food enthusiast. She daydreams of hunky paranormal heroes, magic, mayhem and mischief and writes them down as stories. Between stories, she teaches culinary classes and writes for her local newspaper. Other than that, she’s raising a family of two children, two cats, two dogs and a husband.

She grew up in Bangladesh on stories of djinns, ghosts and monsters. These childhood fancies now color her fiction.

You can find Mina at:

http://www.facebook.com/Mina.Khan.Author
http://minakhan.blogspot.com/
http://twitter.com/SpiceBites

Last Day Amazon Awakening Release Party #Giveaway #Ereader

Today is the last day in the AMAZON AWAKENING release party although we’ll still be celebrating this release for the rest of the month of December.

As you might know from the last few days, AMAZON AWAKENING is my first foray into writing erotic paranormal romance.

Why go sexier? Well, there are some stories that just lend themselves to a sexier story line and I have to admit, I like edgy stories. But I also like romance and seeing the developing relationship so I’ve made it a point in all of the stories that I’ll be doing for Nocturne Cravings to provide that romantic arc.

But I also know that some people don’t like the sexiness. They’d rather close the door on what happens with the couple. I guess that’s one of the reasons why Inspirationals and Young Adult books are so popular. Many readers have told me they look to these for stories that are sweeter.

Today’s question for you is: Do you like sexy or sweet or both? What do you like or not like about stories that are erotic (especially since I have another 3 to write for Nocturne Cravings!)?

Leave you answer below to earn some points on this final day of the release party!

Now for more on the giveaway! Here are the prizes:

Grand Prize: A SONY E-reader (or a $25 GC for those of you who already have e-readers) loaded with copies of AZTEC GOLD, THE FIFTH KINGDOM and ROOKIE OF THE YEAR.

2 Second chance prizes: THE LOST T-shirt and copy of A VAMPIRE FOR CHRISTMAS

So how do you get a chance to win the above prizes? Collect 10 points between now and midnight PST on December 7 (today!) by doing the following:

1 point: Tweet or share on Facebook, Tumbler, Google+ the following (only one per day- 5 points maximum):
AMAZON AWAKENING #Erotic #Paranormal Romance Caridad Pineiro http://awe.sm/5apFk

5 points: Send me a link to your review of AMAZON AWAKENING.

1 point: Stumble, Digg, Delicious or Reddit this website or this blog post.

1 point: Follow me on Twitter or at my Facebook Fan Page (one point for each)

1 point: Leave a comment on this blog post or any other blog post up until the end of the contest (one point for each- 5 points maximum).

1 point: Share the excerpt below on your website, Facebook, Twitter, Tumbler, Google+, etc. and send me a link to where it is on your site!

WARNING

This excerpt contains mature subject matter so do not open unless you are at least 18.

If you can’t see the widget below, you can cut and paste this link:
http://www.scribd.com/fullscreen/72902685?access_key=key-7hf866rrigwutty0jsg

Erotic Paranormal Romance Amazon Awakening Excerpt

Amazon Awakening Release Party #Giveaway #Thursday13

AMAZON AWAKENING Erotic Paranormal RomanceIt’s here! Today’s the day for the release of my very first erotic paranormal romance, AMAZON AWAKENING, from Harlequin Nocturne Cravings.

So we’re having a party from now until midnight PST on December 7 when we are going to choose some winners for the release party giveaway.

But first, I’d thought I’d share with you 13 fun facts about the Amazon rainforest where AMAZON AWAKENING is set!

    1. The Amazon rainforest is made up of almost 2.5 million square miles (1.2 billion acres) of land .
    2. That represents nearly 54% of all of the rainforests in the world.
    3. That much unspoiled land is the reason why over 50% of the world’s species of plants, animals and insects reside in the Amazon rainforest.
    4. There are possibly dozens of tribes of natives in the Amazon that have never met anyone from the outside world.
    5. One in five of all of the world’s bird species live in the rainforest.
    6. The Amazon River and the surrounding rainforest are part of 9 South American countries: Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia, Guyana, French Guyana and Surinam.
    7. 20% of the world’s oxygen is derived from the rainforest.
    8. Nearly 25% of all drugs come from rainforest ingredients.
    9. 70% of drugs found to have anti-cancer properties come from the rainforest.
    10. The Amazon runs over 4000 miles from its start in the Peruvian Andes to when it empties into the Atlantic.
    11. Over half of the rainforest is located in Brazil.
    12. The Amazon is the second longest river in the world. The longest river is the Nile.
    13. There are 1800 species of butterflies in the rainforest.

The above is just the tip of the rainforest! LOL! I hope you can now understand why I would set AMAZON AWAKENING in such an unusual and exceptional place. Especially since the role of Rey and Paola is to be Guardians to a very sacred space – possibly even the Garden of Eden – deep in the heart of the Amazon.

To visit other Thursday-13 participants, please click here!

So let’s get to the giveaway! Here are the prizes:

Grand Prize: A SONY E-reader (or a $25 GC for those of you who already have e-readers) loaded with copies of AZTEC GOLD, THE FIFTH KINGDOM and ROOKIE OF THE YEAR.

2 Second chance prizes: THE LOST T-shirt and copy of A VAMPIRE FOR CHRISTMAS

So how do you get a chance to win the above prizes? Collect 10 points between now and midnight PST on December 7 by doing the following:

1 point: Tweet or share on Facebook, Tumbler, Google+ the following (only one per day- 5 points maximum):
AMAZON AWAKENING #Erotic #Paranormal Romance Caridad Pineiro http://awe.sm/5apFk

5 points: Send me a link to your review of AMAZON AWAKENING.

1 point: Stumble, Digg, Delicious or Reddit this website or this blog post.

1 point: Follow me on Twitter or at my Facebook Fan Page (one point for each)

1 point: Leave a comment on this blog post or any other blog post up until the end of the contest (one point for each- 5 points maximum).

1 point: Share the excerpt below on your website, Facebook, Twitter, Tumbler, Google+, etc. and send me a link to where it is on your site!

For now, here is a little teaser and excerpt for AMAZON AWAKENING.

Rey Peralta has been sent to persuade Paola Lopes to return to Brazil and take up her place as Priestess of the Guardians, protectors of the sacred realm hidden deep in the Amazon rainforest. He knows Paola is the one they need to ensure their survival—but he doesn’ t expect the instant blast of desire that sparks between them. Her beauty and power call to him, enticing him to merge with her physically and spiritually; a desire that only increases when they give in to their passion and make love. Can he convince Paola to accept her destiny and stay with her people—and by his side?

WARNING

This excerpt contains mature subject matter so do not open unless you are at least 18.

If you can’t see the widget below, you can cut and paste this link:
http://www.scribd.com/fullscreen/72902685?access_key=key-7hf866rrigwutty0jsg

Erotic Paranormal Romance Amazon Awakening Excerpt

What Turns You On?

Now that I’ve got your attention this Monday morning, I’d like to hear from you about your Guilty Pleasures. You see, the three Nocturne Bites I was writing are now becoming Nocturne Cravings. Great name, Cravings. It speaks to what we desire. What we need. What turns us on.

Contrary to what some life coach said about romances ruining women, women can separate reality from fantasy. Reading romances is about being entertained and it’s also about believing in the happily-ever-after. That everyone will eventually find the person who is right for them and not necessarily a “perfect” man. I think we all know that there are no “perfect” people out there, but we hope to find someone who sustains us emotionally. That’s what romance is about.

But back to this discussion. What do you notice first in a man? Is there something that really attracts you, either physically or emotionally?

I have to confess that nice hands are something that catch my eye. Strong. Masculine. Well-kept but not manicure perfect. Real hands.

As for the emotional part: humor. A man who can make me laugh even when I am in my deepest dumpiest mood is golden.

How about you? Please take a moment to share and inspire me as I work on these upcoming novellas.