5/10/2013

New Release! 

Available at 

A Gentleman Never Does

Short of funds, Gareth proposes to wager for love. Does Gideon dare play out this hand?

Gideon Westwood is passing time at a debutante ball when he encounters a man from his past he'd give anything to avoid. 
Unfortunately for him, Gareth Belmain isn't in the mood to be pushed aside. 
A wager leads to a walk in the garden and a kiss to angry words. 
Will a public challenge put an end to any hope they might have for a future together?


  • ISBN: 978-1-77101-953-8
  • By Lee Brazil
  • Heat Rating: 3
  • Word Count: 8807
  • Release Date: May 10, 2013
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Excerpt

"If you're short of funds, I don't wish to gamble with you for money."

Gareth smirked, painted lips twisting. "Such an honorable man you are. Fine then, if we shall not play for money, then we play for love."

A chill washed over Gideon. He shifted on the delicate chair, fearing it might splinter if he abused it too much. "For love?"

Gareth whispered, "You were used to love me dearly. We could play for that." Gideon's dismay must have shown on his face, and again he cursed his inability to master the stoic boredom society expected of its young men and women.

"Or maybe not. What stakes would you care to play for, my Corinthian friend?"

The sardonic emphasis on Corinthian hurt a bit, as he had no doubt that Gareth intended it to. It angered Gideon that Gareth held such power over him still, to arouse his emotions, his body this way. Instead of answering the question Gareth had asked, he let his hurt and anger have sway. "Why are you without funds? Too many hours of shopping in Bond Street, my dear?"

Gareth's blue eyes flickered and his narrow jaw tightened. Gideon's gaze focused on the tight pinch of his full lips. Those lips had touched his... He bit back a curse as his pantaloons grew uncomfortably tight. "Fuck." The coarse word was a hoarse whisper that he hoped no one else picked up on.

Gareth's tension faded and his eyes sparkled with mirth. "No, dear heart. A gentleman never pays his tailor before his gaming debts. If you must know, I played a little too deep the other night at that new hell, off Curzon street."

The lure of cards had always been impossible for Gareth to resist. They'd often played together at school and through long rainy days at home. So Gideon knew that Gareth might be susceptible to the lure of the cards, but he wasn't a bad player. While losing wasn't unheard of, it was rare. "I can float you a bit till quarter day if you like." Gideon offered.

"Kind of you, but no. If you were inclined to lose to me, that would be one thing. But I am not in need of charity." The cards were snapped down onto the table sharply. "Cut."

5/09/2013

Crawl in Bed With Raven McAllan

 
Crawling Into Bed With Raven McAllan
And a Good Book... Dance to a Different Beat

Important things first, are these sheets silk or cotton? 
Cotton, but the finest Egyptian... silk is soooooo slippy, and I don't want to fall out of bed now do I?


What are you wearing? *looks down and checks, blushes and sniggers* Mix and match. DH silk boxers, my old tshirt, and an ankle chain. Oh and red nail polish.


What are we snacking on in bed while we read tonight? well.... let's see. ohh a mixed seafood platter, gluten free crackers, champagne and raspberries.


If I open this nightstand drawer, what will I find? um...two kindles and chargers, the joy of sex (book),  vaseline, tissues, a packet of polos ( mint sweets) ten pound note ( why? I'm worth much more than that... *snigger*) bullet and spare specs. Oh and look, I wondered where they had gone... bedsocks and my library card. I really need to sort this drawer out.

Do you roll up in the blankets like a burrito, or kick the covers off during the night?
 It depends on the weather and if i have anyone to roll up with. I much prefer to roll up with a hot-bod....

Can I put my cold feet on your calves to warm them up? Not if you value your balls you can't.

What are we reading?  Dance to a Different Beat Available at Evernight



Jane has a decision to make. Meet Sean and face her demons or hide.
Sean is happy to help her, but will she let him?
All he wants is Jane and as for those demons? They're always better faced together, aren't they?

Excerpt...

A thong. And no curls escaping around the sides. He couldn't stop himself sliding his finger under the lacy edge. She didn't bat his hand away as he expected. With a sigh that made pre cum gather at the head of his cock and had him checking it wasn't playing peek a boo over his waistband, Jane moved to rest her head on his shoulders.
"That's no toddler step, that's a strictly forbidden teenage one."
"You on top?" If she thought that then there really was no hope.
"No you moron, your fingers. You're revving me so fast I've missed the first two gears." She paused and the wicked twinkle in her eyes made him itch to turn her over his lap and use his favorite paddle on her enticing ass cheeks. "And do we really want to go into reverse 'cos we've missed the shift?"
Put like that, no they didn't.
He didn't answer but moved his questing finger further under the silk until his nail scraped the soft edge of her nether lips. "I think we can miss a few gears, you're ready, receptive, and know damn well how to put the brakes on and stop. Do you remember your safe words, Jane? Should we start from there?"
In answer she wriggled on his finger, and her breath came in pants. Her eyes were cloudy and a soft sheen of perspiration was visible on her skin. At any other time the sight would have him stripped and ready for action in the blink of an eye.
 "Just do it."
"Safe word." His tone was harsh, something wasn't quite right. "Safe words or I stop, Jane. This is a two way exchange, no way is the onus all on me."
Her eyes cleared and she stopped moving. She shuddered and lifted her arm to stroke his cheek with her fingers. "Oh shit."
 Sean dipped his head. "That's one way of putting it. What the fuck was going on then?" He didn't move his hand away from her pussy, and to her credit she didn't try to make him do anything else.
 "You're a mass of bloody contradictions, Jane. I don't know where I am with you. You want to take it slowly then you want me to take you. You're scared but you're telling me to ignore you. So not going to happen. So." He pinched her clit firmly enough for her to jump and try to move away. He kept the pressure on the soft skin hard enough to stop her. "Either you tell me what's going on in your messed up mind or that’s it. Experiment over, never to be repeated. It's up to you. I can get someone else to sub for me when I want. Will you get a Dom you want?"
A distant clock chimed the hour, and somewhere a siren screamed. Neither impinged on his mind to any degree. He concentrated on Jane who was a stiff as a board.
"Jane, look at me." He deliberately injected a note of command into his voice. "You have ten minutes to explain or that's it. We both have places to go and people to see." Would it work?






5/08/2013

Recipe Theme of the Month : Quesadillas - Zucchini


This is a mingling of recipes found on the web, from Martha Stewart and All Recipes. We just monkeyed around with them until we got the taste we wanted.

Ingredients
·         4 T olive oil
·         1 small onion, diced
·         Salt
·         4 cloves garlic, minced
·         2 medium zucchini, thin sliced
·         1 cup frozen corn kernels
·         1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
·         4  flour tortillas
·         2 cups grated Monterrey  jack cheese
·         1 t lime juice
·         ½ t ground cumin
·         ½ t paprika
·         ¼ t cayenne
Preparation
1.      Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a large skillet, heat 3 T oil over medium heat. Add onion and spices; cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is soft. Stir in garlic; cook 1 minute more.
2.      Add zucchini and frozen corn kernels; cook, stirring occasionally, until zucchini is soft and corn is tender, about 6 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in cilantro, if using.
3.      Brush one side of all tortillas with remaining tablespoon oil. Put 2 tortillas, oiled side down, on a baking sheet. Place half of the filling on each, and sprinkle with half the cheese. Top with remaining tortillas.
4.      Bake until cheese has melted and tortillas are golden brown, turning once, about 10 minutes. Remove from oven; let cool slightly. To serve, slice each quesadilla into wedges.
Serve with guacamole, salsa and sour cream.

5/07/2013

On Writing : Ray Bradbury




One of my favorite books about writing is Ray Bradbury's Zen in the Art of Writing. If you haven't picked it up, I highly recommend it. It's not all technical or anything, about do a then b then c and voila you'll write a masterpiece. It's about creativity and finding yourself in your writing. 

So today, as I'm working on pulling together the second chapter of my new project, I give you a few words of wisdom from Ray...









“What are the best things and the worst things in your life, and when are you going to get around to whispering or shouting them?” 

Plot is no more than footprints left in the snow after your characters have run by on their way to incredible destinations.” 

“And what, you ask, does writing teach us? First and foremost, it reminds us that we are alive and that it is a gift and a privilege, not a right.” 


There's much more to be gleaned from between these book covers, and to top it off, it s a very enjoyable time spent reading. 

5/06/2013

Top 5: Inspirational Lyrics from Tom Petty

It's Monday and time to get the work schedule sorted for the week. I've got a new project, a regency era novella which is the third in the Behind Closed Doors series I'm doing with Raven McAllan. That means it's time to get the inspiration revved up and the ideas flowing.

Which in Lee's little world means it's time to rock. Time to get out the Petty and the Foreigner and the Steely Dan and put some words on the page.

Tom Petty is my favorite music to listen to when I'm just getting to know my characters, because he is a master at character creation in a few simple words.

These are just a few of the lyrics that help me explore my new characters.


  1. Some days are diamonds, some days are rocks. Some doors are opened, some roads are blocked. Sundowns are golden, then fade away. And if I never do nothing, I'll get you back someday. - Tom Petty, Even Walls Fall Down
  2. God, it's so painful when something that's so close is still so far out of reach. - Tom Petty, American Girl
  3. Time to move on, time to get going. What lies ahead I have no way of knowing. But under my feet, baby, grass is growing. - Tom Petty, Time To Move On
  4. I'm learning to fly, but I ain't got wings. Coming down is the hardest thing. - Tom Petty, Learning To Fly 
  5. It just seems to useless to have to work so hard, and nothing ever really seem to come from it. - Tom Petty, Here Comes My Girl


And now, its time for me to get going! 




Be Yourself

To be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight; and never stop fighting. ~e.e. cummings, 1955
The Romance Reviews