Be seduced by the Secrets of the Dark
Current mood: romantic
Category: Dreams and the Supernatural

Be seduced by the Secrets of the Dark

Dangerous and magical in ways she never imagined, Simon sweeps into Tia's life one stormy night and single-handedly shatters her reality. Her friends insist Simon is a threat, and even though Tia knows they are right, something draws them together. Could it be that she and Simon are truly soul mates, like he claims? Or is he just using her to increase his magical powers? When Simon's enemies come after them Tia has not choice but risk her heart and try to discover the Secrets of the Dark.

Secrets of the Dark – Excerpt

"What's your name?"

He straightened suddenly, coming to his feet and towering much taller than she'd expected. His jacket and shirt, both unbuttoned, flapped open with the movement, revealing a far more toned and massive chest than his previous stance suggested. The shape of him sparked interest low in Tia's belly and made breathing difficult. In looks, he should have been a model but he carried himself like a cat, all smooth and fluid movements designed for efficiency but graceful none the less. He purred, "Do you need to know?"

Tia froze, recognizing the domination in his baring. Determined not to show fear, she tilted up her chin. "I need to know."

"Simon. And yours?"

Watching him closely, she replied, "Tia."

"Nice name." Simon strode a few paces away, glancing at the impenetrable rainfall. "And what beckoned you to adventure out on a hellish night like tonight, Tia?"

She shifted from foot to foot, not sure she wanted to share any more personal information with this strange man. Then again, she didn't want him to get the wrong impression of why she walked the streets alone this late at night. "I own a bar downtown. I just finished closing up and I'm heading home." Living in the city, she'd learned never to display weakness to a stranger. With challenge in her voice she demanded, "And you?"

He chuckled to himself as if finding the question amusing and he eased back toward her. "Just out looking for a bite to eat."

"Uh-huh," Tia said, watching him size her up wolfishly as if she were on the menu. A tremble, composed of equal parts fear and excitement, coursed through her. Tia found him far too sexy to trust her judgment. She wanted to stay, wanted to get closer, maybe even touch him but she heard the warning sirens in her head blaring. Best to listen to the warning, she decided and circled a wide path around him toward home.

She was just a step away from reentering the pelting rain when a sudden explosion of thunder overheard jolted her back. Her heels slipped on the slick pavement and before she could fall or catch herself, Simon gathered her in his arms. He'd crossed the distance between them extraordinarily fast.

"Whoa, fella. Hands off." Tia pushed against his chest, missing the opened shirt so her palms pressed on his unyielding bare pecs. The skin glistened with a golden tan and felt as supple as fine suede.

His hands slid down Tia's arms, leaving hot trails in their wake. Simon lowered his hands to his side but didn't step back. Standing so close to her, the rustle of the storm winds blew his open jacket so it fluttered against her torso. The heat pulsing from his body drove away the chills and pulled her magnetically toward him. He asked, "You'd prefer I allow you fall?"

"I guess not," she mumbled, no longer focused on the minor offense but instead staring with fascination into his eyes. A starburst of white ringed his pupils and flamed into burning yellow only to cool into a red crown circling the edge of his irises. The color seemed to modulate, as if capturing the flicker of a flame in slow motion. "You have fire in your eyes," she said, only half aware of how stupid the comment sounded.

"Not just in my eyes," Simon smiled.

A gust of dry heat puffed over Tia and she stumbled back a step in surprise. "What was that?" She touched her newly dried hair and smoothed her perfectly pressed clothes. "How did you do that?"

"That was nothing," he dismissed it with a wave of his hand.

"Sure impressed the hell out of me."

He cocked his head, sizing her up. A grin quirked up the corners of his perfect lips, which were just full enough to imply a melting tenderness to his kisses. The expression softened the perfect planes of his face. With amused surprise in his voice, he stated, "You're not afraid, are you?"

Tia thought about the question. The adrenaline pickling in her blood rushed not to her muscles, as if to prepare to fight or flee but to her skin, heart and lower regions, making her body ache with a longing only physical contact of a romantic nature could soothe. Breathlessly, she asked, "Should I fear you?"

He considered the question. "Should you? What an interesting dilemma. What should one do in your predicament? What should one feel? I have never pondered that."

Tia stepped back out of arms' reach, not able to reconcile the attraction and mistrust mingling inside her. "My predicament? What predicament am I in?"

"That I cannot express in words you would understand." Simon held out his hand, palm up. "I can only show you."

Get the novel Secrets of the Dark now! 

1:23 AM - 7 Comments - 12 Kudos - Add Comment

Beyond the Veil Now Available!
Current mood: happy
Category: Dreams and the Supernatural

"Beyond the Veil" is now available from Ellora's Cave!

The winner of the free PDF copy of Beyond the Veil is Kytara from Nevada!

Here's another tiny snippet for you...

"You are very devious." Bruce's warm voice echoed in the study.

Carolyn raised her eyes to the translucent mist in the shape of a man. The loose blond hair rippled in a breeze she didn't feel. Where the light reflected on the silken flow of his hair it glowed golden but where it twisted into shadow it vanished so the mantle of the fireplace behind him shone through. The right side of him glowed, bathed in a light source she did not see, but his left side faded to merely a misty outline. Neither his voice nor his ephemeral appearance startled her because she'd smelled his deliciously bold scent all morning as if he read over her shoulder. His words did surprise her though.
"Oh? How do you mean?"

"I thought only to claim you at first," Bruce stepped closer. "You are fetching and seductive." Another step and he was against the opposite side of the table. "But now I find I want more than just your delicate companionship. I want your affection as well." Bruce stretched his hand toward hers where it rested on the table. His fingertips brushed her wrist and trailed down the back of her hand so lightly that he left chilled goose bumps in his wake. The stirring from the touch cast growing ripples like a stone's disturbance on the glassy surface of a pond over her skin. It pulsed through her, drumming in her like a heartbeat. Passion coiled low in her belly, making her gasp.

"Devious," Bruce repeated.

Get your copy of Beyond the Veil!

7:46 PM - 4 Comments - 6 Kudos - Add Comment

"Beyond the Veil" preview and contest!
Current mood: aroused
Category: Romance and Relationships

BEYOND THE VEIL comes out this month! April 18th to be exact. So it is time to gear up for the release with excerpts and contests. The first contest is easy. Just subscribe to this blog and you are in the running to win a free pdf copy of "Beyond the Veil". I’ll pick a winner on April 18th. Subscribe here to enter.

The next contest is equally easy. All you have to do is ’friend’ both this profile and the profile for my other pen name Leannan Mac Llyr and when "Hand-Dipped Pleasure" comes out on 5/28/08 I will be selecting one person who is on both friends’ list to win a pdf copy of BOTH "Hand-Dipped Pleasure" and "Beyond the Veil"!

Now that you know how to win your free copy of "Beyond the Veil", here is a sneak peek.

In the basement of the Warren Mansion Museum, Carolyn discovers a diamond ring enchanted to allow the wearer to see and interact with spirits. Bruce, cursed hundreds of years ago, is trapped as a spirit beyond the veil between worlds. Carolyn is the first person to see him in ages. And not just see him, but touch him. The attraction between the dominant and sexy Bruce and the passionate Carolyn builds with each sizzling encounter. Curses have a way of not wanting to be broken, putting them both in serious peril. Will the love between them, combined with the power of the ring, be enough to defeat the curse of a powerful voodoo priestess?

Excerpt:

9:52 PM - 5 Comments - 6 Kudos - Add Comment

Now Available! HER DANGEROUS PROMISE!
Current mood: bouncy
Category: Parties and Nightlife

Now Available! Her Dangerous Promise!

Her Dangerous Promise is now available from Cerridwen Press! Just so you know this is a romantic suspense novel, not erotica.

Inspector Thom Brady can't understand why schoolteacher Mary Seeton won't confide in him about her recent abduction. There is no doubt that she'd been forcibly taken and somehow escaped, but she refuses to tell him anything about her experience.

In order to escape her mentally challenged kidnapper, Mary made a terrible promise, one she can't forgive herself for. The lives of the children in her class depend on her keeping that secret. But with super-sexy Thom hounding her, soon her abductor figures she broke her promise and no one is safe. Racing against time the couple risks their lives and their growing relationship to catch the desperate and dangerous kidnapper.

Get it now at:

http://www.cerridwenpress.com/productpage.asp?ISBN=9781419913679

10:51 AM - 5 Comments - 4 Kudos - Add Comment

Next week is the release of HER DANGEROUS PROMISE
Current mood: excited
Category: Romance and Relationships

Next week is the release of HER DANGEROUS PROMISE!

Being published by Cerridwen Press, this is not an erotica story as many of my other stories have been. Rather this novel length story is romantic suspense. Action, suspense, romance, passion... all those wonderful elements that make romantic suspense such a marvelous escape.

Want a little taste? A little teasers?

Here's a little snippit of Chapter 1. You can get the full novel from Cerridwen Press on Jan 31st.

Chapter 1

Mary forced herself to breathe as normally as she could with her wrists tied to the headboard. Inhale. The dank smell of a moldy basement. Exhale. The echo of her breathing bounced off close walls. The blindfold was loosely tied, permitting the light to peek underneath but even with focusing at that slim opening, she could see nothing. If she rubbed her head hard against the pillow she would be able to remove it but she dared not attempt it.

Not with him snuggled up beside her.

Deprived of her sense of sight, Mary felt trapped within her own body. She could be anywhere or nowhere. Terror streaked like a crazed animal along her nerves, numbing her skin to any sensation, save the pain in her head and wrists and the pressure where her captor touched her.

Mary heard him breathing evenly but doubted that he fallen asleep yet. The heat of him spread against her right side, and she physically had to force herself not to cringe away.

She swallowed with difficulty. Thirst scratched her throat raw. How long had it been since she'd had anything to drink. Hours? A day? She had no way to determine.

Her neck ached from where he'd strangled her. The attack in the parking lot had been swift and brutal. She hadn't seen it coming, hadn't even heard him approach her from behind. One moment she'd been happily going about her life and the next she was helplessly snatched away, like a butterfly snagged in the whip of a frog's tongue and swallowed into blackness. At any moment he might explode into violence again. Mary choked back a sob.

The man beside her stirred and Mary forced herself to remain perfectly still, fearing what her whimper might have aroused in her abductor.

"Don't be scared, okay?" he said.

In that single sentence, Mary heard the voice of a man with the mind of a child. She squeezed her eyes closed. As a teacher, she communicated with children all the time. If she was careful, perhaps she could reach this man-child. This very dangerous man-child who may very well kill her at the slightest provocation. Forcing herself to focus on what that could mean for her chances of escape, her exhalation came out ragged.

"Are you sad?"

Mary opened her eyes beneath the blindfold. Softly, carefully, she replied, "Yes."

"Why?"

She nearly lost her composure at that. Why, indeed. Could he really not know what she must be feeling? She concentrated on keeping her breathing as normal as possible. Sweat slicked her skin. That question gave her an opening. For the first time since the ordeal began, Mary felt the bud of hope. Carefully, she warned herself. You must tread very carefully. Coax him like a six-year-old with a gun to trust you enough to lay it down. Unfortunately, if he was developmentally retarded, like she suspected, he could be just as likely to harm her unintentionally as let her go.

Quickly she considered and disregarded several responses to his question before replying, "My cat…" she began and then belated asked, "Uh, do you like cats?"

"Cats are nice."

She nodded to herself. "My cat is sick. I'm supposed to give him a pill every morning and every evening or he could die." Mary waited, listening to her captor while he silently considered her claim. He might not have followed her logic, so she spelled it out for him. "I'm sad because I know my cat is crying for me right now. He has really bad pain if I'm not there to give him his medicine."

The silence lingered as the man shifted closer. His breath, sickly sweet like chewy caramel, pooled on her face when he spoke again. "Can't someone else give him the pill?"

Mary shook her head tightly, careful to not bump into his mouth, which had to be only inches away. Why was he so close? Would he kiss her? Bite her? Taking shallow gasps to avoid inhaling his hot breath, she pleaded, "He's too shy. He'll only come to me. No one else."

A weight pressed on Mary's shoulder. A hand? No, his head. She ached to jerk away but remained still. He mustn't know how deeply she feared him, how she would do anything to escape him or he might turn her own fears against her and use it to leverage whatever dreadful scheme he'd concocted to spirit her away and claim her like a thing. Like a possession to store in his secret basement and take some disturbed pleasure in the possession of her.

"You'd tell on me if I let you go."

"No, I wouldn't. I promise, I'd never tell on you if you let me go."

"People break promises sometimes." He said this softly to himself. He was doing something. She could feel the slight twist and tug of her sweater. Was he pawing at the material or toying with a button? Her dread roiled in her stomach.

Mary gritted her teeth, unable to hold back the tears that slid down her face and escaped under the blindfold. She'd seen the light of hope but now it was dimming again. If she lost this chance, he might never let her go. If he kept her here, he would certainly harm her and probably eventually kill. She sobbed, "I would never break this promise to you. If you let me go, you'll have saved my cat's life." She swallowed back her next sob and managed to whisper, "I'd owe you one."

"Promise on your cat's life you'd never tell on me."

The image of her cat swam before her mind's eye. Sweet, little Fizgig, named after a character in a Frank Oz movie. She cherished him and so despised her weakness when she said, "I promise."

"Promise on the lives of the kids in your class you won't tell on me."

Terror knifed her heart with a cold blade. "Please don't hurt the children."

"Just keep your promise."

If she made this promise, she could never break it. Not with the lives of her children at stake. Her freedom was so close. She could feel it. He was going to release her but only if she swore.

****
Look for HER DANGEROUS PROMISE by Amanda Sidhe on January 31st from Cerridwen Press!

1:27 PM - 1 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

Her Dangerous Promise
Current mood: happy
Category: Writing and Poetry

Her Dangerous Promise

by Amanda Sidhe

3:17 PM - 4 Comments - 6 Kudos - Add Comment

Summoned by Lust released today
Current mood: chipper
Category: Parties and Nightlife

Today is the big day! "Summoned by Lust" was released by Ellora's Cave today. Whoo-hoo!

You can get it here:

Summoned by Lust

The contest is over now. Thank you to all of you who subscribed to my blog!Laurie from Tennessee won the free copy of the book. Congrats Laurie!

An Excerpt From: SUMMONED BY LUST

Copyright © AMANDA SIDHE, 2007

All Rights Reserved, Ellora's Cave Publishing, Inc.

"You like playing mind games?" Razor hooked a finger under her sunglasses and flicked them away so nothing shielded her from those metallic eyes of his. This close, she could just make out the shape of his irises behind the veil of magic and they bore into her.

"I meant no offense, Kinsman," Karma said as naturally as she could with the tightness of his grip over her vocal cords. "I wished only to anticipate your desires." This time she did add a hint of sexual coloring to her meaning. Better to end this risky encounter with her virtue sullied than with her vital organs displaced from her body.

She relaxed mentally to let him feel the truth in her. That was even harder than trying to force her body to relax despite the fight-or-flight response that dumped adrenaline into her bloodstream and made her bones tremble. Not knowing how powerful he was telepathically she carefully forced her mind open, like trying to unball a fist when it gripped the ledge of a cliff and the drop was deadly. It wasn't a natural thing to do. When she thought she'd exposed her thoughts long enough for him to see her sincerity, Karma tugged experimentally on her telepathic probe to see if he'd release the connection. No dice. His mental jaws tightened, keeping her firmly inside his controlled upper layer of consciousness.

Razor's focus lowered to his hand at her throat. Adjusting his grip, his fingertips settled over her pulse. Despite her outward attempt to project calm, her blood slammed with fear under his touch.

His other hand tugged her shirt out of her slacks in a long, slow pull that made the soft fabric of her blouse rub tantalizingly over her stomach even as panic froze Karma's muscles. Razor slipped his hand beneath her shirt and palmed her breast, enclosing it completely, which spoke to the size of his hands because she was fairly well proportioned up top. With a squeeze that pinched her nipple between his thumb and the side of his finger the terror that had been coiling inside her shattered as a spike of desire shocked her entire body. Karma hadn't been able to suppress her cry of pleasure. A roll of thunder cascaded first across her skin and then through her muscles and finally vibrated through her bones like the rhythmic beating of a base drum. It was as though her own natural attraction was being soaked up by Razor's telepathic power, amplified and projected back into her a hundredfold. Instantly, her entire being softened with sexual heat. Writhing against the wall, Karma bent her knee and stroked it up the outside of Razor's thigh. Forgetting why she had her hands at her sides, she reached up and explored the rocky terrain of his hard stomach.

Razor smiled wide, exposing his fangs. "I'll make you a deal. If you do to me what you promised and keep my thoughts from roaming from sex to blood, I won't kill you before sunrise."

..:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Sunrise was in less than an hour.

She didn't have to ask what promise he referred to. Her own image echoed in his mind of her head moving in a bobbing motion over his lap. His desire flavored the memory, making her lick her lips in anticipation. Even though Razor was a big, scary vampire, his barbaric domination thrilled her. He was a man used to taking what he wanted and the fact he wanted her made her wet and ready to surrender. If only she could trust him. "And after sunrise?"

"One step at a time," he said in a manner that seemed to indicate he didn't think that would be an issue. That would have frightened her but Razor rolled her nipple with his thumb, rocketing a fresh surge of need through her that was already more explosive than any orgasm she'd ever had. The need was so massive that she knew he was magnifying it with his own telepathy. But her body didn't care and she squirmed and heaved against his palm. It wasn't merely her survival instinct that led her to agree. "As you wish, Kinsman."

"Razor." He released her neck but kept his hand on her breast. "Say my name." Looming tall over the top of her, he didn't need to physically pin her to make her feel trapped and at his complete mercy. The solid heat of his body closed around her, invading her space and her body. Every breath was heavy with his masculine spice. Deadly handsome, any woman would disintegrate with longing just to be on the receiving end of his lustful attention.

Get It Now!

11:58 AM - 8 Comments - 12 Kudos - Add Comment

I Love a Good Deadline
Current mood: chipper
Category: Jobs, Work, Careers

I Love a Good Deadline

I'm coming out of a very busy year... at long last... and now I can concentrate on writing like I couldn't before. I had already started to jot down a few words here and there on "Chained Melody", but I needed a bit more motivation to really get cracking.

So after a few e-mails with my editor at Ellora's Cave, I got my motivation in the form of two deadlines. The first being December 1st. The working title of the novella is "Beyond the Veil" and is a paranormal erotica tale. The paranormal element in this story comes in the form of a ghost. This book will be in the birthstone series, and since the stone in question is a diamond I am guessing if they accept the manuscript that it will probably see publication in April.

The second deadline is December 15th. This novella will be for the 'Oh, Yum!' series involving older women/younger men. For this story I am thinking I am going to have to introduce a new pen name. 'Amanda Sidhe' is becoming associated with darker, harder edged paranormal tales. My 'Oh, Yum!' story is going to be an erotic comedy. Believe it or not, I have a very goofy streak sometimes and writing humor helps me to keep a balance as a writer. So every now and then I go all out with comedy. If Ellora's cave take this story I'll adopt another pen name and announce it here.

I have been covering a lot more ground much more quickly now that I have these deadlines keeping me on track. It feels great, too! Like getting back in the gym after missing a week or two. The muscles sing with a wonderful ache that lets you know that you are alive. That is what writing is like for me.

7:43 PM - 7 Comments - 14 Kudos - Add Comment

Building Toward Release
Current mood: chipper
Category: Parties and Nightlife

Building Toward Release

First, some previously published stories will be made available to readers free on my website at http://AmandaSidheRomance.tripod.com . The erotica quickie "Riding Dennis" is now available for download. The first Kinsmen Vampire story "Always" will be ready to download in November. And of course, another Kinsmen Vampire novella "Raging Passions" is already online at my website for you to read.

"Summoned by Lust" is an erotic Kinsmen Vampire novella. It is the most sensual of the series so far. Karma is a Summon, a human servant for a clan of vampires. Her one advantage that has kept her alive has been her considerable telepathic talent. Until she encounters Razor, a power and sexy Kinsman with mental abilities greater than hers and a driving blood lust that puts her neck in serious danger. It is due to be released on 11/23/07 from Ellora's Cave.

Her Dangerous Promise is a romantic suspense novel and is more mainstream in its sensuality level. As a cop, Thom can't understand why Mary won't help him find the man who held her hostage. However, she only escaped by making a deal with the devil, one that now puts her life, everyone she knows and her growing relationship with Thom in jeopardy. The release is presently scheduled for 1/31/08 from Cerridwen Press.

8:25 PM - 1 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Bring Me To Life
Current mood: hopeful
Category: Goals, Plans, Hopes

"Bring Me To Life"

This song by Evanesence is my personal theme song at the moment.

I have been going through a tough time in my personal life, and as a result I took some time off from writing. I went through a difficult divorce, some health problems that required surgery and worked to rebuild my life as a result of those challenges. I am still dealing with the lingering effects of these events, but after some time in hybernation, I am coming to life again as a writer.

I have sent out some submissions. I am reviewing the current guidelines of several publishers as I look for homes for several pieces sitting on my hard drive. And I am starting to reread old works-in-progress to see if I can resume writing them.

Along the lines of finding publishers, I have come to hear through the grapevine that my romance publisher Venus Press is running into some kind of difficulty. They have not responded to my submissions from last fall and, from the chit chat I've heard, I am not the only one getting a big dose of silence from them. So I am looking for a new home for my orphaned Kinsmen series.

As I figure out what I am doing and get back into the groove, I'll be posting my progress on my blog at http://writerwitch.blogspot.com

Thank you everyone for your patience. It means a lot to me.

8:43 AM - 4 Comments - 4 Kudos - Add Comment