Romance Writers Behaving Badly: Top 13 Reasons Why Not to Read Romance

Romance Writers Behaving Badly: Top 13 Reasons Why Not to Read Romance: Reading with Caution. After careful consideration, and much placing of tongue in cheek -- no, not French kissing, get your mind out of...

This is why you need to keep buying our top-notch dark roasted ebooks! They might have an EFFECT !

http://www.darkroastpress.com because Kayelle knows best!

Incredible Heidi Wasabi featured for February

buy link

February welcomes The Incredible Heidi Wasabi!

Welcome to February, the month of kink and
threesomes. Helgaleena's first original novel length erotic romance (for
I am also the author of hundreds of fan-fiction slash tales and editor
of scores of others) fits right in.

The Incredible Heidi Wasabi is an MMF-- but
it also is based on a firm foundation of love. In fact, love is what
turns the entire story from just the saga of how two rock musicians
managed their differences and their screwy hobbies in order to stay
together for their entire lives, into a mind-boggling evolution of
consciousness for the third party, the one for which the book is named.

Rufus Dixon grew up in rural West Virginia
and even though he put himself through folk music school, he's got some
working-class attitudes when it comes to making a living at it that
drive him into rock'n'roll, and eventually into heavy metal. Like many
in the metal scene he parties hard and that means plenty of sex, more
than most of us mortals require, with men as well as women. Thank
goodness for self-gratification, and the rubber lady he nicknames
'Heidi'.

It's a step up career-wise when the
European transplants Virgen Steel, whose sound includes folk-infused
strings and whose stage shows include fencing and theatrics, take Rufus
on. Bassist Steen Herren needs a front man because he keeps alienating
them and overpowering them. Soon they're dueling onstage, literally, as
well as taking it out on one another with their fists in the bar
afterwards. If it weren't for the music, and some strange chemistry
beyond that--

for the rest, visit:


http://guyslikeromancetoo.blogspot.com/2012/02/february-welcomes-incredible-heidi.html

Unmasking A Digital Pirate On Amazon : who's the real pirate?

Unmasking A Digital Pirate On Amazon | Fast Company

The upshot of the article is that touting the ease of Kindle self-publishing has created a new class of scamming by middlemen selling ready-made ebooks packages made of pirated work. They don't put a stop to it because they get 30% of every sale whether it's a pirated work or not.

Just buy your ebooks from us, right at the source, or through our designated distributors at Smashwords or Adult ebooks international.

Confession: A. Sparrow has given me a taste for Steam-punk--

I am getting a taste for steam! My favorite authors of the genre outside of romance are China Mieville, Elizabeth Bear, and of course, inside of romance, my role model

Angelia Sparrow.

She even dresses the part to attend conventions! Now she's gotten herself interviewed in an online 'zine about her steam punk

http://www.wix.com/imagyro/home

I began as a fan of her Star Wars fan fiction. Then she let me beta-read an MM pirate historical, an MF Western, and my favorite, the MM sci-fi For Love of Etarin, when she and Naomi Brooks went professional. I was really thrilled to edit her solo works

The Nikolai series,

set in an alternate future Universe, the Confederate States of America, with us at

Dark Roast Press.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=113035052058282&set=a.113033935391727.13315.113032922058495&type=3&theater

http://www.darkroastpress.com/asparrow.php

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=113035048724949&set=a.113033935391727.13315.113032922058495&type=3&theater

The Confederate States of America in my personal opinion qualifies as steam-punk, although the focus is less on the technologies; huge numbers of the citizens have regressed to antebellum lifestyles and values, including crinolines and top hats. Not to mention their horrible reversion to bonded servitude and racism! As well as Nikolai and the sequel Niko-chan, her devilish hero Nick will be in a third volume, and characters from the series have starred in three of our anthology collections--

A Dark Roasted Chrismas v. 1--
http://www.darkroastpress.com/darkroastxmas.php

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=113035025391618&set=a.113033935391727.13315.113032922058495&type=3&theater
My Dark Roasted Valentine
http://www.darkroastpress.com/darkroastedvalentine.php

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=113034988724955&set=a.113033935391727.13315.113032922058495&type=3&theater

and the FREE Barista's Choice sampler
http://www.darkroastpress.com/baristachoice.php

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.113431132018674.13386.113032922058495&type=3

As far as I know the only title set in this future of hers that we don't carry is Glad Hands, available at Torquere Press. Naomi helped with that, so it isn't one of ours.

Her devilish hero Nick will be in a third volume, and characters from the series have starred in two of our anthology collections. Keep an eye out for NICK and CORBAN, coming in 2012!

In our NEW erotic anthology THE DARK SEASON, Angelia contributed a true steam-punk MMF set in the alternate past, in the Republic of Ireland, complete with slavery, zeppelins, and thought control. You will love it.

http://www.darkroastpress.com/darkseason.php "Experiments"

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=295246590503793&set=a.113431132018674.13386.113032922058495&type=3&theater

That is a quick explanation of my conversion to steam-punk, from a simple erotic romance editing fan-fictioner. And it's all Angelia's fault!

love, Helgaleena,
@DarkRoastPress

GLBT Promo Blog: Did you know we are on NOOK????

GLBT Promo Blog: Did you know we are on NOOK????: Why yes! Click on the cover to be whisked to the page where you can buy the NOOK version of Jamie Lynn Miller's sweet contemporary hurt com...


It turns out everything at Smashwords by Dark Roast Press ends up adapted for the Nook reader as well!


http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-child-of-the-fallen-angels-victoria-cannon/1031162046


Helgaleena is greatly pleased by this. You can get many of my short stories, and the title I co-authored with SM Bach, HARMONY--

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/harmony-sm-bach/1031162289

Enjoy on your NOOK!

Free samples of our erotic romance flavor!

http://www.darkroastpress.com/baristachoice.php

Dark Roast Press - Mentions of Nikolai series in three places!

Dark Roast Press - Mentions of Nikolai series in three places!

Excerpt from Blak Rayne's inteview of DRP author Angelia Sparrow:


Q: Who is your favorite character, which you’ve created? And why?

That's like asking me which of my four kids is my favorite. But deep down, I have a deep abiding love for David Inman in the Nikolai series. David is a secondary character and I have to sit on him hard or he will take over. He's the best mind of the twenty-first century and a psychopath. He's called The Butcher of Cairo, because he flooded Cairo, Illinois off the map, killing all inhabitants. He's the right-hand man and devoted body-slave of a man who doesn't love him. I like him because he hurts so beautifully and so viciously.

Get hooked on the series she did for us-- NIKOLAI



http://www.darkroastpress.com/nikolai.php

GLBT Promo Blog: Angelia Sparrow Wants To Make You Feel Hot And Col...

GLBT Promo Blog: Angelia Sparrow Wants To Make You Feel Hot And Col...: Angelia Sparrow Wants To Make You Feel Hot And Cold And Shivery « Top 2 Bottom Reviews


It's another great interview with my 'hero' author Angelia Sparrow. Pictured is the only title in the 'Nikolai' future Confederate States of America which is NOT available from us at Dark Roast Press...

come vote for her steam-punk short "Experiments" from our anthology The Dark Season

at the Preditors & Editors Readers Poll! -- not to mention our other GLBT entries--

The Incredible Heidi Wasabi, Taking Chances, In Noble Pursuit, eleven different categories altogether for you to support the Dark Roasted!

http://www.critters.org/predpoll/

Scalzi Sci-Fi/Fantasy new works awareness posting

Last year, after noting my own award-eligible works, I posted another thread for other folks in the science fiction and fantasy field to make potential award nominators aware of their works and/or personal award eligibility. It turned out to be pretty useful, so I’m doing it again this year. Right now! In this comment thread, even.

So if you’re a science fiction and fantasy author, editor, or artist: Tell us what works of yours (or if you in yourself) are eligible for award consideration this year. The site gets up to 50,000 visitors a day, many of whom nominate for Hugos/Nebulas/Other genre awards, so it’s a decent way to get the word out.

And now: Rules (posted word for word from last year)!.....

http://whatever.scalzi.com/2012/01/05/sff-authorseditorsartistsfans-2011-award-awareness-post/#comment-297168


Helga has posted her own stuff, and a link to other things. It gets me thinking it's time to nominate at Preditors & Editors. Haven't done that yet.
WE did win some shiny badges in the past there.

GLBT Promo Blog: Interview with Angelia Sparrow, author of Power in ...

GLBT Promo Blog: Interview with Angela Sparrow, author of Power in ...: Interview with Angela Sparrow, author of Power in the Blood | sugarbeatsbooks.com

This is a pretty decent interview with one of my 'heroes', author Angelia Sparrow. I first met her in fan-fiction days, when she was mainly known to me through her Luke and Han Star Wars slash. Then I learned more of her through her long-gone Geocities site. About the time she decided to become a truck driver and go into professional writing with Naomi Brooks, she granted me the great privilege of beta reading some things which have appeared at other presses. Those books are For Love of Etarin (MM scifi) and Kestrel on the Horizon (MM pirate historical)

Quite soon after, Dark Roast Press was born, and Angelia's future BDSM series, Nikolai, lost its publisher and needed a new home. We were all too glad to provide it!

The covers above all contain bits from this heavy-duty series set in the 'Confederate States of America'. There is also a short called 'Breakers' in our Free Sampler Anthology, Barista's Choice . In 2012 we look forward to publishing the next in the series, Nick and Corban.

Angelia has also added to our anthology The Dark Season. She goes to lots of conventions and manages to have a family life too! Yup, she's my hero.

Stay tuned to Dark Roast Press for more of her talented tough love!

Lindsay and Jane's Views and Reviews: The incredible Heidi Wasabi by Helgaleena - Review...

Lindsay and Jane's Views and Reviews: The incredible Heidi Wasabi by Helgaleena - Review...: 4 Stars Heidi finds it difficult to communicate with people and decides to keep a blog so she can tell people about her relationship...

Miscarried in New Georgia-- from THE DARK SEASON

http://helgaleena.mylivepage.com/blog/141/2360

Title: Miscarried in New Georgia
author: helgaleena
genre: futurefic, erotic horror
warnings: violence, noncon, profanity, reality, incest, mention of sex

the above is one of the four erotic horror stories in the seasonal anthology published as the days grew short in 2011~ The Dark Season.

The others are by Chris Newman and Angelia Sparrow.

Hers is steam-punk, and Chris gives us one from his Zombie universe UPRISING and another contemporary chiller.
But mine is based on the news. Read it and weep.

http://helgaleena.mylivepage.com/blog/141/2360

What to expect from Green Apple Colic

Green Apple Colic by Ken Rossal

buy link: http://www.darkroastpress.com/greenapple.php
My rating: 5 of 5 stars


What to expect from GREEN APPLE COLIC :

chronology-- set in the present (Contemporary)

romantic pairing(s)-- MF and there are plenty of them

supernatural content -- none

kink level-- varies; depends on which stage of our hero's life we are reading at the time.

suspense level-- high!

This is an erotic coming of age which encompasses the counter-culture and the Vietnam era, as well as the differences between sexual norms of the United States, Australia, and South Asia. Our hero goes through so much and in the end embraces all that life and love have to offer, but the ride is a wild one. The reader is left with a profound gratitude for the ordinary pleasures of life and love.



View all my reviews

Taking Chances by Parker Grey: PG Holiday excerpt

Need a sweet MM read for the holidays? Taking Chances, starring a baker who falls for a fortune teller, will satisfy you!



Gabe's brought his new boyfriend Elijah home for the holidays, to his amazingly loving and supportive family. It hasn't been so easy for Elijah and his own family though; he can hardly bring himself to talk about them at all...


The rest of the evening went without much fanfare. Gabe didn't let Elijah feel bad about things. He gave him a smile and a hand on the back when he sat down and Elijah seemed to let go of the tension he'd been holding. The group chatted together for a bit, eating the two pies, fruit and cookies Nate had spent all day baking. Gabe was doing a good job of pretending he wasn't ready to have a big discussion with Elijah, one that might possibly end their relationship; instead he just smiled and joked along with everyone else.

“I'm not going to say anything bad about Elijah.” Nate's voice broke through Gabe's thoughts as he dumped the rest of the cranberries into a container. “I genuinely like the guy and I think you two are good for each other.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.” Nate hovered over Gabe's left shoulder, but he didn't make an attempt to get Gabe to look at him. “I was awake in the car, when you two were talking. I heard him talk about his family, I listened to the sound of his voice; clearly something wasn't right there. I think he's really hurt but doesn't want anyone to see it.”

Gabe didn't say anything. He could tell Elijah was bothered by talking about his family. He had no idea what he'd have done if his family didn't accept him. They were his life and without them he didn't know where he’d be or what he'd have done. From the way Elijah talked about it, it seemed like he didn't have a good childhood from the start.

“Remember when your Dad died?”

Gabe nearly dropped the container when Nate said that. He didn't like to just think about it like that. It reminded him too much of what happened, reminded him too much of that feeling when Lis called him to tell him Dad had a heart attack and died before the ambulance even arrived. It was just so sudden, he'd been so well and fit... it just...happened. Throwing it out there like that, it made Gabe's stomach drop in the same exact way.

“Yeah,” he replied his voice slightly cracking.

“You didn't want to talk about him afterward. It took forever for you to open up about it, even to me and the rest of your family. Hell, I know you're still unsure about it now. I saw the way you tensed up when I said it. I think that's what happening with Elijah, I think every time he thinks about it... it's like living it all over again. I'm not saying he shouldn't have said anything to you, kept it a secret... but I don't think he's capable of just talking about it.”

“He could have said something,” Gabe said softly. “I want to help him.”

“I think you are, Gabe.” Nate placed his on his shoulder. “I think by just being there for him, you're doing everything you can.”

He took a deep breath, finished putting the cranberries in the container and then turned and hugged Nate. “Thanks. I'm going to talk to him tonight, level with him and just... well, we'll see.”

Nate hugged him tightly for a moment, before letting go and walking over to the oven. “How about we bring out dessert? I'd be nervous about the time Lis is left alone with Lij.”

Gabe cracked a smile before grabbing one of the fruit bowls and following Nate out the door.

Some time after all the plates had been cleared away, Gabe stood up and yawned, stretching his arms above his head. “Well, I'm going to get to bed. I promised Elijah I'd take him sight seeing tomorrow.”

Elijah stood up besides him, placing his hand on the same of his back. “I'm tired too, so I'll head up as well. Thank you Amelia, Lis, Nate; dinner was fantastic.”

Everyone said their good nights; Nate informed both of them he would not take part in any sight seeing as he was planning on sleeping until at least noon tomorrow. Both Lis and Amelia kissed Gabe and then Elijah on the cheek as a goodnight. Gabe watched Elijah's face, but he didn't seem to find it annoying. He just politely smiled and thanked them again before heading up the stairs with Gabe.




They were already familiar with each other’s nightly routines, standing in the bathroom side by side as they brushed their respective teeth. They undressed down to their boxers in silence, then both climbed into the full size bed Gabe had since he was a teenager. He'd never actually had a boy spend the night in his bed when he lived in the house and having Elijah there was giving him a thrill he couldn't help but to grin at. As much as he wanted to fool around though, he also really needed to talk about what happened.

When Elijah went to turn off the bedside light, Gabe reached out and stopped him. “Can we talk for a minute?”

“Yeah,” Elijah said, leaning back and sitting up better in the bed. They were side by side but not touching at all. “I figured this was coming.”

“I'm sorry, I shouldn't do this here but I feel like I'm going to make this suck even more tomorrow if I just don't get it off my chest.”

Elijah nodded, looking down at his hands. Gabe reached over and grabbed his chin lightly, turning his face. “Look at me, please?” Elijah obeyed, looking up at Gabe. “I don't hate you, I'm not really even all that mad at you right now. I just... I want to know you, Elijah. I want to know everything about you, good or bad. Secrets, yeah I know you have them, I mean I do too but...” Gabe took a deep breath, unsure of where to go next. He reached down and grabbed Elijah's hand in his. “I care about you a lot. I just want to know the person that I'm living with, the person that I'm sleeping with.”

Elijah squeezed his hand tightly, eyes still locked with Gabe's. “I shouldn't have kept that from you. I really didn't think about it. My family... it's difficult, I can't just sit here and tell you every little thing that happened. It doesn't work that way, Gabe. It's not just two or three things, it's my life that happened. I want you to know me; I think you know me pretty damn well, actually.”

Gabe sighed deeply; he knew deep down Elijah wasn't trying to hurt him. He remembered the conversation he had with Annabel, so long ago, she told him this sort of thing would happen. That sometimes Elijah just didn't realize what's going on until it's too late.

“I know,” Gabe started again, rubbing his thumb back and forth on the back of Elijah's hand, something he did quiet often. “I know you're trying and I appreciate it but.. I just hate those kinds of surprises, okay? Maybe, if you think of something or... if you remember something, you'll tell me? Even if it's stupid, some stupid childhood memory... just let me know. Can we just promise there will be no more big secrets between each other?”

He knew he was going out on a limb asking this of Elijah, he didn't know if he'd give in or if he'd turn away. But Elijah didn't move at first, sat there staring at Gabe. He tried to read the look in his eyes but there was something hidden that he couldn't read in the staring eyes across from him. He was just about to say something else when Elijah squeezed his hand again and he could hear his sharp intake of breath.

“No more big secrets, I promise. If there's something you want to know, you can ask. And I'll tell you important things, when I remember them,” he said with a laugh to his voice. “You know I don't want to hurt you; it's the least thing I'd ever want to do.”

“Good,” Gabe replied confidently, “I'm glad we could talk about this. I didn't want things hanging over our heads tomorrow and then on the way home.”

Elijah reached over and kissed him softly on the lips. Gabe couldn't help but to grin and open his mouth, allowing Elijah to bite at his top lip. He let go of Elijah's hand and pulled away before Elijah got a chance to kiss him again.

“What?” Elijah asked, his eyebrow furrowing slightly, looking confused.

“I want to do something,” Gabe replied, feeling a little risky and suddenly very horny. He pushed Elijah back against the headboard and straddled his hips in one quick motion. “All you have to do is sit back and enjoy.”

The grin on Elijah's face was so infectious and dirty it almost made him shiver. “Are you sure? Your family is just a room away.”

“Then you're going to have to be very quiet then.”

Taking Chances by Parker Grey buy link

http://www.darkroastpress.com

what to expect from SCARLET MYST

Scarlet Myst by Jade Twlight

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


What to expect from SCARLET MYST:



Chronology-- set in the Present (Contemporary)



Romantic pairing(s)-- MF



Supernatural content-- no



Kink level-- high



Suspense level-- high.



The Scarlet Arms is an exclusive brothel run by the underworld heads of the city. But compared to some of the other forces at large in society, these girls, their employers and the assassinations they carry out are doing the work of angels. "Mysti" was raised to be a display princess in this world, but her fierce nature drives her to become an active agent. And it comes in handy when she is assigned to stop a playboy sadist who targets debutantes-- the very role she used to chafe at.



It's also good that she doesn't mind playing dress-up...because it's going to be a dance of the seven veils to lure this sleaze in for the kill.



View all my reviews