Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine’s Day.

I don’t know about you, but this holiday sure seems to put a lot of pressure on and inspire feelings of insecurity in a lot of people. Particularly single people.

In elementary school, we had to give everyone a card. Not so bad. Then comes middle school (junior high) and high school. In my school, they offered carnations for sale for $1. There were a bunch of different colors, each meaning something else. The cheerleaders (I think) would bring them around in the afternoon, “delivering” them in front of everyone.

Of course, as we get older, it carries more significance. No one wants to be single on this day of love. I have to admit, I never had someone special during this time until my husband and I got together. So that first year, I went all out on gifts.

And he didn’t.

I’m convinced most guys don’t really get the concept behind V-day. After a few years, I stopped going crazy on the gifts for hubby. Now we pretty much just do cards, maybe a nice dinner somewhere. Every so often, he’ll bring or send flowers home.

This year, I think we made up for all the past years. Hubby has been dying for one of those automatic coffee machines. After our neighbor was able to organize one for less than half the price and I made sure we’d be able to use it in the States when we go back, I relented.

We picked it up yesterday. I’m calling this a gift to each other.

I had planned to have a gift for all of you in the form of a free read. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to finish it in time. So instead, I have another gift. As some of you may know, I write erotic romance under the name Scarlett Jameson. As such, I’m a member of an erotic stories blog and we publish each month into an ebook.

So my gift to you is a coupon code for a free book on Smashwords, if you’d like. (I know this isn’t everyone’s cuppa.) Since some of the stories are serials and Volume 1 is already free, I’ll start with the code for Volume 2.

Volume 1 can be found here:  Everything Erotic Volume I
Volume 2 can be found here:  Everything Erotic Volume II

Coupon code for Volume 2: TR69U

What are your plans for Valentine’s Day? Do you and your honey have any special traditions?

Almost time for Blogmania

Only a couple more days and Blogmania will be here. April 30^th. This Friday. You will find tons of great blogs to explore, on all topics. And best of all? We're all giving away some great prizes. Each blog will have their own guidelines for their giveaway, so please read each one carefully. I've finally decided on my giveaway. In order to be eligible, all you have to do is become a follower. On the left side of the screen, there is a button with the Google symbol and the word Follow. On Friday I will move it up so that it is underneath the Blogmania badge. Click that button and become a follower. Easy, right? If you're already a follower (thank you very much), you're good to go.

So what goodies am I giving away? Good question. I'm calling it A Month of Sundays Relaxation Kit. A mouthful, I know. I call it this because I love to settle into a warm bubble bath, with flickering candles and read a great book. That is a little slice of heaven for me, and I hope it appeals to you too.

We'll start with 2 yummy candles from Colonial Candle. Then, while you're running your bath water, pour in some bubble bath from Bath and Body Works. Now that we've set the mood and gotten our water ready, what to read?

There are 4 Sundays in a month. Usually. So, 4 books it is. Which 4 books, you ask? Quite a selection, in several different genres. I'm a member of the Austin RWA chapter, even though I'm over here in Germany now. Recently, our chapter had a bunch of good news. 3 of our published authors were finalists for the RITA award. If you don't know what this is, the easy answer is that it's the Emmys of the romance writers world. A very big deal. So I will include all three of these books, plus a copy of my own that just came out last week.

The Christmas Present by Tracy Wolff
Not Quite a Husband by Sherry Thomas
Whisper of Warning by Laura Griffin
Stellar Heat by Scarlett Jameson

And, last but not least, if I've missed a crucial ingredient that you require for total relaxation, I'm also including a $25 Visa gift card.

Remember, all you have to do to be in the running is to become a follower. And as a teaser. I know a lot of you like the little glimpses I give to my time in Europe. I'm heading to Holland this weekend, so next week will be a European extravaganza!

What do you think of my prize? Interested?

Stellar Heat Release

Today I'm pleased to announce the release of Stellar Heat, available at The Wild Rose Press. It is the debut of Scarlett Jameson, which happens to be my other pen name. Yes, this is my first release ever. It's also the first futuristic story I've ever written AND the first erotic story I've ever written. A lot of firsts for me. It was a lot of fun to write and I really enjoyed my characters. I hope you will too. I'm giving away a copy of Stellar Heat to one lucky commenter. I'll do a random drawing on Sunday night, so you have plenty of time to comment, and announce the winner on Monday. So, here's a blurb and an excerpt (don't worry, it's not explicit). Enjoy!

Blurb: Jak of House Midori, has found his heart mate, that one person he can connect with on a soul level. Only problem is, as a twin from the planet Zaphron, Jak must share his mate with his brother. But Qwin wants to wait until they are more established in their careers as Star Flight officers.

Petty Officer, Lily Buchanan has whiplash from trying to figure out Jak's intentions. At the pub he's charming and flirtatious, but his aloof attitude on campus leaves her confused--and burning up with sexual energy.

When the three are assigned to repair a satellite in the Helix Galaxy, they are attacked by enemy star fighters. Seriously outgunned and their craft crippled, the three are stranded alone on an uncharted planet. Will Qwin agree to ease the mating fever consuming Lily, or will Jak be forced to initiate the mate-claim and exclude his brother from their union forever?

Excerpt: As Lily approached, she eyed Jak on deck in front of the ship, waiting. He must have gotten his hair cut. His midnight hair was now regulation short instead of slightly shaggy as it had been yesterday. Short or longer, his hair set off his masculine beauty. The dimple in his cheek, absent now but always prevalent when he flirted with her, softened the edge his square jaw gave him. He looked more approachable before than he did now.

His eyes matched the color of the Earthen sky, before the nuclear implosion that destroyed the atmosphere. Though she was Earthen, she'd never been there but had seen history vids in her Cultural Earthen Anthropology classes.

Jak's height, as well as his broad shoulders and thick arms, could intimidate most people, but she knew deep inside, somehow, he would never hurt her. Even on his bad days.

Oh, well, time to get this party started. "Hey, Jak. Is the pilot here yet?" Lily dropped her duffel on the ground as she looked up at him.

Jak glared down at her. "Is that how you address a senior officer, Petty Officer?"

Looked like Jak was having a bad day. Great. For her, too.

Lily snapped into a quick salute. "Petty Officer Buchanan reporting for duty, sir."

After he acknowledged her salute, she stepped back and cast a wary eye at her senior officer. Ass.

Before he could reply, Lily felt a presence behind her. Heat radiated through her limbs and gathered in her belly as a voice whispered in her ear. "Glad you could make it, Flower."

Lily whirled around to see...Jak? Her attention ping-ponged from one Jak to the other. There were two?


 
Have a great weekend everyone!