The Road Between Past and Future

March 1, 2012
“Just because something is unknown does not necessarily mean it needs to be feared.” - Teyla Emmagan, Stargate Atlantis

As strange as it may sound coming from someone who writes contemporary romance, I’m a fan of most things sci-fi that paint a picture of a bright future. It’s simple, really. I’m a romantic!

“And so it begins.” - Kosh, Babylon 5

It all started with Star Trek. No, I’m not going to confess how young I was in 1966, but I will tell you my father wanted to watch Star Trek so we watched Star Trek. Every week. It broadened my thinking. I started to read science fiction and I fell in love with the genre.

“If we fail to anticipate the unforeseen or expect the unexpected in a universe of infinite possibilities, we may find ourselves at the mercy of anyone or anything that cannot be programmed, categorized or easily referenced.” – Mulder, X-Files

This love of sci-fi has been on my mind a lot lately. I’m working on the third installment of the Sundown series. In this story, my shapeshifter has to come clean about his people. Confessions will be in order, and Sundown doesn’t give up his secrets easily. And given the complexity of dealing with prying the secrets out of his alien Chal brain, it will take a while to finish the tale.

“Always in motion is the future.” – Yoda

Everyone is familiar with personal crossroads. Sometimes we see them in the distance and can prepare for them. Sometimes we run up on them so quickly we’re caught off-guard. I’ve come upon one and it surprised me. In order to keep my writing fresh, which road do I take? Who is to say I can’t explode different roads? Who’s to say you can’t? Isn’t it exciting to contemplate new things?

“I offer a toast: the undiscovered country – the future.” - the future (and late) Chancellor Gorkon of the Klingon Empire

If the future is our undiscovered country, then is the past our forgotten future? I always thought mapping my genealogy would be my retirement project, but the universe made it clear the time was now. To that end, I’ve connected with several cousins I didn’t know but who also work toward the common goal of discovering who we were that made us who we are. Finding those unknown people who made my past has added new colors to my future. They are blood strangers, but I will remember their names.

The world has once again expanded in unforeseen ways, and the little gems of wisdom spoken by characters in a future only imagined sparkle with new meaning.

KC Kendricks
website at: http://www.kckendricks.com/
blog: http://www.kckendricks.blogspot.com/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/kckendricks
mailing list at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/betweenthekeys

Can You Promote Your Book Too Much?

February 26, 2012

Today I welcome author Brenda Williamson to Between the Keys. I met Brenda a few years back and she's quite a lady. Warm, friendly, outgoing, talented and tough, Brenda juggles a full schedule that includes an adult son, a writing career, a business, a charming southern estate, and a four-year old nephew!

So when does she have time to write and promote? Keep reading! - KC


Can You Promote Your Book Too Much?

Apparently you can. At least when it comes to some readers. I happened upon a post thread on an obscure forum where a disscussion took place about spam. We all know what that is -- unwanted, annoying email. As I scanned the page, one word captured my attention- WRITER.

I found myself reading more of the thread and discovered there are readers that don't appreciate constant updates from writers, and they go as far as to say the spam from some writer's has totally turned them off from wanting to read those writer's books.

Key points they were against:

     1. Getting numerous emails from an author just because they are in the author's address book. So authors, if you are guilty of sending emails to every person you've ever had contact with, you may be losing readers.

      2. Signed up to Newsletters without permission.

          Authors, make sure you don't add anyone's email address to your newsletter list that hasn't asked. Double opt-in is the best way to go with through email services. Otherwise, if you're doing the adding, be sure to send them an email, reminding them why they are being signed up, ie contest entry, book giveaway, etc.

      3. Repeated posts on the same topic.

          In other words, don't keep posting the same excerpts and the same news on the same group more than once a week, or every week for months. Readers find that boring, annoying and time comsuming.

And now for a little promoting of my book!

A Wicked Wolf

by Brenda Williamson

ISBN: 9781603105590

Available from Red Sage Publishing

Blurb

Real Estate agent Randi Brown works the rich crowd, selling high-priced homes. With her parents dead it’s up to her to financially support two teenage siblings and she wants to spread her wings by negotiating a billion dollar land deal. Only the landowner, a business mogul no one has seen in years isn’t interested in selling his mountain to a development corporation, and Randi sets out to change his mind any way possible, even if that means sleeping with the reclusive billionaire.

After two years, since his wife’s brutal murder, Nicholas "Nick" Wolfe prefers to mourn her than get involved in business. So he lives cut off from society on Wolfe Mountain. Through his attorney, he’s offered billions, but no one knows to what extent the value of the land is more than the inhabitants—the Lycans, human wolf-like animal shifters.

When Randi shows up on the mountain one rainy night, Nick tires to fight the desires of the wolf in him to take a mate. Unfortunately, nature has made it impossible to resist the animalistic urges strengthened by the influence of a full moon and the power of lust in this woman’s eyes. Can love know no bounds?

Randi has no idea of where this torrid affair can lead until she learns the gruesome details of a woman’s murder by a creature not quite human. Then she becomes the next target and she discovers how falling in love can lead to a fatal attack from a Lycan.

Excerpt

For minutes, he lavished her with kisses. His mouth moved firmer against hers, and his body rubbed hers faster, more insistently. When he stopped, she dared to open her eyes.

He was looking up. She did too.

From the open crossbeams, dried herbs dangled from tied silk ribbons. He let go of her wrist and reached up. She should have lowered her arm, but to move meant to chance breaking the spell.

She watched him tug one ribbon, untying a cluster that fell to the floor. The clean scent of lavender burst from the bouquet. She stared at the other bundles. Had he collected them? They couldn’t be for cooking since his refrigerator was bare.

When J.R. looped and tied the ribbon around her wrist, he jerked her thoughts from the idyllic illusion of everything going smoothly in her business acquisition and her sexual encounter.

“What are you doing?” Her words rattled free.

With the yellow silk strip snug, he drew her arm to the side and fastened the opposite end to the cabinet door knob. As much as she enjoyed aggressively passionate sex in all positions, she’d never been into real bondage.

“I’m not sure I like being restrained.” She tipped her head back and watched him retrieve another ribbon.

“You will.” He tied a blue strip of silk to her free wrist and fastened it to another cabinet knob.

Now was the time to protest and fight the binds, or surrender. He leaned against her, sniffing at her neck, then licking it. She felt its throbbing vein pulsing rapidly against the stimulation. He had more control than she normally allowed a guy. He caressed her jaw with the back of his hand. Did she want him to stop? What would she give up?

His stare into her eyes suggested she’d miss out the hottest sex of her life. The smoldering lust was more than she could resist. There was no turning back—no buckling under to convention. His hypnotizing brown eyes had command over her, and she waited, a captive audience.

His gaze didn’t leave hers as he raised her shirt. She breathed harder, feeling the light touch of his hands running up her sides and over her breasts. He fingered her nipples, rolling them around with his thumbs. They stiffened and ached from the repeated pawing. Then he stopped and stroked her sides. Intense warmth spread, prickling her skin. Goosebumps dotted her arms and shoulders.

His quiet intensity fascinated her. With one hand controlling her Tee shirt, his other took a more serious possession of her left breast. He turned his hand over and brushed his knuckles against the tip. Then grasping it between a finger and his thumb, he pinched it. The fiery sting zinged her to her core.

A moan escaped her.

She closed her eyes and tipped her head back.

“More,” she begged, loving the way the pleasurable pain jarred her nerves.

And yet he didn’t give her what she wanted. Instead, he took his hands away, and the soft cotton of the shirt she wore slid down over her inflamed nipples.

He raised his arm and his fingers neared her face. She sensed regret in his light touch to her jaw. Turning her cheek to his palm, she pleaded with him to continue. “Don’t stop.”

He looked at her strangely, as if what she asked was unusual and daring. His eyes were flickering with other colors, reflections from somewhere in the room kept her spellbound. There she hung, bound to the cabinet doors, and all she wanted to think about was could he make her want him more?

His other hand took a place on the opposite side of her neck. He petted lightly over her pulse, beating beneath the skin. The slow strokes lulled her senses, calming her all over. She closed her eyes, enjoying the caress that moved into a massage of her shoulders. It felt good, relaxing. And then he grabbed the Tee shirt's frayed collar and ripped it down the front, jerking her whole body forward.

Shocked out of her false tranquility, her lashes flew up as she gasped. Mild alarm made her tense as she bounced against the counter from J.R.’s jerking to tear the shirt completely open. Her heart rate quickened. She breathed heavier, stunned by his sudden aggression. A dark edginess fringed his expression as he looked hungrily at her breasts.

She glanced down at her nipples, ruby spiked points jutting in eagerness. J.R.’s long fingers folded around her swollen flesh. He lifted one breast higher then the other as if he weighed each to be sure he had the heavier, more deserving one.

He bent down and licked her taut nipple. She watched his tongue swish and cool the burning flesh. In a frenzy of ecstatic joy, she rolled her head from side to side against the cabinet with whispered moans for more. She arched, shoving her chest toward him. His bathing licks and suckling lips were the sweetest kind of torture. The coarseness of his tongue abraded her flesh, heating every sensitive nerve in her. The cut of his teeth when he nipped the tender tip of her breast came close to making her scream. His withdrawal left her unharmed. Then he did it all again. His mouth swung away sooner than she expected, faster than she wanted, and a frustrated whine slipped out of her. She wanted the moment to last forever.

His kisses journeyed along her collarbone and swept up the side of her neck. “You taste good.” His words whispered around her ear. “I want to devour every inch of you.”

“Yes.” She panted, encouraging him by repeating her total agreement. “Yes, every inch.”

He cupped her jaw and turned her head. His lips crept along. She twisted to catch his kiss on her mouth. Oddly, he avoided the place she desired to feel his tantalizing breath.

His hands left her body without warning. He pulled a red handkerchief from his back pocket and spun it several times folding it to a strip. She drew back as he lifted it to her eyes.

“Is that for me?” she asked, not sure how far she wanted to let him dominate her.

A wicked grin was his only answer.

This wasn’t a position she should be in with a stranger and she debated telling him. No, she didn’t want to play this game. The words stayed on the tip of her tongue as he leaned against her to tie the blindfold around her head. His hard body pressed hers, and she lost focus on her concerns. Her breasts flattened against him. She whimpered. Desire to have mind-blowing sex overpowered reason.

Then the blindfold went on. She wasn’t sure how to handle the unsettling mix of apprehension and anticipation, but she felt another burst of fear. He was a stranger and she was giving him total control.

________________

Brenda Williamson
~ Seductive in Any Era ~

New Countertops in the Twilight Zone

February 19, 2012

Do you remember the old Golden Earring song, “Twilight Zone?” Yeah, yeah, I’m that old and twelve thousand other authors just scurried off to write a story based on the lyrics, but I digress. There’s one line in the song that certainly applies to my life at the moment.

“Help, I’m stepping into the twilight zone…”

Tomorrow, if all goes well, new countertops will be installed in my kitchen. I’ve looked at the old ones for thirty years and I’m due. No, no, I’m not THAT old. I got a head start on home ownership while in my early twenties when my grandparents gifted me with three acres of ground, but I digress again.

Once I’d allowed myself to be convinced I deserved to spend that kind of money on a whim, the project moved forward rather quickly. My partner knows I’m frugal to a fault and that if he really wanted to pry several thousand dollars out of my accounts, he’d have to bleed, too. He handed me a check (that I know had to give him a bit of a twinge) and off we went to look at options. Formica, quartz, marble, soapstone, concrete, granite, the stuff with the ground glass in it, real butcher block, stainless steel. We settled on granite.

“Help, I’m stepping into the twilight zone…”

If you ever decide to get new countertops there are a few words you should avoid - “We’ll do the demo ourselves.”

To save about five hundred dollars, we decided to rip out and dispose of the old countertops ourselves. And so the work did commence. The first to go was small space of counter my beloved uses as his desk space. It wasn’t too difficult but wait…. His computer is on the floor in a corner of the living room. He’s using my computer to check his email. He’s touching MY computer. He’s picking up things on MY desk and asking me what the hell they are. Such is the magnitude of my mistake - we’ll do the demo ourselves.

So here we are on Sunday morning and the cooktop is on the potting bench - outside. The oven is on a piece of ply board on the dining room table. There is no kitchen sink. The dishwasher is sitting on plastic in the dining room. Who set the bomb off in my house?

And the coffee brewer? The Cuisinart is in the bathroom. And if you think about that for just a moment, you’ll understand the real twilight zone moment.

I’ll leave you with a little commentary from my cat. Yesterday, he decided to check out the action for himself and found his favorite observation spot had gone missing. He’s a famous cover model, you know, having posed for the cover of A Cat Named Hercules.

This morning he’s in the bathroom, glaring at the coffee maker. I understand. I want my home back in order, too.

“The sun’ll come up…tomorrow….”

KC Kendricks
website at: http://www.kckendricks.com

blog: http://www.kckendricks.blogspot.com

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/kckendricks

mailing list at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/betweenthekeys

Eye of the Beholder

February 12, 2012
Latest release! 

EYE OF THE BEHOLDER
Contemporary gay romance
https://kckendricks.blogspot.com/p/eye-of-beholder-by-kc-kendricks.html

Eye of the Beholder is now available at
Amazon, Barnes and Noble, iTunes/Apple, Kobo
and other online booksellers

Some neighbors share more than others...

Andy Madison is city born and bred. Filling in for a friend at a coffee shop, Andy meets Ben Hardin and sparks fly. They spend a long, lazy Sunday afternoon together to get to know each other, and when they decide to let nature take its course, they go to Ben’s cozy apartment.

Ben’s taking his time becoming acclimated to his new life in the big city. He’s got a great job he loves, he’s making new friends, and his starter apartment has the most incredible views a young man could dream of. Ben’s discovered there’s more to admire than the arts, music and architecture. All he has to do is look out his window and across the narrow alley.

Andy thinks he’s seen it all living in the Big Apple, but what he spies through Ben’s window is something that can only be enjoyed by the eye of the beholder...

INTRO:

I'd chosen to sleep on the side of the bed beside the one and only window in the apartment. It might have made a different decision if the window faced east, but it didn't. I peered out through the streaky glass at the glow of the city lights and wondered if I'd someday make enough money to have a real view. The surprising, and scary, answer to that musing was I actually might. My employer recognized my talent.

I was just about to tuck my toes under the sheet when for no real reason a movement on the other side of the narrow alley drew my attention. I yawned as the lights in the apartment across the way and down a story went out. The lower half of the window rose about six to eight inches and a pair of male hands set a block to keep it from falling closed. The hands, now unseen, pushed the sheer curtains apart to allow what little breeze stirred this night entrance to his room. Naked, he flopped down on his bed, his back arched as he stretched his arms over his head.

Why I didn't crawl between the sheets and go to sleep will forever remain a mystery. I never aspired to be a peeping Tommy. I might watch a little gay porn now and again, but what poor deprived country boy hadn't resorted to the joys of the Internet to get by until they could find a real man? That didn't make me a pervert. Unlike a few of the tricks I'd had since arriving in lower Manhattan, I didn't even like to have sex in public places. But in the blink of an eye I became a voyeur.


EXCERPT:

...Andy was sorta cute. I could invite him to a movie this afternoon and see what he said. It was one sure way to find out which team he batted for. “When do you get off, Andy?”

A smile played at his lips as he cocked his head to the left and raised his eyebrow. “Usually about midnight every night, one way or the other.”

I bet I looked stupid with my mouth hanging open. A wide grin split his face, then he laughed, a low, happy sound that said he was pleased to have rendered me speechless. Andy sobered, at least a little.

“Are you attempting to ask me out?”

I gripped my coffee cup for dear life as I gathered my wits. “I’m not sure now. I think you might need to go home and get some sleep.”

He leaned forward and brushed his knuckles across mine. “I don’t like to sleep alone, Ben.”

The smooth, silky way he said my name made me shiver, but I’m sure he intended that I would. Heart thudding unevenly in my chest, I met his gaze.

“Me neither, Andy, and I happen to be free around midnight.” I didn’t add that if we went to my place I’d make damn sure my curtains were safety-pinned closed.

He leaned forward again. “Tell you what. Give me your cell phone number and I’ll call you when my shift is finally over.”

“That’ll work. We can figure out what happens between now and midnight then.”

Andy smiled and shoved the rest of his muffin in his mouth as another customer hustled in out of the rain.

“Be right with you,” he called out as he stood. “I don’t know how long I’ll be, but I’ll call. Swear.”

“I need to head home to make myself all sexy, so you do what you have to do.”

He flashed me a parting grin and slipped behind the counter, then schmoozed with the new arrival. It was in my mind to wait a while before leaving, but the rain suddenly eased. Within minutes, the coffee shop was full of people. I cleared the little table and made a strategic exit. I saw no point in trying to distract him from his work just to say goodbye. A certain level of maturity was called for in these situations, or so I told myself.

On the other hand, I had a hookup for today that had a lot of potential. Andy was a friendly, charming fellow. Maybe I’d end up with a fuck buddy, which would be fine with me. What lonely fellow on his own in the big, bad city couldn’t use one of those from time-to-time?

As predicted, the rain kicked the humidity up yet another notch. Everything from the streetlights to the trees to building canopies dripped, but my trusty umbrella kept my newspaper dry. The apartment was stifling when I opened the door, but then the air conditioning cycled on. I toed off my shoes and settled at the table to finish my almost cold coffee and leaf through the paper. If Andy did call, I didn’t want to spend the entire day in bed.

Unless, of course, he could get it up more times in an afternoon than I was capable of doing. That would be a game changer, not to mention it would impress the hell out of me.

The paper yielded a few possible activities. I circled them, put on a fresh pot of coffee, and took a fast shower. It was almost eleven o’clock when Andy finally called. He wanted to dash home for a shower and suggested we meet at the Port Authority Bus Terminal on 42nd Street at one o’clock.

There was a movie he wanted to see, his treat, then we could get an early dinner, nothing fancy, my treat. After that, we’d see how the evening shaped up. It sounded like a perfect afternoon, and I quickly agreed.

It didn’t take long for me to get nervous. I liked Andy and I didn’t want to screw up a simple date, but what if he was the clingy sort? I wasn’t looking for forever, just a good time tonight. If I got a different vibe from him, I’d have to make my intentions clear without hurting his feelings.

Nothing like getting ahead of myself. Jeez. And to keep from doing it again, I decided to wear a white T-shirt and jeans. Simple, yet sexy, with the message today was about fun.

Or maybe something else was already in the cards.

Andy greeted me with a kiss...


*_*_*_*

Eye of the Beholder is now available at
Amazon, Barnes and Noble, iTunes/Apple, Kobo
and other online booksellers


EYE OF THE BEHOLDER
Contemporary gay romance
https://kckendricks.blogspot.com/p/eye-of-beholder-by-kc-kendricks.html

KC Kendricks
My home on the web- Between the Keys: http://kckendricks.blogspot.com
twitter.com/kckendricks
facebook.com/kckendricks
pinterest.com/kckendricks/boards
instagram.com/kc_kendricks
My country life at Holly Tree Manor

Many Sundry Things

Sunday
January 29, 2012

Some quipster once said, "It's not the speed of life that scares me...it's the sudden stop at the end."

Aye. Right. It's the speed of life! I swear I jinxed myself by declaring my intention to cut back on my workload. It's not happening and I feel like a hamster on a wheel. It might not be that bad in real life, but it FEELS that way.

Let's see. What's been going on in my world....

I'm on Brenda Williamson's An Eclectic Author blog today with A Cat Named Hercules. I'll be Brenda's guest blogger with a regular bi-monthly slot on the 29th of the month.

Have you signed up for the 2012 A to Z Blogging Challenge yet? I have. This is not the cakewalk you might think. Twenty-six blogs in thirty days on topics that follow the alphabet. Many will begin, few will finish. Are you one of the elite?

FINISHED!! The manuscript of Leather Jackets is finished. Now it gets a few passes to check for typos and continuity, then it will be time to fill out the publisher forms and send it all in. And let me just add it's done well ahead of my March 1, 2012 deadline, so I want an "atta girl," please. If you've read A Cat Named Hercules, you should be able to figure out who this story is about as this is number six in the Men of Marionville series. The series is going on hiatus after Leather Jackets so I can finish up some other projects, including the next Sundown story.

Work on my family tree is going well. I connected with a [distant] cousin and she's great. It's been fun. I've been turned on to a website called "Find A Grave." Lot's of info there. My partner and I have new destinations when we simply want to get out of the house for an hour or two - cemeteries.

Next weekend, Eye of the Beholder goes live. Yes, it's a little soon after A Cat Named Hercules, and it's my fault. I turned it in to the scheduling guru too soon. I should have waited until the day Herc went on sale. I mean, I don't even have the page on my website done so you can check it out. Bad KC. But you and check out what I have here. Eye of the Beholder is something different for me - a short piece of only 11K words. Short, smutty and fun to write.

It's Hammer time! I got a new blue urethane Hammer. That's a bowling ball for those of you who don't bowl. For those of you who do, I had to move my feet and my target five boards left. This ball can snap on the back end if you get the right speed on it. You've been warned.

So there it is. The last couple of weeks in a nutshell. One month of the New Year has [all but] passed. Amazing.

Until next time..


**Update**

Eye of the Beholder is now available at
Amazon, Barnes and Noble, iTunes/Apple, Kobo
and other online booksellers

KC Kendricks

My home on the web- Between the Keys: http://kckendricks.blogspot.com

twitter.com/kckendricks

facebook.com/kckendricks

pinterest.com/kckendricks/boards

instagram.com/kc_kendricks

My country life at Holly Tree Manor

Nathan's Angel by Melissa Bradley

There's no doubt writing is a solitary endeavor, but every once in a while you meet someone part pixie, part genius and all energy - a.k.a. Melissa Bradley. Here's an excerpt from her latest release, Nathan's Angel. -KC
- - - -

What could be sexier than a werewolf and an angel? Here's a little taste of my very first m/m erotic romance, Nathan's Angel. Enjoy!

Sometimes, the laws of Heaven were meant to be broken…

When his soul mate is stolen from Paradise and reincarnated, Ramiel, angel of death and transformation, defies Celestial Law to find out why. As punishment for his crime, he is banished to Earth in human form without his powers. His only hope lies in recovering the grace he lost in his fall from the Divine Realm…

Nathan, a beta werewolf, knows all too well what it’s like to be vulnerable and at the mercy of unfair people and situations. He is considered weak in the eyes of the alphas of his pack. Ramiel literally falling into his life changes him. Determined to help the sexy angel, he takes charge of the situation and to his surprise, begins to exhibit some rather alpha behavior…

As they search, a white hot, forbidden fire ignites between them, an inferno that sets them ablaze, fusing them body and mind. A passion that makes them question everything they’ve ever known. But when Ramiel’s grace is found, will they have the strength to let each other go?

Excerpt

The angel stiffened and bowed his head. “I do not know what overcame me. I am weakened and in a form I have not taken in millennia. I have no control, I…” He trailed off, exhaling sharply.

Nathan tugged at Ramiel until the angel turned to face him. “No matter what you are, you’re human now and close quarters plus attraction equals lust, desire, whatever you want to call it. Trust me. I’m half human and half animal, if anyone can understand, it’s me. ‘Your reaction was quite understandable.’” A half smile quirked the side of Ramiel’s mouth as Nathan repeated the angel’s own words back to him. Apparently not all humor was lost on the angel, then.

He stared at Nathan through the gold silk of his bangs and Nathan’s chest went tight. Without thought, he reached up to palm Ramiel’s cheeks. The lost look in his eyes hit Nathan deep and he was overwhelmed with the desire to kiss him, to ease the loneliness Ramiel must surely be feeling, exiled from his own kind. He raised up, tilting his head…

Ramiel’s mouth crashed onto his, a hungry, elemental force that caught him by surprise. Pent-up need emanated from Ramiel and Nathan speared his fingers through Ramiel’s hair, dragging the angel deeper into the kiss, letting him know it was all right, that he could take whatever Ramiel had to give.

With a low growl, Ramiel hauled Nathan tight against his big body, his hands grabbing Nathan’s ass. Ramiel’s tongue licked along Nathan’s lips, then plunged deep inside, stroking and twining with Nathan’s.

Ramiel’s taste was a wild kaleidoscope of flavor. Spicy and sweet with a hint of the meaty burger he had just eaten. It teased at the back of Nathan’s mind, a long forgotten treasure rediscovered. Pleasure overrode any more coherent thought like a tsunami and Nathan was swept up in its wake, drowning in sensation. His erection pulsed behind his zipper, a primitive, throbbing heat that tightened his balls.

Nathan wanted nothing more than to be skin to skin with Ramiel, exploring every plane and hollow of him. He needed to be closer, with no barrier between them.

Ramiel groaned, stumbled and the two of them nearly toppled over. Nathan clutched him, balanced on his feet and averted disaster. He locked eyes with Ramiel, their breath coming in rough gasps, and noted the pallor of the angel’s skin beneath the sex flush.

“Come on. I think we need to get you into bed for some serious rest.”

Ramiel stroked a finger along Nathan’s jaw, with a banked fire in the silvery depths of his eyes. Nathan regretted saying a thing.

"I have no desire to sleep. I prefer very much to continue what has begun.”

Nathan's Angel Links

Amber Allure

Amazon

Melissa Bradley

Melissa's Imaginarium

Facebook

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Just released! A Cat Named Hercules by KC Kendricks

January 14, 2012

A CAT NAMED HERCULES
Book five in the Men of Marionville series

Now available at Amazon, iTunes, Barnes and Noble, Kobo and other online book sellers

New in town, Shiloh Rudy joins a group of civic-minded volunteers to better acquaint himself with his recently adopted community. It’s a good way to make friends, network, and help make a difference, not to mention perhaps meet someone interesting—in a romantic sort of way. The one thing Shiloh didn’t expect was a love to rival all others to come with four white paws.

Gale Widmyer is on his feet and moving forward after piecing his life back together following a series of wrong choices. The one bright spot in his existence, even in his darkest moments, was the fulfillment of his dream to become a veterinarian. Gale’s making good on a promise to himself when an abandoned kitten leads him to Shiloh Rudy and a chance at the happiness he never hoped to have.

Laying the cornerstone for a developing relationship comes easy for Shiloh and Gale. But the wounds of the past often remain unhealed at their deepest point. A few careless words erect a wall of silence between the two men, one Shiloh has to breach if he hopes to win Gale back. But it will take more than apologies to win Gale’s forgiveness and put old fears to rest. It’ll take a cat named Hercules...

INTRO:

…The abrupt weaning I understood, but the other? Who would do that to such a helpless creature? “Then I’m keeping him.”

“In that case, your kitten has fleas, ear mites, and a touch of conjunctivitis. He’s also under nourished and almost surely has worms.”

My heart pounded as I snatched the kitten from Galen’s hands and tucked him safely against my chest. “Is he going to die?”

Galen pushed his sunglasses up to rest on top of his head and grinned at me. I fell into his gorgeous hazel eyes as he stared into my sky blue orbs with open curiosity. Damn, the man had long eyelashes.

“He’ll be fine. Do you think we can finish our chores here this morning, or do we need to go straight to my clinic so I can treat him and fix you up with what you need?” He poked the kitten’s paw and those tiny, wicked claws popped out again. “You’re in for a real treat with this little guy.”

I’d go anywhere he asked me to go, but I didn’t want to appear too eager. “Oh? Why is that?”

“They call cats with these black and white markings a ‘tuxedo’ because, obviously, they look like they’re wearing one. This fellow has the added bonus of white ‘gloves.’ Tuxedos tend to have a lot of personality.” Galen squeezed my elbow. I thought his hand lingered a moment too long, but perhaps it was just wishful thinking.

“C’mon. I’ll tell the other work crew they’ll have to finish pulling up these bricks and we’ll go to the clinic.”

“Thanks, man. I owe you.”

I knew I was in two kinds of trouble when he nodded and grinned. “I’m afraid you will…”


EXCERPT

...Gale opened his front door and moved back so I could step inside. Complimenting his choice of attire required breathing, and he’d knocked the air right out of me. Black slacks, a maroon-and-black long sleeved knit shirt in a classic argyle pattern, and loafers had never affected me like this before. I managed to speak the inane phrase.

“Wow. You look great.”

He smiled at me as he closed the door. “Thanks. So do you.”

Gale reached for me, then stopped. I hated to see his uncertainty. It was more proof he needed to do some living before he got serious about anyone, including me. I smiled and closed the distance between us, slipping my arms around his waist. Our lower bodies touched, then he leaned into me. His lips opened as my mouth covered his, and I tasted the cinnamon freshness of chewing gum recently disposed of. He pulled away.

“What? You’re grinning.”

“I am. I just learned what gum you like.”

He rolled his eyes. “You’re a little nuts, aren’t you?”

I was nuts about him, but I couldn’t say the words aloud. “I’m no more crazy than the next guy.” I kissed him again, enjoying the connection between us.

Gale deepened the kiss and my body responded with a delicious jolt of arousal that sent heat all the way to my toes. My cock swelled, eager to convince to me to forget dinner and go hungry this evening. Gale rested his forehead on my shoulder.

“I could get all stupid and say we should forget dinner and just go to bed.”

I ran my hands over his back, feeling the lines and planes of the lean body under the soft shirt. Was he hard, too? I cupped his ass to steady him and pressed my pelvis tightly to his.

“We’re at the same level of ‘stupid,’ but we’ve got to eat.” I squeezed his butt. “Don’t we?”

His stomach rumbled, and we laughed. I loved being able to laugh with him. He kissed me with those cinnamon-flavored lips again, then released me. “I am hungry, Shiloh. Let me get a jacket.”

“We have time for a quickie, you know.” Damn. I shouldn’t have said that. The sharp interest in his shining gaze was total agreement. He grabbed my hand and dragged me toward the oak stairs.

“Nice place you have here.”

“Don’t try and change the subject. Remember, I’ve been deprived. I have to make up for lost time.”

I barely noticed his bedroom. We’d both dressed for each other with such care and now clothing flew in all directions. His hands brushed across my chest, cool with excitement, then he turned away. Gale yanked the bedspread down and jerked open a drawer in the large bookcase headboard and tossed condoms and lube onto the pale blue sheet. I grabbed his hips and bumped my pelvis to his ass.

“No time for that.” I planted my left knee on the bed, held on tight to him, and rolled us onto the mattress. “Hand job. Then we get some food into us so we can come back and do it better.”

He grunted as he broke free of my grasp and crawled up to the pillows. “I guess we can leave our socks on, huh?”

“Yep.” I knelt over him. Gale laughed and caressed the inside of my thighs. I shivered, but not with cold. My sac tingled and drew tight to my body as he cupped it.

“Tell me you don’t plan to shoot all over me again.”

I grinned and flopped down beside him. “Not tonight, at least.”

“What do you plan to do to me?” He shifted to face me.

I rolled onto my side and fisted his hard dick.

“Just this right now...”


A CAT NAMED HERCULES
Book Five in the Men of Marionville Series

Now available at Amazon, iTunes, Barnes and Noble, Kobo and other online book sellers

KC Kendricks

My home on the web- Between the Keys: 

http://kckendricks.blogspot.com

Visit my bookshelf at: 

https://kckendricks.blogspot.com/p/the-bookshelf-of-kc-kendricks-and-rayne.html

Social media links:

twitter.com/kckendricks

facebook.com/kckendricks

pinterest.com/kckendricks/boards

instagram.com/kc_kendricks

My country life at Holly Tree Manor: hollytreemanor.blogspot.com

Life through the eyes of Greenbrier Smokey Deuce: deucesday.blogspot.com

Starting the New Year by Tossing it Out A-Z with Arlee Bird

January 1, 2012

I like to attack the new year not as a time to take charge of life's little annoying foibles and vow to do better, but as the time to brush off the so-called "failures" and move forward on the successes. I'm off to a flying start with a guest blogger appearance on Arlee Bird's Blogging from A to Z Challenge Blog. I completed the 2011 A-Z Challenge and I'm looking forward to 2012.

If you're a writer, and yes, bloggers are writers, too, then think about accepting the 2012 challenge. Meet the call.

* * * * *

This New Year finds me delving into my family tree. It's been interesting to gather confirmation of connections my grandmother spoke of so many years ago. I wonder why I waited so long to do this, but I know the answer. As with all things, the right season in my life had to arrive.

When I opened my calendar this morning, Nickelback greeted me with Bottom's Up. Ha! I behaved last night and didn't need the little jab at myself in case of morning after lethargy. We stayed home last night, sharing a bottle of wine over Cowboys and Aliens. And speaking of wine, I've added a page to my website about wine. I'm sure true wine connoisseurs will laugh like hyenas over my choices, but I need to keep track of what I like somehow. It's a work in progress.

But back to the calendar. January is blessedly - and purposefully - empty of a lot of activities. (I just had the thought I should fill this paragraph with a bunch of "ly" words in case my editor should read it - but I most assuredly won't.) I have a deadline to meet, and January is reserved for some serious writing time. January is finally "Justified" month, too. For all you fellow Raylan fans, January 17th is the season three blast off.

Growing up, my life didn't lack traditions, but one tradition my family missed the New Year's Day meal. Maybe after all the Christmas festivities, my grandmother, mother, and aunts were too tired to even think about another gathering. Who knows? It was different in my partner's family and to that end we're fixing dinner again today. Maybe I need a recipe page on my website, too. I've got a lot of extra space to use. I'll have to think about that (says the one who tries to avoid cooking).

It's time to wrap it up and get on with the day. Taking the Christmas tree down on New Year's Day is a family tradition I need to keep this year. I've often left my tree up through Epiphany, but this year it needs to come down today. I need to restore order in my home and get back to writing.

Darn...that almost sounds like a new year's resolution.

KC Kendricks
website at: http://www.kckendricks.com
blog: http://www.kckendricks.blogspot.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/kckendricks
mailing list at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/betweenthekeys
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1989106.K_C_Kendricks
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/people/Kc-Kendricks/1439574042
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/kckendricks

A Cat Named Hercules - new cover!!

December 28, 2011

It's new cover time!!

Look for A Cat Named Hercules on January 15, 2012.


** update**
A Cat Named Hercules
Book five in the Men of Marionville series

Now available at Amazon, iTunes, Barnes and Noble, Kobo and other online book sellers. 

Mistletoe Blog Hop round up

Congratulations to Gena, winner of a .pdf copy of A Hard Habit to Break.

Once again, thanks to everyone who participated. You're invited to join my new release announcement mailing list at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/betweenthekeys.

Merry Christmas!

Blog Hop contest is closed

Thanks to everyone who participated in the Mistletoe Blog Hop! My individual contest is now closed and participant comments hidden for privacy.

Mistletoe Blog Hop!

December 16, 2011

UPDATE: BLOG HOP IS CLOSED

It's time for the Mistletoe Blog Hop to begin!

It's easy - just visit all the blogs and enter the individual contests, and then visit PJ Schnyder's page to enter for the grand prize - a loaded Nook.

To enter my individual contest for a .pdf copy of A Hard Habit to Break, just comment on the blog under this entry. One winner will be selected after the blog hop ends on December 23, 2011.

To enter the drawing for the grand prize (US only) go tohttp://pjschnyder.com/blog/contests/ and click on the entry link. The list of authors giving books for the grand prize is at the end of this blog.

Oh, and don't forget to go down the list and click "like" on Between the Keys. It won't get you a prize, but it will sure make me feel good!

Grand Prize offerings on the Nook (US only):
A Brush of Darkness -Allison Pang (WINNER MUST DOWNLOAD THROUGH ADOBE DIGITAL EDITIONS)
A Hard Habit to Break - KC Kendricks
Angel in the Middle - Marie Dees
Betting on Hope - Kay Keppler
Blood of the Maple - Dana Marie Bell
Cry Wolf - Angela Campbell
Dearly Departed - Lia Habel
Entanglements - PR Mason
Eris - D. Renee Bagby
Golden - Joely Sue Burkhart
Grey's Lady - Natasha Blackthorne
Her Dark Knight - Sharon Cullen
Hunting Kat - PJ Schnyder
Knight of Runes - Ruth A. Casie
Leading Her To Heaven - Kayleigh Jamison
Love on Cloud Nine - Linda Andrews
Lust on the Rocks - Dianne Venetta
Men of the Sea Anthology - Eliza Knight
Murdering Eve - Kelly Lee
Redaction - Linda Andrews
Relearning the Ropes - DC Juris
Risking Trust - Adrienne Giordano
Shadows & Dust - Yvonne Nicolas
Sloane Wolf - Margay Leah Justice
Snowy Encounters - Clarissa Yip
Soul Catcher - Vivi Dumas
The Alchemist's Perfect Instrument - AL Davroe
The Demon He Knows - RA Vaughn
The Fallen Queen - Jane Kindred
The Knife's Edge - Stephanie Draven
Underdead - Liz Jasper
What Not To Fear - Robert C. Roman
White Hot Christmas: Santa's Claws - Stephanie Burke

And here's the fine print for my individual contest:
- Prize is as stated. No prize substitutions or exchanges and all winners are final.
- Entering this contest constitutes agreement to all rules stated in this post.
- Rules are subject to change without notification or reason given.
- Contest begins December 16, 2011, and ends December 23, 2011, EST.
- Void where prohibited. No purchase necessary. Must be 18 or older to win.
- Chances of winning varies based on number of entries.

KC Kendricks

My home on the web- Between the Keys: 

http://kckendricks.blogspot.com

Visit my bookshelf at: 

https://kckendricks.blogspot.com/p/the-bookshelf-of-kc-kendricks-and-rayne.html

Social media links:

twitter.com/kckendricks

facebook.com/kckendricks

pinterest.com/kckendricks/boards

instagram.com/kc_kendricks

My country life at Holly Tree Manor: hollytreemanor.blogspot.com

Life through the eyes of Greenbrier Smokey Deuce: deucesday.blogspot.com

Is it Friday yet?

December 15, 2011

Starting tomorrow, I'll be participating in my first blog hop - the Mistletoe Madness Blog Hop with about 50 other bloggers/authors. 

On Friday, as soon as the gods of day jobs allow, I'll post what I'm giving away and how you can enter to win it. PLUS, go to PJ Schnyder's site at http://pjschnyder.com/blog/contests to enter to win the grand prize - a nook preloaded with books from some of the participating authors (US only). 

The Mistletoe Blog Hop runs from December 16-23, 2011.


So check back tomorrow. You might get a good chuckle if the Linky Link thingee doesn't work right for me.

KC

Thoughts of the Day

December 13, 2011

I confess I have what I hope is merely a “healthy” curiosity about the news headlines. I’d hate to have to admit to obsession, but sometimes I wonder. Take yesterday, for example. I learned Katie Couric is single again (there are worse fates), that jewelry you’ve seen advertised on TV is a poor Christmas gift (get the he$$ outta town!), and finally, something really interesting, a TV station in New York, in a seventeen second loop, aired the first broadcast of the Yule Log burning in the hearth in 1966.


Okay - so I have the Yule Log DVD and I run it while I’m reading in the sunroom during this time of the year. It’s hokey, but I like it.


If you’re wondering what all that has to do with writing, let me confess that everything in my life revolves around writing. I’m a writer. Life is given to me so I can put it in a book. And I never know when some tidbit from the life will work its way into a book. Everything is relevant in one way or another.


I’m hardly unique in that. To be a writer, a person needs to have an active curiosity about many things. I think being able to maintain that curiosity as we age is important to our overall health. But beyond that, the writer has the ability to see a single item from different perspectives and blend those perspectives into one cohesive whole. It becomes an interesting gift to be given.


With Christmas almost upon us, I’ve been pondering my gift giving habits. My family and friends have been very blessed, but who doesn’t worry about the future in these trying times? Everyone I talk with confesses to less lavish spending during this holiday season and more giving to those organizations that reach out to those in need. We are among them, although there is the occasional trinket when we see something we know another will truly appreciate.


And to my partner: I’ll appreciate jewelry, especially pearls, advertised on television or not, anytime of the year.


KC
http://www.kckendricks.com

The Cowboy Obsession by Sineth Killiri

Today I'm happy to have Sineth Killiri here at Between the Keys. The Cowboy Obsession is Sineth's first release. Check out those pictures! - KC

 

While the word, cowboy was first used in England to refer to boys (or men) that tended cows, it was brought to America during the American Revolutionary War as a term the revolutionary patriots used for pro-British raiders who snuck around rattling a cow-bell to lure them into the brush searching for cows. Then, after the American Civil War the term grew widespread in the American West during cattle drives, and has remained a steadfast reference to the hardworking men of those times.

But what of today’s cowboys? Sure, there’s the ol’ Wild West ones, with their Western attire, big hats, and those six-shooters strapped to their strong thighs. We read about their exploits wishing we were there, so they’ll always have that timeless appeal of the untouchable past. And while we use that bygone era to dream about their prowess and fanaticize about their passion, we let them evolve.

Today the cowboy may have turned his Stetson into a ball cap, and his clothing gone plaid instead of blue or red flannel, and his pants are denim instead of canvas, but our view of a cowboy is still carrying a powerful weapon—rugged sex appeal.

So who’s my cowboy in my first Gay Romance?

Eric McCaffrey, a cattle and horse rancher, and the town mayor of Puritan, Texas. Strong and handsome, he catches the eye of woman and men alike.

Cowboy Obsession

Librarian Braden Hollace wasn’t open about being gay in a small Texas town, so whenever he saw the gorgeous cowboy across the street from the library, he refused to approach him and shatter his fantasy about the man. Instead, he put his focus on stopping the town council from banning gay literature.

Mayor and handsome, irresistible rancher Eric McCaffrey kept his sexual preferences to himself. He devoted his time to things he found important, and the impending literature ban wasn’t on his list. And he told that very thing to the librarian who called him to protest.

But when Braden and Eric hook up at a nightclub in the city, they never imagined their night of passionate sex could turn into an affair of the heart...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Excerpt

Braden tipped back his head and effortlessly downed half his bottle of beer.

Eric watched, imagining Braden's throat muscles working against his cock, squeezing and releasing, swallowing every drop of his discharge. He put his hand against his crotch and adjusted his denims to accommodate his growing erection.

Blindly, Braden placed his bottle on the bar, eyeing him with a grin, obviously aware of his physical discomfort. "Ready?" he asked, his smile widening.

"Oh, yeah." Eric led the way.

Someone bumped into them as they headed for the door. Braden touched his back and excitement corkscrewed into the pit of his stomach. He focused on that sensation as a reminder that this one-night hookup was just for a good fuck, nothing more. He didn't have room in his life for a relationship--that's why he drove all the way to Houston.

They crossed the dark parking lot to his silver Ford pickup truck. "This is mine."

"Nice." Braden walked over to it and ran his hand over the shiny clean fender, stroking it gently, showing true appreciation for the big dual wheel vehicle.

He wanted that expression when Braden's fingers wrapped his cock. "Where are you parked?" Eric asked.

"My date took my ride."

"Oh? You have a disagreement or something?" Eric leaned on the truck, worried this night might not go as anticipated.

"Or something." Braden turned to him and placed a hand on his chest.

Eric didn't let the moment pass. He grabbed Braden's head and pulled him forward. He planted his mouth over his and kissed him hard. Equally aggressive, Braden pushed Eric back against the truck, his body pressed tight, his hands a flurry of strokes at his sides.

Eric flung his hat back into the truck bed. Then he drove his fingers into Braden's soft brown hair, twisting strands for control of his head. Yet, as much as he wanted to take control, Braden had the power with his solid frame sandwiching Eric against the truck and his grinding hips pressing tight enough for Eric to feel the bulge of his erection.

Eric couldn't believe how pent up his emotions had been until that moment. The kiss was wonderful, exhilarating, the most satisfying he had ever known. He pulled Braden's head back and stared into his lust-filled gaze.

"I want to fuck you, cowboy," Braden told him with a raspy, hurried breath.

"Then I suggest we get going to my hotel." Eric released his grip on Braden's locks.

Braden stepped back and wiped a hand over his mouth. "Good idea."

The glistening traces of their kiss vanished from Braden's lips. Eric righted himself. His heart pounded furiously behind his ribcage. He couldn't recall anyone having such a profound effect on his senses before. That made him nervous, and that, too, was an emotion he hadn't experienced much.

Eric reached in the truck bed and retrieved his hat. He set it on his head, moved to the driver door, unlocked it and then unlocked the passenger door. They got in. He looked over at Braden's handsome profile. Still in disbelief of his rampaging desires, Eric tried to pass off his turbulent emotions as a lustful infatuation with a gorgeous man. He'd fallen in that trap before, so there was no reason to think about love. Eric had come looking for a hook-up and found one. Tonight was nothing more than that.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Available at Amber Quill Press.


When we see the progression of cowboys, working in the once lowly, dirty job, how do you think they became sex symbols? Was it books, movies, or is history in general romanticized?
Sineth

http://www.sinethkilliri.com/

Also writing as Brenda Williamson