Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Cover Reveal: The Subject Was Rose

I am so proud to reveal my latest cover by the talented Les Byerley, The Subject Was Rose.

 
When you see the sinspirational photos I emailed Les you will see that he was spot on with at least one of the models.
 
For the billionaire cattle rancher Dom, Drake Stinson, I was sinspired by this gorgeous model, Stephen Ritts:
 
 
I've never used a model before as sinspiration.  I've always used actors because I like to see them walk, talk, move around.  I think Les's model is right on target.
 
The heroine was based on Georgia King, a Scottish actress who briefly appeared this year in The New Normal.  I actually liked that show before it was cancelled.  I must have the worst taste in shows because every one I like gets cancelled.  Every one I'm "meh" about gets renewed.  I just noticed the guy next to Georgia looks sort of Like Jeffrey Dahmer, serial killer.  I think it's her fiancĂ©.
 
 
Then the beta hero, the interior designer Jesse Factor.  I gave him blue-green eyes and made him 1/4th black, 1/4th Cherokee, and 1/2 Dutch.  I think that pretty well describes Jesse Williams, Dr. Avery from Grey's Anatomy:
 
 
I think Dr. Avery is the only decent "noob" on that show.  I can live without any of the others who have joined in the past five or so years.
 
So there you have my big cover reveal for The Subject Was Rose.  Here's a little blurbage until I get a buylink on Siren's site:
 

When three-star chef Rose Britton agrees to have her portrait painted by top designer Jesse Factor, she has no clue their sexy scenes would be so rudely interrupted by powerful billionaire cattle rancher Drake Stinson, who busts in like a Dominant house on fire.  After having sworn off men, suddenly Rose has two of them and quite a mess on her hands.

Drake has led a shallow, jet-setting lifestyle for decades.  Just as he decides to open up and allow a deeper relationship with Rose to form, he's confused by his heteroflexible passion for Jesse too.  Drake initiates the couple into the intricacies of his sexual power structure, and they all want much more than a trivial hookup. 

But Drake is haunted by a corrupt deal his father made fifteen years ago.  Now greasy Fed, Burt Macklin, is back demanding a multi-million dollar payoff for a large chunk of Drake’s ranch.
COMING AUGUST 30, 2013

 

 
 
 
 


Friday, July 26, 2013

"Would You Rather?" over at Hennessee Andrews

Today I'm playing along with a boatload of other authors the "Would You Rather?" game over at Hennessee Andrews blog.  My question was: Karen Mercury, would you rather be blissfully ignorant or aware of everything at the possible expense of your happiness?



·    
·         Well, you said possible expense of my happiness, so that leaves me an out, right?  Leaving happiness aside for a second—because I usually do—I think I’d rather be aware of everything.  I just recently started taping Jeopardy and watching it alone.  Yes, I know, how pathetic.  But I think it keeps my mind sharp.  I swear I don’t even pause the questions, and the other day I only got two—TWO!—questions wrong.  I’m all screaming at the screen, “The HMS Beagle!” and “Tycho Brahe!”
 
Don’t you totally hate it when the contestants bang away at that buzzer with their thumb, acting all consternated because it appears to be broken?  I prefer the contestants who hide the buzzer behind the podium and act all cool and collected.  Like they’re not even stressing or even banging away at the buzzer.  Their mind is so brilliant it just makes a magical “ding” sound and they casually answer, “What is Chief Justice Earl Warren?”
 
Alex Trebek must be the coolest cucumber in all of history.  How can he possibly pretend to be so damned enthusiastic and excited day after day, year after year?  He must be totally aware of everything.  I wonder if he wakes up at 2:15 AM yelling, “What are Vietnamese water puppets?” 
 
 

Thursday, July 25, 2013

Three of a Perfect Pair is released at Siren

Three of a Perfect Pair is now zooming up the charts at Siren.  It's the followup to the popular Three Hearts Beat as One that was released "way back" in February.  I'm currently writing Book #3, Three for All, which will be my last submission before shoulder surgery.  I had a bizarre archery accident back in December and they need to fix my rotator cuff.  I'll be in a sling for six weeks.  I heard that speaking software doesn't work so well for erotic romance writers.  We have so much slang and language that's specific to us that we wind up wasting more time tweaking the software.  So I'm going to try and type and mouse with only my left hand.  Wish me luck.

In the meantime, since I won't bore you with the cover again, here's an update on Myshkin Gitchy Goomy.  She's over 50 pounds now.  She's getting tall and leggy and looks like a little fuzzy brown colt with her hind legs longer than her front. 

With my niece, Mari

Doesn't she complement the furniture?

This is her opinion of Ted Nugent

Myshkin and her BFF, the Chihuahua from down the street

Until then, happy reading!

Friday, July 12, 2013

Three of a Perfect Pair up for Preorder

Hey!  Three of a Perfect Pair, the followup to the popular Three Hearts Beat as One, is on preorder at Siren!  It's a standalone so you don't need to read #1 to enjoy the whacky antics in Hell's Delight, California, where you never know who you might run into next at Positive Vibrations, the sex toy shop.  The women of the Cultured Pearl biker society are always ogling the strap-on display (and our curvaceous heroines), the bookshop owner is always breathing on the latest copy of the voyeur's magazine, Look Now!, and everyone is enjoying Mickey Tart, the latest flavor at Pearson's yogurt shop, even though Ben Pearson has gone up the river for one to two years.



They’re at it again in the hamlet of Hell’s Delight. Katrina Abramson, recovering from a nasty breakup, is hosed by firefighter Alex Coldiron during the annual Fourth of July water fight between rival fire companies. She is sprayed right into cattleman Shane Jonas, on the run from his past. He has returned to confront his future.
 
Town reporter Alex knows Shane wants to mend fences with brother Devin and plans to write a heartwarming article. Instead, he’s thrust into a passionate triangle with the amorous couple, and Alex must face the truth about his sexuality. Katrina is swept into a thrilling power exchange with the two men where no one is ever sure who has the upper hand.
 
An exotic, shady character from Shane’s former life is lurking in the shadows, spying on their play sessions, and Shane's dangerous past is about to come full circle.

Monday, July 8, 2013

Nice Ladies, Naughty Books Bash

Monday the 8th of July I'll be participating in a Book Bash over at Nice Ladies, Naughty Books. 

 
There will be prizes, giveaways, and guest blogs from:
Mari Carr
Jayne Rylon
Lacey Thorn
Robin Covington
Ann Jacobs
Tonya Ramagos
Tara Rose
Kate Davies
Michelle Zurlo
Mary Jo Burke
and me.
 
I'll just have a really easy question to answer to win a copy of anything you like from my backlist.

Thursday, July 4, 2013

Read the First Chapter of The Obedient Servant--FREE

The Obedient Servant is available from Siren-Bookstrand HERE.  It's over on Amazon HERE.

 
 

THE OBEDIENT SERVANT

Going for the Gold 6

KAREN MERCURY

Copyright © 2012
 

Chapter One


To speak of California was like mentioning the end of the world.

—The World Rushed In: The California Gold Rush Experience, J.S. Holliday

Near Sutter’s Fort

June 1846

When Milo returned down the hill from pissing behind a rock, Stuttering Zeke was talking to a stunningly handsome soldier.

Every nerve in Milo’s skin became alert—tense, tingly, on fire. He went to stand next to the luscious soldier. He put his hands on his hips and cocked his head, just vaguely listening to their palaver. But really, he was studying the craggy face and bowed lips of this reprobate corporal.

Milo knew Corporal Vargas was a reprobate mainly because he was from Spain. They were all deviant buggers in Spain. But this deviant bugger’s demeanor was entirely sensual. His lush lips curled up arrogantly at the corners, and his thick tousled head of hair was hidden under the ratty cloth turban he’d fashioned. Some tendrils that escaped at his neck gave him an erotic, almost girlish look.

The lashes fringing his malachite-green eyes were also girlishly long. Those were the only feminine features of this devilishly delicious soldier. He was obviously powerfully muscular under his fringed leggings and the navy shirt with stars on the collar. The naval supplies issued to FrĂ©mont’s California Battalion, however, hadn’t lasted long. Most battalion men wore a mishmash of clothing, handmade or stolen, and this fine specimen of manhood was no exception, with his Digger moccasins. A brace of pistols in his gun belt, the requisite bowie knife, a sword, and a rifle slung across his back, and Corporal Vargas was bristling like a porcupine with armament.

Read the First Chapter of Something Sinful This Way Comes--FREE

Something Sinful This Way Comes is available from Siren-Bookstrand HERE.  It's over on Amazon HERE.


SOMETHING SINFUL THIS WAY COMES

McQueen Was My Valley 1

 

KAREN MERCURY

Copyright © 2013

 
Chapter One

 Bird in Hand, Utah

“Mazel tov,” said Sol, raising his wine glass on high.

Alexandra McQueen toasted her lawyer. They had just accomplished a shit storm of tedious and piddling paperwork—weeks of deeds, inspections, appraisals, and taxes—and had emerged the other side, unscathed. Xandra was more than happy to clink wine glasses with Sol Greenspan.

Three months ago Xandra had never been to Utah. She knew Utah as the place where Robert Redford and Mormons lived, and something about a film festival and skiing. If someone would’ve told her that in three months’ time she’d be sitting on the deck of her very own ski lodge near the rim of a dazzling red rock canyon, Xandra would have thought that her drug-addled ex-boyfriend was concocting a prank.

Now here she was. Peaceful and serene, all the papers signed, safely away from Javier “Slippery Fish” Santana. The i’s were dotted and the t’s crossed, the deck overlooked a wonderland of stone spires and natural stone pinnacles, and she was toasting with her very own lawyer. Clink.

“Dude.” That was Doug’s toast. A very casual sort of guy, Doug Ostrovsky was Xandra’s stepbrother a few times removed. It had taken Sol and Doug days to figure out how Doug and Xandra were related, sitting around the long table in the lodge’s ballroom, hand-drawing organizational charts with Doug and Xandra’s ancestors’ names scribbled in the boxes. They’d finally decided to leave it at “stepsiblings.” Doug had actually been closely acquainted with the lodge’s recently deceased owner, Wanda Burns. Doug had worked at the Triple Play Lodge for years, now elevated to General Manager. But because Doug wasn’t related to Wanda by blood, only by his father’s marriage, ownership of the lodge had fallen to Xandra, Wanda’s next of kin. “You’re coming with us to The Inkwells, right? You need to learn the terrain beyond the borders of the lodge.”

Read the First Chapter of Woman on Top--FREE

Woman on Top is available from Siren-Bookstrand HERE.  It's over on Amazon HERE.




WOMAN ON TOP

McQueen Was My Valley 2

KAREN MERCURY

Copyright © 2013


Chapter One
 
Bird in Hand, Utah

Brooke had seen this man walking back and forth past her desk for four days now.

The most he’d done was nod at her, acknowledging her existence, that she sat behind a desk. Sat there day in, day out, doing nothing more than point to the complimentary lemonade, strawberries, and apples. Oh, sure, once in awhile there would be a newbie guest and Brooke would be required to actually get up and give them a tour of the mineral pool, whirlpool, dry sauna, wet sauna. This was the highlight of Brooke’s day, pointing at the thermostat, showing people where to hang their white terry robes. Sometimes old-timers would want to go sit on their noodles in the outdoor shiatsu pool, and she’d have to explain that it was too snowy and therefore dangerous out there. The outdoor area of the Triple Play Lodge was closed in January.

Of course, Brooke kept her e-book reader on a pull-out tray under the desk and read books between greeting guests. This was how the real highlight of her days became the redheaded man who passed by her desk a few times every day. With an exquisitely rounded ass and wide shoulders, he carried himself stiffly, erect as though alert for enemies. His peridot-green eyes reflected light from the skylights above, giving the impression of steely intelligence, a gritty courage.

Read the First Chapter of Three Hearts Beat as One--FREE

Three Hearts Beat as One is available from Siren-Bookstrand HERE.  It's over on Amazon HERE.
 
 

THREE HEARTS BEAT AS ONE

 

KAREN MERCURY

Copyright © 2013

 Chapter One

Hell’s Delight, California
 
This was painfully agonizing. And Ben knew it. In fact, he was taking glee in it.

Why else would he come into Lacey’s hardware store pretending to look for duct tape? He could have purchased that at any grocery store. Same thing with the flashlight. He didn’t need to come into Delight Hardware pretending he needed a flashlight to keep in his car. Something was up. He must have another message to impart. Lacey knew Ben well enough by now, unfortunately.

True, the yogurt shop his father had set him up in was two blocks away down Jack London Street. Ben fancied himself a big fish in a little pond in their small town, and he liked to walk the downtown area waving to merchants, priding himself on the fact that he knew everyone.

Read the First Chapter of The Grass is Greener--FREE

The Grass is Greener is available from Siren-Bookstrand HERE.  It's over on Amazon HERE.




THE GRASS IS GREENER

McQueen Was My Valley 3

KAREN MERCURY

Copyright © 2013
 
Chapter One

 
Outside of Salt Lake City, Utah

Winterhawk Village

“But there’s coffee right here,” Sasha said.

Her friend Jane insisted. “No, I like the coffee in the Atrium better. The coffee here in the ballroom is so watered-down. It’s just like dirty water.”

“Since when are you so interested in coffee anyway, Jane? Over-caffeinating can lead to insomnia, dehydration, and a dangerously fast pulse.”

Why did Jane look so irritated? Maybe not enough caffeine. The two friends hadn’t seen each other in a year, when again Sasha had flown to meet Jane at a conference where her politico husband was speaking—that time, in Palm Beach, Florida. “I just like the taste, Sasha! Can you please just go? Get the coffee that’s in the Atrium patio, outside. Yeah. That stuff is better. Here’s some money.”

“I don’t need your money.” Sasha was only trying to be polite, but now realized it made her sound like a rich snob. Still, she pushed Jane’s money back at her. A little dance ensued, each woman shoving paper bills at the other. Jane had a scary, determined, steely look to her eyes, as though this damned coffee meant life or death. Sasha was confused and concerned.

Read the First Chapter of Two Sirs, With Love--FREE

Two Sirs, With Love is available from Siren-Bookstrand HERE.  It's over on Amazon HERE.

 
 

TWO SIRS, WITH LOVE

McQueen Was My Valley 4

KAREN MERCURY

Copyright © 2013

 
Chapter One
 
Bird in Hand, Utah

“I heard that she runs around in a strapless bustier with four-inch heels,” said Brooke McQueen. Ian Lawson knew her as the wildest McQueen sister.

“Yes,” agreed Cass Cameron, a six-foot-tall gal who was the director of the front office at the Triple Play Lodge. She leaned confidentially over the coffee table and looked from side to side. “And that she was the meanest most sadistic flogger the place had ever seen.”

“Oh, come now,” said Sasha McQueen. As a medical doctor, Ian knew she was the most logical of the sisters. “This is all hearsay. Just because poor Felicity runs away to Stockholm and doesn’t talk to us for a few years, we can imagine all sorts of wild things. Let’s give her a chance, shall we?”

“Actually,” said Xandra McQueen, apparently a former “wild child” herself, “I did hear this from Dad in one of his lucid moments a couple of years ago. It’s a definite fact that she worked at a bondage club in Stockholm called The Fat Shaft.”

“That could be anything,” said Sasha. “That could be an indoor archery range.”

Read the First Chapter of The Sublime Miss Paige--FREE

The Sublime Miss Paige is available from Siren-Bookstrand HERE.
 


THE SUBLIME MISS PAIGE

KAREN MERCURY

Copyright © 2013

 Chapter One

 
Last Chance, California

This should have been one of the best weeks of Willow Paige’s life.

A whole new start in a whole new town. Last Chance was a forgotten burg in the Coachella Valley of California—a place where one could hide, yet close enough to the kitsch and glitz of Palm Springs that she could go there to party, if she ever chose to.

Gentrification was spreading to Last Chance. That’s what the realtor—her friend—Jaclyn had assured her. Over in Palm Springs and its environs, flippers were taking advantage of the newfound craze for mid-century modernism, the Jetsons architecture. The clean lines, the abundance of glass, the indoor-outdoor living style perfectly suited Willow’s mindset. Or, at least, the mindset she wished to have. She wanted a modern vibe, dammit! Willow longed to be supersonic and out of sight. After the humidity of Florida, she wanted the dry, wide-open vistas. The breathtaking views of the craggy San Jacinto Mountains were supposed to give her an expansive feeling, the perfect antidote to the muggy claustrophobia of the Everglades that had been her home for thirty-two years.

The Everglades that had turned into a haunted town of horrors for the past two years.

Wednesday, July 3, 2013

New Book Cover for Three of a Perfect Pair

OK, here's the big reveal for Book #2 in my Hell's Delight series, Three of a Perfect Pair

They’re at it again in the hamlet of Hell’s Delight.  Katrina Abramson, recovering from a nasty breakup, is hosed by firefighter Alex Coldiron during the annual Fourth of July water fight between rival fire companies.  She is sprayed right into cattleman Shane Jonas, on the run from his past.  He has returned to confront his future.
Town reporter Alex knows Shane wants to mend fences with brother Devin and plans to write a heartwarming article.  Instead he’s thrust into a passionate triangle with the amorous couple, and Alex must face the truth about his sexuality.  Katrina is swept into a thrilling power exchange with the two men where no one is ever sure who has the upper hand.
An exotic, shady character from Shane’s former life is lurking in the shadows, spying on their play sessions, and Shane's dangerous past is about to come full circle.



The title popped into my head one day, then I realized it was a King Crimson album.  When I looked up the lyrics, thinking perhaps they had some subconscious meaning, they weren't too romantic, or I would've included them in the dedication.

She is susceptible
He is impossible
They have their cross to share
Three of a perfect pair...
 
 
Yeah, thanks Adrian Belew, but I'll leave that part out for now. :)  Anyway, I based the heroine on the actress Kristen Johnston, currently starring in The Exes, formerly of Third Rock from the Sun.  She was Lacey's BFF in Book #1, and I had just read her autobiography.
 
 
The primary alpha hero was Grant Bowler, currently on that really good post-apocalyptic show Defiance.  In my book he plays Shane Jonas, one of the Jonas brothers (yeah, I didn't realize that blunder until I'd already named them) who returns from years in China dealing with the mafia there.  He wants to start anew, but old coworkers come back to haunt him.  You can take the boy out of the pine nut forest, but...
 
And once again, Ryan Gosling gets his own starring role as the secondary hero Alex Coldiron, the volunteer fireman/town journalist of Hell's Delight.
 
 
It releases July 22 so stand by for more.