STEVIE MACFARLANE
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Talent, Luck, or  Perseverance?

1/5/2020

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This has been sitting on my desk for quite a while.  I bought it when I went to the Sweet Virginia Breeze Conference in Virginia back in 2018.
Since then it's been written on many times.  The kids have entered my office, wiped off the pink chalk and written 'Awesome'.  Mike has done the same writing 'Beautiful', and I've used it myself for motivation scrawling 'Get Writing' or 'Get Busy'.
For the past couple of months it's been sitting here, reminding me that I don't exactly know what 'I am'.

I know I am an author.  I've had more than 30 books published.  I get paid for my work.
People who buy my books, like my books, generally that is.  Occasionally, I get a negative review, but that goes with the territory and I've long since gotten over being offended.

I know I'm getting older, fast.  I have neither the energy nor the drive to get out there everyday and promote my work on social media.  Maybe that's a mistake; I feel like it is and frequently experience guilt that I'm not on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook enough.

I've gotten lackadaisical about doing blog posts as well.  I used to really enjoy posting, felt I had something to say if you know what I mean.  Now I can't seem to work up much enthusiasm.  I understand it's a circle.  The more you post, the more people read your blog, the more you post. Unfortunately, the more I do these thing, the less time I have to write and that's really what I want to do, in theory.

Emotionally, I'm on a seesaw.  I'm a bride, a fairly new one and my husband is loving, affectionate and supportive, yet sometimes I still feel like a widow.  This is not something I ever expected.  Not that I thought all the grief would disappear the instant I said, I do, but I guess I thought...well, I don't know what the hell I thought.

Don't get me wrong.  I'd marry him again tomorrow and I don't have regrets about that, but still it's a bit like living in two worlds, the old and the new.  I'm trying to find my footing, my way.

I gave my office a make over, thinking that would help me stay motivated and truly I love it, but still the writing comes hard.  Currently I have a number of books in the works, a third book in The Sassy Girls series, a western, and another contemporary romance.  I bounce from one to the other when I get stuck, but it's still slow going.  I'm just so disappointed in myself lately.

The weather here in Upstate New York doesn't help.  I think everyone who lives here has low Vitamin D, I know I sure do.  That sort of drags you down and saps your energy too.

So I sit here wondering...am I talented or just lucky?  Have I achieved a amount moderate success with my books because I'm good at what I do, or simply because I refused to stop writing no matter what?  Are things off kilter because I have no more stories in my head or because I have too many?

I've also gotten very forgetful. I mean I still know my phone number and where I live, which is a big plus, but I forget lots of stuff.  For a while I was convinced it was Widow's Brain, which is a real thing by the way, but now I'm beginning to wonder.  Is it overload?  Mental fatigue?  Oh how I wish I'd started doing spread sheets for each book! 
Trying to remember characters, their physical features and personality traits from more than 30 novels is a challenge, so if you're new to this field take my advice and do that.  Don't assume you'll always remember every detail of every novel because you won't.  I've even had to call one of my biggest fans and say, "Hey Maureen, what was the last name of that character in the book about..."  Thankfully, she's sharp as a tack about that stuff and always remembers, lol.

So, I'm still sitting her looking at my little sign and I guess I will be until something happens that makes it very clear what should be written on it.  I will keep on keeping on and hope for the best in 2020 and I hope you all will too. 

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I love you guys and am so very thankful for the friends I've made on this journey and the wonderful authors and readers who are so supportive.  Have a great new year.

Hugs,
Stevie

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Her Majesty's Downfall

9/5/2019

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Marla Majestic, known as Marla Majesty and often Her Majesty to those who barely managed to tolerate her, is not happy. The man she’s dated off and on since high school, the man she fully expected to marry one day is engaged to someone else. For the first time in her life, neither her money nor social standing is of any use to her. Chas Mackenzie is in love, and it’s not with Marla. Furious, she intends to put a stop to it, in any way possible. Until Chas’ best friend, Pete (Crunch) Benedict gets in the way.

Pete has known Marla forever. In fact, she was his high school crush. When he gets wind of her plans to thwart Chas’ wedding plans, he does the only thing he can, he takes Marla in hand. Marla doesn’t know it, but Pete has no intention of ever letting her go.

This is a sequel to Just Her Luck, but reads as a standalone.

Excerpt:
He asked about her childhood, bracing for the bragging. It had been the thing that irritated him the most back in the day. Raised in privilege she’d always expected the world to fall in with her plans and it usually did from what he could tell. In his mind that was the most reasonable explanation for her intense determination to win Chas Mackenzie back, he was the one thing she couldn’t buy or bully her way into acquiring.
Because of that, he was genuinely surprised when she described a lonely and somewhat isolated youth. Despite being in nearly every picture in the yearbook, cheerleading, the debate club, student council, orchestra, French club, and many more, she’d had few friends. Pete figured the ones she did have were likely afraid of ‘not’ being her friend.  Marla was a mini-terrorist. You had to be invited into her inner circle, but talking to her now he realized none of those friendships had extended past high-school when the other girls all managed to escape the confines of her exclusive network.
It was clear she knew. When he asked about girls she’d hung out with, Patty, Allison, Jennifer, Marcella and Jeanie, Marla looked away.
“I have no idea where any of them are. We haven’t kept in touch,” she admitted a bit sharply. “I moved on.”
“Do you have any friends from college you still see?” he asked.
“A couple,” she hedged. “Why the grilling?”
“Just curious,” Pete replied.
“Let me make things easier for you,” she drawled sarcastically. “I don’t have any close friends. My relationship with my father is… challenging. Of course, my mother is dead, you knew that, but we were never particularly close. Both of my parents preferred the company of my brother, Jasper. When he was murdered, they were sort of stuck with me.
“I’m the only heir to a pretty extensive fortune. I’ve had several affairs but none worth the effort of nurturing and the only man I was ever in love with is Chas. Unfortunately, it seems he is in love with someone else, at least at the moment.”
Pete watched her closely. Her eyes shone, he wasn’t sure if it was tears or anger. For a few minutes, her cheeks looked heated before fading dramatically and now she looked quite pale.
“What are you going to do when your plan doesn’t work?” he asked quietly. “What are you going to do when Chas marries Babe?”
Marla snorted.
“Boy, you don’t have much faith in my abilities,” she stated.
Her voice quavered and she turned toward the tiny jukebox and held out her palm for another quarter.
Pete gave it to her.
“You’re wrong,” he informed her. “You’re very adept at getting what you want. The problem, as I see it, is that sometimes what we want isn’t good for us.”
“Chas is good for me,” she insisted smoothly. “You’ll see. Once I get him back, you’ll see.”
Pete shook his head almost sadly.
“You’re dreaming, honey. Chas isn’t going to break it off with Babe. He loves her and she’s perfect for him.”
“In what way?” Marla demanded, turning her head and glaring at him. “What does she have that I don’t?”
He almost didn’t answer. For some reason, he was loath to hurt her. Her hair seemed alive with fire in the muted light of the booth. Her eyes flashed with anger and her chin was tilted up in challenge. But she was beautiful. He’d always thought so. Of course, she was out of his reach even now, even after all these years.
What she was offering was temporary, a tiny taste of something he’d only dreamed about. It wouldn’t last long, a few months at best but it was better than nothing. She thought he was playing her game. In reality, she was playing his.
Still, he didn’t want to hurt her. It seemed nothing was as he’d imagined. Her life was no bed of roses and never had been. It made her hard around the edges, brittle, and intolerant. He began gently to talk about Babe.
“She’s kind-hearted. She has a gentle soul and a somewhat submissive nature. Babe listens to him and values his opinion. She doesn’t challenge his judgment at every turn,” he continued with a slight grin, “but when she does, she usually comes around to his way of thinking. They are well-matched.”
“So she’s a wimp?” Marla scoffed. “A weak-willed, yes sir, no sir, kind of girl who hangs on every word he says.”
“No, it’s not like that.
“That’s what it sounds like.”

Thanks for stopping by.  Her Majesty's Downfall will be available on Amazon and Blushing Books on September 6th, 2019.


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The Marriage Market, The Complete Collection is now on KU

8/22/2019

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Mail-order mayhem…

Captivated by the idea and freedom of mail-order marriage, Amelia heads west to marry. Horrified to discover that her new husband had proposed to so many women before her, she sends a letter to her friends back home, telling them of her dreadful mistake.

Grace and Effie set out to rescue her in Seattle, even if that means finding themselves in a heap of trouble and being chased down by a Pinkerton.

Join Amelia, Grace, Effie, Suzanna and Martha in this complete collection of the Marriage Market series. Fall in love again and again with each couple as they experience commitment, love, loyalty, and a firm hand over the knee!

Publisher’s Note: This steamy Old West romance contains elements of domestic discipline.

Amelia
Fresh out of Mrs. Pettigrew's School for Young Ladies, Amelia Westcott and her two best friends are ready for adventure.  Suddenly a life filled with social obligations and meaningless gossip seems unappealing.  On a whim the girls investigate the phenomena of young women heading west to marry, and Amelia is captivated by the freedom such a decision offers.
Hugh Jordon needs a wife.  The severe shortage of women in the Pacific Northwest makes advertising for a bride seems reasonable. As long as he finds a wife who is the exact opposite of his tempestuous mother, he’ll be well satisfied. Studying the applicants, he chooses one that seems to best fit his needs, and delegates his head clerk with the critical task of sending polite rejections to the others. Unfortunately, most of them never get the letter Hugh anticipated and soon the brides descend, all expecting to marry the same man!
 Amelia is horrified, and realizes that the adage "marry in haste, repent at leisure" has never been more true. How could he do that to her? What sort of man was he, to propose to so many women? She simply must have their wedding annulled and return to Massachusetts at once.
Hugh has other ideas. In his opinion, the perfect place for his bride to learn about faith, loyalty and commitment is in his home and over his knee!

Grace
Grace Wentworth and Effie Lane are cautiously optimistic when their dear friend Amelia decides to travel west to become the bride of a man she’s never met. Despite their misgivings, they’re stunned when Amelia writes to inform them she’s made a dreadful mistake in marrying Mr. Jordon. Determined to rescue her dear friend from the clutches of a scoundrel, Effie makes plans to leave for Seattle immediately. Grace plans to follow when she can escape the ever watchful eye of her mother.
However, everything changes when Grace is forced to accept the proposal of a cruel and violent man. Suddenly, her mother’s wrath doesn’t even compare with what she would face as Horace Remington’s wife. Throwing all caution aside, she flees with Effie, even knowing her mother will most likely hire a Pinkerton man to find her – which she promptly does.
She just never expected to fall for him.
For Jonah Blackthorn, apprehending a runaway socialite seems like an easy assignment. Locating two young, inexperienced women should take him no time at all, and the five thousand dollar reward offered by the frantic fiancé will go a long way, as Jonah has plans to leave the agency and begin a new chapter in his life.
What he doesn’t plan on is being outwitted by the brats – or the fact that Effie Lane isn’t relying on her wits alone to get them safely to Seattle. He also didn’t expect to come to care for the redhead traveling with her gun-toting friend. When he finally catches up with them, he’s going to give Grace the spanking of a lifetime – or kiss her senseless. Maybe both.

Effie
Euphemia Lane had a feeling from the get go that Samuel Jordon was going to give her trouble. In his rude letter, he threatened to spank and disarm her should she show up in Seattle with her pistols. However, his warning doesn’t deter Effie from her mission. Come hell or high water, she and Grace are determined to travel to Seattle to rescue their friend, Amelia. How was she to know that Amelia’s letter was a huge mistake or that Horace Remington would follow them and nearly kill her? And there was no way she could have anticipated what would happen once she and Grace arrive at the Jordon home.
Never would she have imagined that she would receive her very first spanking at the hands of her nemesis. It was galling to say the least, and to top it all off, he relieved her of her pistols after she destroyed a treasured family heirloom and shot Horace. Now she is in Sam’s protective custody until the Marshal determines she had acted in self-defense. The problem seems to be: who is going to protect her from Sam?
Samuel Jordon is so angry when Marshal Cole Hadley sticks him with Miss Lane that he sees stars. In his opinion, she is a sassy-mouthed witch hiding in a sweet little body. His determination to be firm yet detached lasts all of two days. Who knew one little drop of frosting on one luscious lip would change his life forever? What kind of young woman can turn a well-balanced, confirmed bachelor into a perverted fiend who can’t keep his hands off her?
In this, the third book of her Marriage Market series, Stevie MacFarlane has taken her writing to a new, even more erotic level. If spanking and other explicit content offends you, please do not purchase this story.

Suzanna
Seattle hasn’t been the same ever since dozens of women responded to a letter for a mail-order bride. In the fourth book of the popular Marriage Market series, the mail-order mayhem continues. Suzanna and Charlotte, two southern belles who couldn’t be more different, both answered the same ad seeking a husband.
Raised in a world of wealth and privilege, Suzanna feels entitled and will do anything to get what she wants. Charlotte, sweet and generous, falls in love with the man Suzanna has tricked into marriage. Nothing goes as planned for either of these women, yet somehow they both get what they deserve. It’s complicated.

Martha
Martha Jonas can’t seem to help feeling a bit sorry for herself. Ever since the accident that nearly took Euphemia and Suzanna from them, the men are more determined than ever to assert their authority. Even her gentle Ethan, the man she plans to marry, has put his foot down, telling her what she must and must not do. It’s appalling! The very idea that, as her husband, the big Swede would feel justified – no, worse than that – entitled to pull her over his lap and smack her bottom when she displeases him is simply too much to bear.
Perhaps she won’t marry at all. Yes, she is on the other side of twenty-five, but she’s also smart, talented, and turned a tidy profit with her dress shop in Philadelphia before she foolishly replied to that darn advertisement of Hugh’s. He’d wanted a bride… one. He got dozens of offers, which, of course, made the women-hungry men of Seattle happy, but didn’t do much for her. Many of the other applicants were younger, prettier, and often so flighty she wanted to box their ears.
Martha didn’t see herself as silly. An independent woman was not a good match for a dominating man. Not at all, and Ethan was becoming more so by the day. No, she would not marry. The money she had in the bank would help her get started and her friends would help. The new Ladies Aide Society would give her plenty to do outside of her shop and she would dedicate herself to serving those women less fortunate than she, and to shutting down Seattle’s saloons. While Martha was a novice to the Temperance Movement, Clara Webster, another unmarried bride, seemed to know exactly how to proceed.
That, of course, is before all hell breaks loose.
In the space of a few days, everything changes. The men find out about the secret plans for ‘that temperance nonsense.’ They are not amused. Jane’s children go missing on their way west, and their escort turns out to be less than desirable. Dr. Martin is furious. She does not come home that night. Clara Webster falls into the hands of Lucas Armstrong, the owner of The Bucket of Blood, one of the most notorious saloons in Seattle. Mary disappears entirely, and Ethan finally decides he’s had enough of Martha’s wishy-washy attitude toward marriage. With Amelia, Effie, Grace, and Tempest already in trouble and Suzanna off on her honeymoon, Martha works frantically to put everything to rights. Elinore is no help. She has her hands full trying to manage her Mr. Ferguson while he’s determined to keep Ellie from damaging his business. Come along for the ride. Will the last bride bow to convention and accept the love and authority of the man who offers what might be her last chance for wedded bliss?

From The Author:
This series is one of my favorites. It came out of a spark of an idea and took off with a vengeance. One of my favorite characters is Tempest, the matriarch of the Jordon family. Originally her character was going to be a complete bitch, but as I wrote about her, I came to understand her and she developed into a wonderful character who stole my heart and added so much to the story.  She's a remarkable older woman who will make you laugh and have you rooting for her even though she is not one of the brides, but a long-married woman.

Each book has more than the title bride.  There's Molly, who lies about her past.  Jane, an older widow with two children. Alice, a widow with a young daughter who manages to make a difficult journey and still find love.  Charlotte is amazing and catches herself an accidental husband and so many more who will make you laugh and wonder how it will all work out.

So travel back in time, an era where woman had to be tougher than they looked and smarter than they let on.  I hope you enhoy the series.

Hugs,
Stevie


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Suzie Q, sweet romance with a bit of controversy.

7/28/2019

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As authors we've all been there.  What is to much?  Am I being to explicit, to controversial?  Are the details right? Will the reader understand and sympathize with the hero, the heroine?  Will they come to understand what motivates the characters and care about them as we do?
I've already gotten a few reviews on this novel where readers have mentioned the controversial first spanking which, by the way, actually takes place in Assignment: Trouble.  It is in that novel that we first meet Hunter when he comes to J.R. and Joy's rescue.
Through some man to man talk Hunter tells his best buddy what he's done and how it has affected his relationship with Suzie Q, whom he adores.  J.R., who already lives a D/d lifestyle with his wife, Joy,  has some sound advice for his friend and Hunter takes it to heart, trying to make amends for his over zealous first foray into domestic discipline.
This novel deals with the conflicts between Suzie and Hunter.  Of course it's a fictional romance, but to an author the characters become friends and while we strive to tell their stories we want them to succeed.  We want their romance to blossom into love, hopefully a love that will stand the test of time.
That being said, most novels in this genre have tons of non-consensual spankings.  That's why we read them. We want the strong Alpha male to take the naughty little heroine in hand, while still allowing her to maintain her dignity and independence. Let's face it, if every heroine said,"Please spank me, I've been naughty," these stories would get pretty boring, pretty quickly.
In a romance we want the angst, the drama, the arguments that typically end when our hero has had enough nonsense and takes his woman over his knee for a little lesson in obedience and respect.
In most of my novels I want the comedy.  I want the reader to smile, even laugh at the antics of the couple, because really, it can't and shouldn't be taken so seriously.  Life is full up ups and down and we have to be able to shake our heads and grin if we want to survive. 
Now to make my last point.  Most of us who enjoy this genre would probably never tolerate some of the things we read about in real life, although I personally know a number of couples who do and it works for them.  Many other women have husbands or significant others who occasionally do slap a naughty bottom, either for fun or to make a point, and that works for them as well, but a true, D/d relationship 24/7 is not only a choice but requires a great deal of dedication to maintain that lever of commitment.
So, in conclusion, I hope you will enjoy, Suzie Q, for what it is, a fictional novel about a couple learning to navigate the highs and lows, the ups and down of a romance they will shape into something that works for them.


*On a personal note, Hunter is so sexy he could slap my ass any time, but of course he's not real, and if that's what we really want we all have to find out own Hunter.

Here's a peek into Suzie Q:


      “You’re late, Miss Quantrill,” he stated sourly when she walked into his office.
      “So fire me,” she retorted as she took a seat across the table from him.
      “Always the wise ass,” he said with a heavy sigh.
      “It’s a God given talent.  I see no reason not to use it.”
      “Use it somewhere else.  Let’s get to work.”
      They worked throughout the morning, reviewing the procedure manual, making notes in the margins and discussing    improvements. At noon he offered to take her to lunch.  She refused.
      “I’ll eat at my desk,” she said coolly.
      “How long is this going to go on?” he asked, trying not to growl in frustration.
      “Until we’re finished, I guess,” Suzie replied, deliberately misinterpreting his meaning.  “I imagine it will take several weeks.  If you’re unhappy with my work I’m sure Helena is willing to…assist you.”
      “That’s not what I mean and you know it.  How long are you going to let…”
      “Mr. McCaughey, I…”
      “Don’t you dare ‘Mr. McCaughey’ me,” he ground out, rising when she did and rounding the table.  “It’s Hunter, and I know you know it because you’ve screamed out my name often enough for your whole complex to hear.”
      “Bringing that up is not very gentlemanly of you,” Suzie hissed, backing up.
      “I’m not a gentleman.  In fact I’m seconds away from becoming the Neanderthal you accused me of being.” Moving closer he reached for her shoulders.
      “Oops. Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt anything,” Helena said as she knocked once and opened the door.
      “You didn’t,” Hunter assured her, turning away from Suzie and running a hand through his hair.  “What is it?”
      “Joy Everly is on the phone.”
      “Send it through.  I’ll take it,” he barked out shortly
      “It’s not for you,” Helena explained, obviously paying close attention to the two of them.  “It’s for Suzanna.”
      “Rout it to my office,” Suzie said, grabbing her cell and scooting around Helena.  “I’m on lunch.”
      Hunter stared after her.  Why the hell would Joy be calling Suzie? How did she even know her?  Suzie wasn’t on the detail assigned to protect Joy when she was waiting to testify against Barrows.  They shouldn’t know each other, yet Joy was calling her and Suzie had a suspiciously guilty look on her face.  He’d come to know that look when they were lovers.  It was the one she got when she was about to do something totally outrageous.

So take a chance on Suzie Q and see if you enjoy it. Most of the time in this genre it's the female character who screws up.  In this case it's definitely the hero who has to eat a bit of crow and to tell you the truth, I enjoyed writing it. 

Hugs,
Stevie

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Suzie Q is available on:
Amazon
Blushing Books
Barnes & Noble


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Coming Next Week, Suzie Q

7/17/2019

1 Comment

 
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Isn't this guy too cute for words?  I just love having him on my cover and he's perfect to portray Hunter in my new novel, Suzie Q.

It's a sequel to Assignment: Trouble. I had no intention of writing a sequel but after a while I got to thinking, what happened to Hunter?

He's the agent who came to J.R's and Joy's rescue when they were in deep trouble.  I liked him right off. He was such a nice guy and helped out his best buddy even though he was having troubles of his own.  It seems he spanked his girlfriend and well, he didn't really know what he was doing.

I sort of felt bad for him, I mean after all, she was a bit of a handful, but still, a guy shouldn't go ahead and start whacking away on a ladies behind if he has no clue how to go about it.

So he screwed up, big time and it wasn't looking like Suzie Q was going to forgive him any time soon.

Eventually it ate at me long enough.  I had to know if Hunter was able to redeem himself and if Suzie Q was ever going to forgive him, so I had to write their story. 
Anyway, it will be released next week by Blushing Books and I hope you all like it. Gee, he's cute!

Hugs,
Stevie

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Baby Cakes, A Spicy Excerpt!

5/20/2019

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Taken. The word was running through her fragmented thoughts and kept resurfacing. She was being taken by a man who knew what he wanted. A man who understood his own power and wasn’t afraid to use it. It no longer mattered if she thought she was too heavy, too curvy, too anything. He wanted her and it was perfectly obvious by the satisfied sounds coming from deep in his throat. He meant to have her his way, and Cherry dissolved in pure pleasure as he plunged into her body and claimed every inch of it.
The orgasm she experienced from his mouth was nothing compared to the soul searing one he produced with his cock. She remembered screaming, tightening her legs around his waist and urging him closer. Her fingernails likely scored his back. Then she was floating, languidly gliding back to earth. When she opened her eyes, she was close to his side, her head resting on his chest.
His arm was wrapped around her, his fingers trailing up and down her spine sending shivers clear down to the toes.
“Will you marry me, Cherry?” he teased, a smile in his voice.
“Yes,” she sighed. “Right this moment I would marry you. But tomorrow I would wake up and realize you’re a monstrously wicked man with a hard hand and a penchant for spanking me and change my mind,” she continued with a weak laugh.
“Too bad,” Chad said sadly. “I’m going to have to work harder to win you, I guess.”
“No, you’re not,” Cherry breathed snuggling closer. “I could get used to your brand of loving. It’s your brand on my ass that’s not going to fly.”

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Cherry was surprised when Chad walked into her bakery with a smile on his face and without a care in the world. How dare he! It took a lot of courage to give him her number and then he never used it. Sure, he has a plausible explanation and he's basically sex-on-a-stick, but does she really want to take a chance?
Chadwick Fenton had been around his share of slightly wild women. Guarding Rebecca Kord and meeting the O'Malley clan was interesting to say the least. Hunting down Susan Shaughnessy, the run-away bride was another case he would never forget. There was just something about redheads, and the one who slipped her number in his pocket had been on his mind for weeks. Yes, he was going back to see if Cherry Calhoun was as gorgeous as he remembered. He certainly wasn't expecting the angry reception he received.
Who knew the pretty baker had a spitfire temper? Well, he knew a thing or two about managing ladies who couldn't control themselves. He was certainly looking forward to the challenge.
 
Come visit with the mischievous women of the O'Malley clan and past clients of Sugar Babies, Inc. This standalone is certain to be a wild ride.
Publisher's Note: This contemporary romance includes elements of power exchange and sensual scenes and is intended for adults only. If any of these offend you, please do not purchase.

Links:
Amazon

Blushing Books
Barnes & Noble
Kobo
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Coming Soon - Baby Cakes! Release Date - April 19, 2019

4/11/2019

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Cherry was surprised when Chad walked into her bakery with a smile on his face and without a care in the world. How dare he! It took a lot of courage to give him her number and then he never used it. Sure, he has a plausible explanation and he's basically sex-on-a-stick, but does she really want to take a chance?

Chadwick Fenton had been around his share of slightly wild women. Guarding Rebecca Kord and meeting the O'Malley clan was interesting to say the least. Hunting down Susan Shaughnessy, the run-away bride was another case he would never forget. There was just something about redheads, and the one who slipped her number in his pocket had been on his mind for weeks. Yes, he was going back to see if Cherry Calhoun was as gorgeous as he remembered. He certainly wasn't expecting the angry reception he received.
Who knew the pretty baker had a spitfire temper? Well, he knew a thing or two about managing ladies who couldn't control themselves. He was certainly looking forward to the challenge.
 
Come visit with the mischievous women of the O'Malley clan and past clients of Sugar Babies, Inc. This standalone is certain to be a wild ride.

Publisher's Note: This contemporary romance includes elements of power exchange and sensual scenes and is intended for adults only. If any of these offend you, please do not purchase.

Excerpt:

Abby was barely in the shop and slipping off her coat when both Colleen and Bridget started.
“What did you find out?” Bridget asked her face full of rabid curiosity.
“Are they dating, really dating or just having a ‘thing’?” Colleen demanded.
Abby ignored them and shoved her purse in a drawer.
“Come on, Abby,” Bridge whined. “I know you. You had to have gotten something out of Cherry.”
Abby stared at the blonde sisters, so much alike, yet so different. Bridget was the wild child of the O’Malley clan, but she’d definitely inherited some of her older sister’s persistent ways for Colleen was known to leave no stone unturned in getting what she wanted.
“She’d told me exactly nothing,” Abby finally replied as she walked into the main showroom with the two women trotting after her. “They’ve had dinner a couple of times, that’s it.”
“Bullshit,” they chimed in unison.
“No woman in her right mind simply has dinner with a man like the 'bobby guard'. They are dinner, at least if they play their cards right,” Colleen insisted with a wink.
“He has a name you know,” Abby pointed out smugly.
“What is it?” Bridget demanded. “Maybe I’ll Google him.”
“His name is Chadwick Fenton, Chad or C.W. to his friends.”
“Did Cherry tell you this?”
“No, Molly, but that was all I could get out of her. Geeze, sometimes she’s so secretive.”
“That’s just her way,” Bridget replied defending her sister-in-law. “Molly never tells unless it’s critical to someone’s well-being. When Tess ran away from Rory, she never said a word despite knowing exactly where she was. She’s loyal and very careful about what information she shares.”
“I know, that’s why I didn’t push her. Cherry is a friend. We need to let her have her privacy."
”Since when is anybody’s business private in this family?” Colleen asked with a laugh. “I’ll bet Bridget could tell you the last time Noah and I made love,” she continued with a derisive snort.
“Tuesday night,” Bridget stated factually before a grin tilted her lips.

From The Author:
Sometimes I wonder if these characters will ever get out of my head.  I knew when writing the love story of Susan and Marcus McCarthy for Sugar Babies, Inc. that the private eye Marcus hired to find his woman would show up again, and he did in The Trouble With Abby.
In that novel he was hired by Mason Kord to protect his wife Rebecca and their child. Known as 'the bobby guard' he presented an interesting character that seemed to demand his own story. So, here it is. I hope you'll enjoy it!
I'll post the links as soon as it becomes live.
Hugs,
Stevie

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Sugar Babies, Inc. is going to Kindle Unlimited

3/21/2019

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 I'm happy to announce that on March 22, 2019 my entire Sugar Babies, Inc. series will be available on Kindle Unlimited.
Along with getting a pretty new cover, readers will be able to read all four books.

As an author I think we all have certain favorites and Sugar Babies is one of mine.  I'm prone to write series; there are always other characters popping up as I write clamoring for their own story and that is what happened to me while writing this series.  In fact I've just finished a book, Baby Cakes, that has characters from both the Sugar Babies, Inc. series and The O'Malley series which will be coming out in April 2019.

Truthfully, I doubt you've seen the last of either of these series. The characters sort of hang around in my mind waiting for their turn. Sound a little nuts? Lol. Yeah, it does to me too, but there you have it.

Sugar Babies, Inc. is a set of four complete novels.  Take a peek inside a unique match-making enterprise where you’ll find love comes in all shapes and sizes. It has nothing to do with wealth or position, luck or skill, it simply happens and for the most unlikely people.

A Sweet & Sassy Match
A corporate attorney, Sam made more money than he could spend. Still single, he watched quietly as his associates’ marriages crumbled. It seemed there was always another beautiful gold-digger ready to take whatever the first, second or third wife left up for grabs. He knew there were good women out there. The problem was they worked in coffee shops and school lunchrooms, as bus drivers and mechanics – hardly likely to meet a man who could provide them with security, love and guidance.
And so Sugar Babies was born. Sam resigned his position and set up a matchmaking service. While scouting out a new location for a branch office, he meets Johanna Maxwell. Jo is beautiful, hard-working and everyone's best friend. She’s the one everyone can rely on, but the only person she doesn't take care of is herself. Sam falls hard, but can he convince her that his business is legitimate? More to the point, can he convince her that when he pulls her over his knee, it's out of love?

Excerpt: Johanna and Sam first date
When their waiter came to clear away their plates, Jo asked for another glass of wine.  Sam looked at her in surprise and instructed the waiter to bring them coffee.
“Don’t you have to work tomorrow?” Sam asked, choosing to ignore, for the moment, Jo’s mutinous expression as she picked up her purse and pulled out her wallet.
“Yes, so?” she asked, pulling out a twenty dollar bill.  “I can buy my own wine, Sam, if it’s a problem.”
“Buying you a glass of wine isn’t a problem, Jo.  The problem would be in sending you home drunk, and you’ve already had three glasses.  Now put your money away and stop trying to push my buttons.  Believe me, you won’t like the results.”
“Push your buttons?” Jo gasped, the slight buzz she had making her voice louder than she intended.
“Yes,” Sam insisted firmly just as the waiter appeared with the coffee.  Sam thanked him and slid Jo’s coffee closer to her.  “Now be a good girl and drink that.  Do you think I don’t know what you’re doing?  You’re curious, Jo.  Wondering about that spank I gave you earlier?  Wondering if I truly mean everything I’ve told you tonight?  You’re thinking only a crazy woman would agree to the kind of dynamics I’ve described.  After all, what woman would want a man so totally devoted to her that he paid attention to every little detail of her life?  What woman would want a man who knew her so well that nothing slipped by him?  If she were upset or angry or hurt, he would know it and do everything humanly possible to help her. 
“A man who would care for her as if she were the most precious thing in his world, because she is.”
Jo squirmed in her seat.  It was clear he meant exactly what he said.  Butterflies danced in her tummy as her heartbeat thumped at her temples.  Her panties were damp and it appalled her.  God, yes, she thought him attractive, but now doubly so.  She couldn’t imagine someone taking care of her for a change, and it was a heady thought and oh so tempting. She actually couldn’t remember the last time someone had asked her what they could do for her.  Had there ever been someone to hold her when she cried, or to reassure her when she was worried or weary?  Her hands trembled as she picked up the coffee cup and obeyed him.  Jo knew she’d had too much to drink, but hadn’t been able to stop herself from ordering another one.  This evening was nothing like she had expected, and she was truly rattled.  After several sips of the strong brew, she pulled herself together.

Excerpt 2: Mike and Brandy
Brandy slowly released the breath she’d been holding and dropped her arms in defeat.  The robe slid off her shoulders and pooled at her feet.  She didn’t try to cover her breasts or her rounded tummy with her hands, although that’s exactly what she wanted to do.  Instead she stood frozen as twin tears trickled down her cheeks.
Mike put his large hands on her shoulders and steered her to the cheval mirror in the corner.  Standing behind her, he saw the pain she was in and moved her hair, kissing her shoulder and wrapping his arm around her from behind, supporting her.
“Open your eyes, Brandy,” he ordered gently.  “Tell me what you see.”
“I can’t,” she whimpered, the tears now dropping from her chin to her breasts.
“Yes, sweetheart, you can.  Now please do as I ask.”
Brandy opened her eyes, but she couldn’t see anything except a blurred reflection.  Reaching for the tissues, Mike dried her tears.
“Please stop crying and do as I’ve asked.  Be objective and fair.”
Looking at their reflection Brandy finally answered.
“I see an older woman, much older than me, who is soft and flabby and I see a man who is handsome and strong.”
“And what is that man doing, Brandy?”
“He’s looking at the woman, pitying her,” Brandy whispered.
“Brandy, do you need glasses?”
“No,” she sniffed, “just for reading.”
“Let me tell you what I see and then maybe we’ll try again,” he said, holding her eyes in the mirror.  “I see a woman with glistening auburn hair.  She has lovely gray eyes that are shining right now because they are full of tears.  The man holding her is much larger that she is.  The skin of his arm is darker and thicker than hers. Her skin is like porcelain, almost translucent.  She is delicate and fragile and very, very precious to the man.  I can tell this by the gentle way he holds her.”
He picked up her arm and curved it up to his neck holding it there gently.
“See her arm, how softly curved it is?” he asked her reflection.  “It’s made that way so that when she holds him, it is with tenderness.”  Letting it slide slowly back down, he put both arms around her and lifted her breasts.
“See these breasts, how perfectly they are formed?  See how full and supple they are?  Look at the delicate veins that run just below the surface of her pale skin,” he continued, stroking each breast down to the nipple.  “Each nipple hardens under his touch, preparing for his mouth and lips.  The man enjoys how his woman responds to him.  You can see it in his face, his eyes, can’t you?”
“Yes,” Brandy whispered, mesmerized by his tone, by his touch.
“Maybe in time, there will be a child nursing at these breasts, but the man doesn’t care.  He will share the bounty of these beautiful breasts with his child,” he told her, kissing her neck.
Reluctantly, he released her breast and moved his hands lower, sliding them down her sides and over her hips.
“These are her hips.  They are wider than her waist and they give her that cute little wiggle when she walks.  See how smooth the skin is, how they fit perfectly in his hands.  There are bones under there, and they serve their purpose, but he doesn’t need to see them, feel them.  No, they are padded and welcoming when he takes her.”
“This is his home,” he whispered, sliding his hand down her tummy and cupping her womanhood.  “It’s where he lives, where he most wants to be.  It’s warm and wet and so very exciting when he penetrates her.  These thighs are not concave,” he continued, stroking the inside of her thigh.  “They are rounded and comforting when they wrap around his waist, pulling him deeper into her.”  Turning her sideways, he kept one hand cupping her and traced from her shoulder to her back with the other.
“This is her backbone, her spine,” he told her, gently touching each vertebrae.  “Do you think he is counting them when he is plunging into her from behind?”
“No,” she whispered.
“That’s right, he’s not.  He’s looking at the beautiful skin of her back, her softly rounded shoulders, and kissing her neck.  Maybe he will sink his teeth into her shoulder, like a stallion now and then, just to show her who’s boss, but he’s not counting her bones.”
Sliding his hand down farther, Mike cupped her bottom firmly and grinned.
“This is her bottom.  See how full it is?   See the man’s smile when he touches her there?” he asked.  “It gives him great pleasure to be able to touch his woman’s ass.  It’s made for stroking, and kissing and nibbling and sometimes for spanking, and Brandy,” he told her tipping her chin up with one finger.  “That’s exactly what you are going to get if you ever say another bad thing about this beautiful body.”
“Oh, Mike,” she whimpered before turning into his arms and sobbing her heart out. 
Mike held her and rocked her gently in his arms, stroking her back and smoothing her hair. 
 

Match Me If You Dare
Marcus learned two important lessons in life: trust your gut and never hide your true nature. The first made him a best-selling author, and the second kept him single. Dragging his twin brother Ty to a match-making party was a split-second decision. 'Perfect woman' was an oxymoron and if such a creature existed, he wasn't interested. If nothing else, the party might help get a certain redhead out of his head.
The 'Luck of the Irish' eluded Susan, and she didn't expect that to change. Running into Sam Barringer, CEO of Sugar Babies, Inc. on her bike was an accident, but her life quickly changed once she agreed to let Sugar Babies, Inc. find her a match.
Kelsey feels old, ancient at times. Somewhere along the way, all the joy has been sucked out of her. The last traces of her black eye had finally faded. Now if she could find a match who didn't scare her half to death, she just might survive!

Excerpt 1: Susan and Marcus
“I assure you, I can hold my liquor,” Susan replied, flustered and embarrassed.
“And I can assure you, she cannot,” a deep voice spoke from behind her left shoulder at the same time a large male hand settled on her bare nape.
“What the hell,” she growled, turning and locking eyes with the man of her dreams, and her nightmares.  Her eyes traveled from the top of his dark head to the toes of his black boots enjoying every inch in between as she whispered, “Boots.”
“Pardon me?” he asked, amused.
“Nothing,” she shot back.  “I can’t believe there are two of you, as if one wasn’t enough.”
“Marcus,” Ty acknowledged with a nod.
“Ty,” Marcus replied.  “I see you’ve met my little bookstore muse.  Perhaps you’d like to introduce us since I haven’t been able to get her out of my mind.”
“Certainly. This is Miss Susan Shaughnessy, and this is Miss Kelsey Reed.  Kelsey, this is my brother, Marcus.”
“It’s nice to meet you Mr. McCarthy,” Kelsey replied with a smile, reaching out her hand.
Marcus took it and bending slightly, kissed the back softly, “A pleasure, Kelsey.”
Susan couldn’t help but notice the gentleness with which Marcus treated Kelsey and suppressed a pang of jealousy. Turning back to the bartender, she stood as tall as possible and fixed him with a stare. 
“Still trying to rule the world with a pair of shoes, I see,” Marcus noted, looking down at her feet.
“I am not trying to rule anything,” Susan insisted.  “I like high heels, so sue me.  Now about that drink…”
“There’s dancing out on the veranda.  I think you and I will take a little stroll out there,” he informed her firmly, taking her arm, “and have a little talk.  How tall are you anyway, without those weapons?”
“I’m five feet eight and hardly what you would call short,” she sassed grumpily, forced to go with him or make a scene.
“You’re also a liar.  Now what’s the truth?”
“Okay, if you want to get nitpicky about it, I’m five four.  There, does that make you happy?  Do you have a height fetish or what?” she hissed as he guided her out the French doors.
“As if happens, I do have a fetish, but it has nothing to do with height.  I enjoy spanking naughty young ladies who misbehave.”
“No kidding,” she shot back as he twirled her into his arms and began to move to the slow, soulful music.  “Who would have guessed it, I mean with you being here and all?”
“Funny,” he replied, snagging her closer.  “What brings you to a Sugar Babies party?  You’re obviously not submissive.  Are you hoping to be their first dominant female?” he asked, smiling. Not that she could see it.  She was much too close to watch his face. 
Susan struggled slightly, trying to put a little space between them but he was obviously not having it.  They were pressed together from her thighs to her breasts, so close she could hear his heart beating.  Damn, why did he have to smell so delicious?
“Money,” she answered shortly, finally relaxing in his arms.  There was no point in fighting a losing battle, and Susan did not like to lose.
“Well, at least you’re honest about that,” he murmured into her hair.
“I want you,” he told her simply, as if he had the world by the tail and had only to state his desires to achieve them. 
It was true; she felt him against her belly, hard and apparently unashamed of it.  Truth be told, she was quite wet herself.  Imagine responding to his caveman approach, she thought in surprise. If ever a man needed to be taken down a peg or two, this was that man, she decided. 
“Why me?” she asked, trying to keep her voice steady.  For some reason this guy was getting to her.  “Why not Kelsey or someone similar?” she asked, genuinely curious. 
“Apart from the obvious?” he asked, as his erection became even more prominent than it had been.
Good grief, she thought, how much bigger would it get?  Sighing, she decided to just enjoy the sensation of being blatantly desired, as tremors rocked her core.
“Yes, apart from the obvious.”
“Kelsey’s a charming little girl and I expect she will need some minor correction from time to time.  She will be compliant for the most part and a sweet little bundle to come home to.  I’m sure my brother is making his move, even as we speak.  Ty’s a gentle man unless something riles him and then he can be a force to be reckoned with, but I doubt Kelsey has the disposition to truly make him angry.  I, however, have a darker side to my nature.”
“Do tell,” she drawled sarcastically.  “Is there more?”
Marcus laughed with a rich deep rumble in his chest that weakened her knees, and she found herself clutching his shoulder. 
“Of course there’s more.  Do you think I’m so shallow that I would pick the first girl who agreed to be spanked?”
“How would I know?  You’re here for exactly that and I’m here for the money.  I think it’s pretty clear what we both want.”
“What a cynic,” he said, shaking his head.  “All right, allow me to elaborate.  There have been a number of women in my bed over the years that enjoyed a little slap and tickle, so to speak.  I want a relationship, a woman who will be a partner.  If I were looking for a one-night stand believe me I could find it or buy it.  No, I want a relationship that is long term.  I am a dominant man, I admit it, and I have no desire to spend months courting a woman who will run screaming to her mama the first time I correct her poor behavior.  It’s best to be upfront and open about what I expect.  I will be the undisputed head of my own home, no exceptions.  My woman will be loved to within an inch of sanity in the bedroom and cherished and protected outside of it as well.  She will also be disciplined as I see fit, if she breaks the rules.  It’s really very simple.”
“I see,” Susan said, with a smirk she made no effort to hide.  In her mind ‘boots’ would last about ten minutes in her bed and she’d have him eating out of her hand.  “So, that brings us back to the original question, why me?”
“To put it delicately, my body responds to yours in a way it hasn’t for another woman in a very long time.  I’ve thought about you constantly since we met in the bookstore.  You’re beautiful, obviously, but more than that you’re sassy and opinionated and quite funny.  With your attitude, I’m sure you will spend a great deal of your time over my knee, which I will enjoy immensely and you will abhor, but that’s as it should be.”
“What if I’m good, very, very good?” she asked, walking her fingers up his chest and looking at him from under her lashes as the music came to a stop.
“I will still spank you, frequently, but it will be a different kind of spanking. But for some reason I can’t picture you being good,” he whispered in her ear.  “Oh there is one other thing,” he told her, straightening.  “You do have a perfect ass.”
“Yes, there is that,” Susan agreed, looking over her shoulder and checking out her butt.
Marcus laughed, wrapped an arm around her and pulled her tight against him.  His head lowered and his lips took hers in a kiss so possessive and fierce she was dizzy within a heartbeat.  Gripping his jacket she held on for dear life as the world spun away.  He released her far too quickly and her head dropped weakly to his chest.
“Shit,” she mumbled.
“Exactly,” he replied as he began steering her toward the door.
“Wait,” she cried, tugging him to a stop.  “What do you do for a living?”
“I’m a writer. Why? Does it matter?”
“Let me guess?  You write spanking novels,” she grinned.
“I have been known to craft a spanking novel or two, under a pen name, of course.  My main interest as far as my writing goes is Si Fi, although I have written a few suspense and mystery novels.”
“Are you any good at it?”
“I’ve been on the bestseller list a few times; maybe you’ve read something of mine?”
“No, I doubt it.  My tastes run more toward smut,” she quipped.
“Maybe a little discipline will improve your tastes,” he shot back, grinning.
“God, I hope you’re not a literary snob,” she replied.  “I take my smut very seriously and I won’t have you disparaging it.”
“Susan,” Marcus warned, pulling her back into the shadows.
“Yes?” she inquired innocently, snuggling into his arms.
“There is another reason I chose you.   You need me,” he told her, holding her shoulders firmly in his strong hands and looking intently into her eyes.
That intensity touched her and she tried to laugh it off.
“Why? To improve my mind as well as my behavior?” she asked teasingly.  Did she need him?  Possibly.  Would she admit it?  Not likely.
Before he could answer, Sam came to the doorway and called her name.
“Susan, are you out here?  There’s someone I want to introduce you to.”
Marcus walked her out of the shadows, his arm firmly around her waist, hugging her close to his side.
“Too late, Sam,” he informed him smoothly.  “The lady is taken.”
“I see,” said Sam, looking to Susan, who nodded her head almost imperceptibly.  “Well, congratulations then.  I’m happy for you both.  Let me know when you’ve worked out the details and we’ll get busy on a contract.”  Walking closer, he took Susan’s hand and asked her directly.
“Are you sure, Susan?  I worry about you and you are a little impulsive.  You don’t have to decide tonight, you know.”
This was it, she thought.  They’d talked for all of fifteen minutes.  He’d kissed her passionately, soaked her panties and promised her frequent spankings.  She could walk away right now and go meet another man and run the risk of Marcus leaving.  But she couldn’t really.  Something in her heart told her to stay, and she thought she’d seen a shooting star fly across her vision when he kissed her.  Besides, there was that ‘loved to insanity in the bedroom’ part, and she didn’t want to miss that at all.
Susan felt Marcus tense beside her and she slipped her arm around his waist.
“I’m sure,” she answered with a wink.  “We understand each other, don’t we, Marcus?”

Excerpt 2: Kelsey and Ty
Kelsey clung to Ty’s arm in the cool evening air and finally worked up the nerve to speak.
“A doctor, huh?  Does that mean you will want to do kinky medical stuff to me?” she asked, trying to sound calm.  They hadn’t really discussed particulars so she had no idea what he was into. 
“Do you want me to?” Ty countered.
Kelsey had a hard time knowing what to say.  She liked Ty and for some reason trusted him, and if he was into that sort of thing, she would try to please him.  On the other hand, it scared the bejesus out of her.  Finally she decided to be honest.  There was no sense starting off their relationship with lies, other than the one she’d been practicing for that is.
“No, I don’t,” she forced out, waiting for his reply.
“Good, because I’m a vet,” he laughed.
“A vet?” she squealed, slapping his arm.  “You let me fret over it like that and you’re a veterinarian?”
“Kelsey, I know you as well as you know me.  If you have an interest in medical fetishes, I’m sure I can satisfy it.  I wanted to give you the option and see if you were going to be honest with me.”
“I guess I can understand that, and Ty, I want you to be happy, too.  If there is something you want to do, whatever it is, I’ll try.  As long as you’re patient with me I’m willing to keep an open mind.”
“That’s good to know.  I would never intentionally hurt you and I’m an easygoing kind of guy, but you have to know that if you deliberately disobey me or put yourself at any kind of risk, I won’t hesitate to spank you, Kelsey.”
“I know,” she answered so softly he had to bend to hear her. “Ty… are you interested in all that baby stuff?”
“No,” he answered, “you’re enough of a little girl for me just as you are.  I don’t want a two-year-old, unless of course it’s my own child.   Do you want to be babied?”
“Heavens, no! I’ve spent most of my life trying to convince everyone that I’m bigger, stronger, or older than I was.  Even now that I’m legally an adult I still get treated like a child.  That’s what I was most afraid of about Sugar Babies, finding a man who would never let me really grow up.”
“I’m quite a bit older than you, Kelsey, and I can’t promise I won’t baby you to a certain extent.  It’s in my nature to baby anything or anyone smaller or weaker than me, especially if they are sick or injured.  But I will let you grow up and I’ll help you become the beautiful, confident, mature woman you are meant to be.  Do we have a deal?”
“We have a deal, Ty,” she sighed happily, hugging his arm tight and laying her head against him as they walked.   “You don’t know how glad I am that I didn’t chicken out and skip that party.”
“Oh, I’m pretty sure I do, Sweat Pea,” he replied.
Tag Lines:
"So you did this with the intention of faking an orgasm with me.  You were going to let me think you were enjoying making love when all the time you planned on hating every minute of it?"
"Red," he told her, pausing in his mission and resting his hand on her very hot bottom.  "You are about the most ill-behaved woman I've ever met."
"That's not fair," Sue hissed.  "You picked me because I was 'ill-behaved'!  You wanted someone to spank, admit it."
 
Matched for Keeps
Susan Shaughnessy was down on her luck, but all that is about to change. She just signed a contract with Sugar Babies, Inc., an exclusive matchmaking company, and for the next year she will be under the watchful eye of one Marcus McCarthy, award-winning author and Dom extraordinaire.
Kelsey Reed was shaking in her shoes as she got into the limo. Thank goodness Ty, Kelsey's match and Marcus's twin brother, wasn't as strict as Marcus. Ty is sweet and he smells good, a far cry from the last man who tried to put his hands on her. As a veterinarian, Ty is naturally gentle and caring. If he doesn’t love her, that’s okay. At least for the next year she would have a roof over her head and someone to hold her when she was scared. With her generous allowance, her days of sleeping in the back room at Fat Rusty's Diner with a knife under her pillow are over.

Excerpt: Susan and Marcus
Squaring her shoulders she opened the door, determined to tell him that some things were just off limits.  There was no way he was going to make her crave things she wasn't interested in.  Suddenly she heard the grandfather clock in the great room strike the half hour, its deep tone reverberating through her in warning.
"Shit," she mumbled as she ran down the hall to the stairway.  Susan flew down the stairs at top speed, cursing herself for her weakness.  She got to the door at the same moment Marcus opened it to come looking for her and ran smack into his arms.
"You're late," he observed, taking in her flushed face and panting breaths.  Her hair swirled around her like fire against her pale skin and silky robe.  "Is something wrong?" he asked, gathering up her hair and bringing a shining handful to his face.  "You smell like sugar cookies," he murmured, pulling her closer and smiling.  "So are you running to something or away from something?   Is there a spider I need to remove?" he teased.
Susan stiffened in his arms. "The only spider around here is you," she spat, wiggling out of his arms.
"How so?" Marcus laughed and let her go, leaning against his desk as she scurried to the other side of the room and took up a position behind the sofa. 
 "Don't act so innocent, Marcus.  You know what you're doing to me.  This isn't exactly what I signed on for," she huffed, taking the items out of her pocket and dropping them on the sofa.
"What did you sign on for?  I never misrepresented myself as far as I know.  From the very beginning I told you that my desires were slightly twisted.  Do you feel that I have deceived you?"
"No, it's not that; you were basically honest," she answered, twisting the sash of her robe as she avoided meeting his eyes.
"Then what's the problem?" 
"I guess you're just more than I expected.  I thought there would be a little spanking, a lot of sex and an incredible amount of money." 
"And how is that different than what you received?" he asked, confused.
"It just is," she shot back.  "I didn't figure on liking everything you did to me," she growled, her eyes flashing
"I see," he said as he turned his head away and smiled.  "What would you like me to do?" he asked, facing her again.  "Do you want me to stop spanking you?"
"Would you?"
"No.  How about the sex?  Do you want me to stop making love to you, or maybe just resort to missionary style in the dark a couple of nights a week?"
"Good grief, no," she shuddered, remembering all the times she'd dumped men for exactly that reason. 
"Well, Red, if you want me to consider your argument, you're going to have to be a little more specific," he informed her.
"I don't know how to put it," she snapped, pacing behind the large leather sofa.  "I feel out of control, needy, on edge or excited all the time.  It's very frustrating for someone like me."
"Go on," he instructed calmly.
"I don't feel like myself anymore, Marcus.  You've changed me somehow, woven a web around me that I can't seem to break out of.  I can't believe the things I think about during the day, waiting for you to come out of your office." 
"Sue, fantasizing about sex is perfectly normal."
"No Marcus, this is way beyond fantasizing.  I get wet the moment you walk into a room.  All you have to do is look at me and my body weeps with need.  Sometimes I even imagine myself doing things that I know you will spank me for.  I'm telling you it's just bizarre," she moaned.  "And now this," she pointed at the toys. 
"Red, I would never force you," he insisted quietly.
"That's the point, Marcus," she cried.  "You wouldn't have to.  You have a way of making me want things I would never have imagined letting anyone do to me.  This is not who I am," she insisted heatedly.  "I am not a submissive woman!"
"Don't I know it," he laughed. 
"Marcus, this is not funny.  It's shaken the very core of who I thought I was and it's scary as hell," she said, her fists clenched at her sides.

Ty and Kelsey:
Kelsey actually got away without a spanking.  She was so happy, she giggled all the way to their room and Ty didn't have the heart to spoil her good time.  Yes, she'd acted a little wild, but he should have known better than to let her go off with that redheaded vixen.  As soon as they got to their suite she collapsed on the sofa and held out her hand, admiring her ring.
"Gosh, Ty, in a few hours we'll be married and I'll be Mrs. Ty McCarthy," she said grinning from ear to ear.  "I can hardly believe it.  If this is a dream, I hope I never wake up."
Ty tossed his jacket over the chair and sat down beside her, pulling her feet onto his lap and slipping her heels off.  Gently he massaged her feet as she sighed in delight.
"It's not a dream, sweetie, and you can plan on waking up in my arms every day for the rest of your life, but about tonight…"
"Are you angry, Ty?" she asked, suddenly worried and biting the nail of her index finger.
"I was, at first.  Seeing you on stage with that man made my blood boil."
"So you're not mad anymore?" she sighed in relief as she scooted onto his lap, straddling his hips and undoing his tie.
"No, I guess a girl has a right to cut loose every once in a while. Just don't think you'll be making a habit of it," he warned.  "Besides, I think we gave those women something special to remember about their trip to sin city," he added, grinning.
"That kiss was something special, wasn't it Ty?" she sighed, nibbling on his lips and emitting breathy little puffs.  "I swear I thought I was going to faint right on the spot."
"I would have caught you," he assured her, his hands moving up and down her spread thighs.  "Never worry about that honey.   I'll always be there to catch you if you fall."  Ty's hands moved to grasp her hips and pulled her snugly against his rapidly growing erection.  In about three minutes he would be ready to throw her back on the sofa if she didn't stop grinding her pretty little pussy against him.  It was the words she spoke next that shocked him, scattering his thought like leaves in the wind.
"Ty," she whispered, "If you want to spank me… I mean if you think it would make you feel better, you can," she offered, blushing wildly.  "I know I wasn't exactly 'your angel' tonight."

The Last Match
When Erica asked John Braden to accompany her to Vegas for a wedding, it seemed like a good idea. John was mature, wealthy and harmless – at least, she thought so until he pulled her over his knee. Suddenly the mild-mannered man from Texas didn't seem so uncomplicated. As an administrative assistant for Sugar Babies Inc., she is determined to find John the perfect match, and quickly.

Excerpt: 1
“Look at me, Erica,” he insisted, steepling his fingers as he peered at her.  “I want to know what’s going on between you and John.”
“Nothing’s going on,” she replied, meeting his eyes.  “I didn’t want to go to Vegas with a group of couples and feel like a third wheel, so I asked him to come along.  He’s a nice guy, we had fun, end of story.  He’s a client, just like everyone else.”
“Then would you care to explain why, for the last month, every single match I suggest for him comes back with a negative comment from you on the form?”
“That’s not true,” she defended herself.  “I don’t care who he’s matched with as long as it works out and grows the company.”
“Oh really,” he drawled, picking up a stack of papers and walking around to the front of his desk.  Leaning his tall body against it, he began to review the forms as he recapped her comments, handing her each paper.  “Too young, too old, not a good match, he’s too dominant for her, she wants a daddy, she’s too short, they’ll look ridiculous together; he likes dark hair, she doesn’t want to be spanked or disciplined, she has children and he wants to travel, she wants to top, and my personal favorite, she’s a whiney wimp, he’ll hate that and her hair looks like straw.’  So what gives, Erica?   Why are you deliberately sabotaging John’s chances of finding the right match?  Did he do something to you in Vegas and you want some sort of payback?”
“No, it’s nothing like that,” she insisted, standing and twisting the papers in her hands.  “I just don’t think any of these women are right for him, that’s all.”
“Would you like to drop him as a client?  I like John, know him very well, but if it bothers you to the point you can’t be objective, I’ll call him and explain that right now we are not making any progress and he should feel free to look elsewhere,” he offered, sympathetically placing his hand on her shoulder.
Erica shook his hand off and thrust the papers at his chest.  “No! Absolutely not,” she insisted.  “I’ll set up a meet-and-greet, for two weeks from Friday.  You invite every one of those women,” she said, pointing her finger at the papers in his hand.  “I’ll take care of notifying our clients, including John Braden.  I’m sorry Sam; apparently I let my personal feelings cloud my judgment, which isn’t acceptable.  I will make it my mission to find the perfect match for Mr. Braden, and this will be the best party we’ve ever had,” she promised before turning to leave the room.  She barely managed to close the door without slamming it.
Sam smiled and shook his head.  He had a feeling Erica would indeed find John’s perfect match, and he didn’t think she’d have to look too hard, if she would only open her own eyes.
Excerpt: 2
Leaving her office, she went to the kitchen for a cup of coffee and retrieved her messages from the receptionist.  Sinking into her chair, she finally noticed the small box on her desk.  As she reached for it, she was surprised to see her hands shaking slightly.  Wiping her sweaty palms on her skirt, she picked it up and pulled the tiny bow.  Inside was a gold engraved charm, with ‘Lil Sweetheart’ written on the heart in flowing script, the curling letters entwined with etched flowers.  The delicate gold chain was quite long, she noticed, before setting it down and picking up the embossed card.  ‘The chain is long Darlin’ so you can wear it under your clothes and nestled between your breasts.  No one will ever see it,’ JB.
She was quiet for a long time, the necklace dangling from her fingers, the charm twirling gently as sunlight reflected off the gold.  Damn you JB, she thought, as she wiped away the tear that silently slipped down her cheek.  This was too much!  This was a gift a loving father or a doting uncle would give to his daughter or niece!  So why did she feel so sad, so lost?  No one had ever given her something so personal, so emotionally gut-wrenching. 
She wasn’t a Lil’ Sweetheart!  Had never been anyone’s little sweetheart!  She was hard and cold and focused.  She was ruthless in her quest to make her own way without depending on anyone.  What did this man see in her that would make him think she would appreciate a gift of this nature?  She wasn’t a child; in fact she’d never had a childhood and she didn’t want one now.  Her early life had consisted of being passed from one miserable foster home to another.  She had vague memories of a little sister, but she couldn’t be sure they were even accurate.  By the time she was old enough and well off enough to think about searching for her, she no longer cared.  
What did it matter anyway?  It was all in the past, water under the bridge and all that crap.  No, she was a survivor, she thought, wiping away another tear.  She’d be damned if any man made her spend even one minute thinking about what could have been.
The knock on her door startled her, and she quickly shoved the box in her trash and slipped the necklace over her head, the charm cold between her breasts.
“Come in.”

 
Author Bio:
Best-Selling author Stevie MacFarlane has been writing in her spare time for more than twenty years.  It wasn’t until 2012 that she decided to submit some of her work to Blushing Books.  Since then she has been a nominated for several awards and has frequently hit Amazon’s list of Most Popular Erotic/BDSM authors. While most of her stories are on the sweet side, she never fails to add just enough kink and humor to keep her loyal fans clamoring for more. 
Stevie lives in rural upstate New York.  She loves hearing from readers and you can write to her at steviemacfarlane@aol.com  


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The romance doesn't end after Valentine's Day!

2/20/2019

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Experience tantalizing kisses and oh so satisfying romances with Regency rakes, earls, and spies along with Medieval knights, Edwardian ladies, Tudor witches, and Scottish lairds in this must read seven book collection.


Available for preorder at these vendors:
Amazon iBooks Barnes and Noble Kobo


This collection will be live on or about February 26th for $2.99, so preorder for $0.99 while you can. Here's a taste of what's inside.


Bree Wolf: Rules To Be Broken: A scandalous lady. A virtuous gentleman. And rules that need to be broken.
After a minor faux-pas, DIANA LAWSON finds herself forced into a marriage of convenience to save her reputation. However, London society still talks, and no matter how hard Diana tries, the whispers never cease.
After her well-respected husband dies in the arms of his mistress, Diana decides to live by her own rules alone.
ARTHUR ABBOTT, EARL OF STANHOPE, is a stickler for propriety and has never met a rule he did not feel compelled to uphold. However, when he saves a young widow from a most inappropriate situation, he is drawn into a world quite unlike his own. Convinced that he is only lending a hand out of duty, Arthur agrees to a daring compromise.
For Diana to uphold society's rules, Arthur has to break them.
Can scandalous and virtuous ever walk hand in hand?

~*~*~*

Tammy Burton Andresen: My Wicked Earl:

Lord Rex Abelman, Earl of Casterly, has no intention of marrying. His life is that of an adventurer. But he cannot deny that Lady Daffodil is as sweet and funny as she is beautiful. Nor can help but wonder what life might be like if he were a better man.
Rex is a rake and a rogue who has sworn off marriage. He is the last man Daffodil should give her attention. So why do her eyes drift to him at every opportunity?

~*~*~

Dawn Brower: Surrendering to My Spy A rogue, a marquess and a spy... Each an integral part of Dominic Rossington's life and he does them all rather well. Love throws him off balance and he'll do everything in his power to protect the one who holds his heart, Lady Rosanna. Danger lurks on the horizon and he'll have to put it all on the line to save her.

~*~*~

Amanda Mariee: One Enchanting Kiss Handsome-as-sin Thomas Astley is more than a little intrigued by the vibrant, saucy woman who saved his life. He knows she is more than she seems, and vows to discover all of Moire’s secrets. A move that unbeknownst to him threatens her future and all she holds dear…including her heart.

~*~*~

Aubrey Wynne, Author: Genre: Medieval 12th century Rolf's Quest A wizard, a curse, a fated love…
When Rolf finally discovers the woman who can end the curse that has plagued his family for centuries, she is already betrothed. Time is running out for the royal wizard of King Henry II. If he cannot find true love without the use of sorcery, the magic will die for future generations.
Melissa is intrigued by the mystical, handsome man that haunts her by night and tempts her by day. His bizarre tale of Merlin, enchantments, and finding genuine love has her questioning his sanity and her heart.
From the moment Melissa stepped from his dreams and into his arms, Rolf knew she was his destiny. Now, he will battle against time, a powerful duke, and call on the gods to save her.

~*~*~

Katherine Bone: Regency: My Lady Rogue Everything Lord Danbury and Baroness Chauncey have done for Nelson’s Tea has led to this moment…
Gillian, Baroness Chauncey has only been an English spy for Nelson’s Tea for four years, but she truly thought she had seen it all. Yet as war continues off England’s shores, from the sea to the continent, and victory is won at great cost, a devastating betrayal threatens the men she has come to know and love. And her love for one man in particular is tested when she makes a life-or-death decision that could destroy everything she holds dear.
As members of Nelson’s Tea, Admiral Horatio Nelson’s mercenaries have never questioned Lord Simon Danbury’s authority—until now. Death’s darkening veil is descending over London, and as a new hierarchy within the group begins to rise, a hostile mole prepares to strike. Surrounded by the greatest spies in England, can Simon unify the clandestine group without losing the baroness? Or will she be the price they have to pay for peace?

~*~*~

Keriann McKenna: Genre: Edwardian set in 1912: On Loving a Woman: Do No Harm. Professor Ian MacDermot is pleased when a beautiful young woman is turned over to him for individual instruction. His task—to teach her to be a dutiful wife.
The fiercely independent-thinking Sarah MacDonald is having none of it. Haunted by a dark experience from her past, she vowed never to marry and become a 'sex slave' to any man, but Ian MacDermot is not just any man.
When Ian reads the Dean’s instructions, detailing what he is to do to train her, he finds it unconscionable. With the help of Sarah's father who is a barrister, Ian and Sarah embark on an impossible mission to bring the Dean to justice. They know they may not succeed but time will tell...and timing is everything.
While On Loving a Woman in the fourth book in a series, it is a standalone novel. There are 3-4 pages where abuse of young women is spoken about. If this will upset you, please skip over those pages.

NOTE: These are not erotic novels.



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Come meet me at Sweet Virginia Breeze!

10/3/2018

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I'm so excited to be attending Sweet Virginia Breeze in Richmond! This will be my first book signing event ever, so if you're going to be in the area this weekend please come.  There will be more than 60 authors present, great door prizes, plenty of books for sale and fun activities to choose from. Check it out and hope to see you there!

Hugs,
Stevie

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