Merry Christmas from Leigh Ellwood

Sorry to have neglected everyone this holiday season. I resolve in 2007 to stay in better touch with you all. For now, here is my gift to you: a "daring" short to warm your winter night.

A Daring Kiss by Leigh Ellwood

"Look up."

Sue darted her gaze upward and a smile split her features. Taped to the top of the doorway dividing the living room and kitchen was a tiny sprig of mistletoe. Quite small, too, as she would have missed it completely had not her husband Cal corraled her at the threshold.

"Why, Cal Briscoe," she drawled, teasing, "I never pegged you for a sentimental soul."

Cal chuckled and drew his wife into a tighter embrace. "I like to keep you guessing."

"I'll say." She peered past his shoulder and fought to suppress a laugh at the unusual holiday decor of their living room. Three weeks in, and the sight of the half-Christmas tree taking up one corner continued to bring a flutter to her stomach. She'd been well aware of her husband's upbringing - born of one Christian and one Jewish parent - and it only made sense Cal would express his heritage in a humorous way.

The half-menorah, situated on the coffee table, looked ready to teeter from the weight of its candles. Sue still marveled at its structure.

"Yet," she said aloud, "this mistletoe is whole." Miniature yet grandly pungent for its size, Sue inhaled the musky outdoor scent and searched for any sign of such tampering.

"It better be, for what I paid for it," Cal muttered, and Sue playfully jabbed in the ribs.

"Well, I think it's sweet. And, underused, wouldn't you say?"

Like they needed mistletoe to kiss. Several months after the wedding, the honeymoon continued, with every room of the new house being christened. And rechristened. Still, Sue was a sucker for Christmas traditions, and looked forward to celebrating her first with Cal. Observing favorite rituals, and creating new ones.

She closed her eyes and puckered, and waited. When no lips brushed against hers, when she felt no rough patch of five o'clock shadow deliciously scrape her cheeks, she pried one eye open. Cal leaned back, watching her with fascination.

"What?"

He shook his head and smiled. "It's not that kind of mistletoe," he said.

"Oh? I wasn't aware there was a different genus or species. So, what kind of mistletoe is this? Do we shake hands instead?"

"I hope not. Otherwise I'm taking it back. No, for this kind of mistletoe you do something very different," Cal said, sinking to his knees. "Something I think you'll like more."

It certainly looked promising, Cal on his knees and playing with the zipper of her jeans. She braced her stance and wriggled in time to his ministrations so the denim slipped effortlessly over her hips and down her legs. The lace thong she wore proved no inconvenience for Cal as he wiped the transparent patch away to reveal her shaved pussy.

Stepping out of the jeans, she grasped the jamb and braced for impact. Cal traced a finger up and down her inner labia. An gust of hot breath sent shivers across her skin and she twitched, feeling the moisture slicking up her pussy.

"Merry Christmas," Cal said, and devoured her whole. His lips clamped over her pussy, he attacked her with his tongue. Broad, flat strokes swiped up her pussy lips, encouraging her to part so he could reach her clit. Sue felt her knees threaten to buckle; the sensation of Cal's nether kiss ignited a fire bound to consume her.

Her nipples tingled under her shirt, but she didn't dare let go of the jamb to pinch some relief into them. Spreading her thighs wider, she granted Cal deeper access, crying out as his tongue plunged into her slit to drink from her. Then he was back at her clit, tapping it rapidly and groaning his approval of her taste.

The orgasm stewing inside her grew too big for her balance. The shockwave hit and sent her rocking on her heels, but Cal clamped a hand to her backside and kept her standing as he continued to lick her. Wave upon wave shot upward and lit her skin. She felt brighter than the half-tree blinking behind them.

When finally the pleasure fire faded Cal fell backward with a gasp, rubbing his spine against the other jamb. "I love you, babe," he said, catching his breath. Sue could no longer keep her strength and crumpled to the floor beside him.

"I love you, too."

Cal pointed to the ceiling. "And," he added, "we are never taking that thing down."

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

Happy Holidays from Penny

Dear Santa,

I've been a very good boi this year. I've written a ton of smut that has made people very happy. Never mind that it's all the manlove stuff... I know you're not prejudiced against that in any way. And tell Ms. Clause that the fan mail is really sweet, but I'm just not gonna do the Rudolf/Donner slash. I got the Christmas cards out before the holiday instead of after (like last year) and I've even finished shopping for the Spawn. With that in mind, Santa dear, I would really like to see the following under my tree:

100' of purple rope, something with a nice silky feel. The last bundle had to be cut off the headboard and you just can't do much with 10' sections.

A twink-elf wearing nothing but an apron who loves to clean and cook... This could be a dual prezzi as I think Sexy Guy would appreciate him as well. If you're really feeling generous, you could give him the skills of a European Football Referee/Den Mother so that when the Spawn get going a neutral third party can break them up.

Enough bourbon to last at least through New Years.

A more cooperative muse. The one you gave me last year seems to disappear at the worst moments only to be discovered days (sometimes weeks) later sleeping off a binge under a bridge. Don't get me wrong, he's very creative, but the absences are driving me nuts.

So, Santa, if you can fit those things in your sleigh, I'd be a happy camper.

Thanks,
James


PS: The standard well spiked eggnogg waits for you.

2 new releases from Vivien Dean and Kate Burns

Vivien Dean's "The Ice Butterfly"
http://www.king-cart.com/cgi-bin/cart.cgi?store=Phaze&product=The+Ice+Butterfly+by+Vivien+Deant=The+Ice+Butterfly+by+Vivien+Dean

Ten years ago, a searing affair nearly derailed Tomas Dalmau’s budding career. Now Rana, the winter elemental who robbed him of more than his innocence, has struck again.
As a sentinel, charged with keeping order in the paranormal world, Tomas knows his witchcraft can’t touch Rana. He asks for the case anyway. Why? Because he has a weapon the other sentinels don’t have. And he is bound and determined to take back what she stripped away the first time they met.

The only problem is…desire doesn’t die. No matter how cynical you are.











Kate Burns' "Halfpipe Romance"
http://www.king-cart.com/cgi-bin/cart.cgi?store=Phaze&product=Halfpipe+Romance+by+Kate+Burns

When Molly's boyfriend Seth invites her to go on a romantic snowboarding weekend she's thrilled. Picturing long, steamy evenings spent in front of a roaring fire while snowflakes swirl outside, she completely disregards one small fact. Molly can't snowboard--not at all. But, she reasons, her sexy boyfriend can't really expect to go snowboarding--can he?

My first Phaze blog...

Today my Snuggler title, Halfpipe Romance, is going to be released. I am thrilled to be a part of the Phaze family and I've waited (sometimes very impatiently!) for this day for weeks. Now that it's here I'm hoping that others will enjoy reading this little tale as much as I enjoyed writing it.

What's it about, you ask? Well, I just happen to have a blurb right here...

When Molly's boyfriend Seth invites her to go on a romantic snowboarding weekend she's thrilled. Picturing long, steamy evenings spent in front of a roaring fire while snowflakes swirl outside, she completely disregards one small fact. Molly can't snowboard--not at all. But, she reasons, her sexy boyfriend can't really expect to go snowboarding--can he?

Halfpipe Romance is a warm-all-over romantic romp that is sure to put a smile on your face and a fire in your heart. I hope you enjoy it.

Now, before I sign off I've got to say CONGRATULATIONS!!! to those on the lists for the 2007 EPPIES! I hear champagne corks popping all over!


http://www.epicauthors.com/eppiewinners2007.html

I love surveys...

...so I will play, too.

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate?

Eggnog with lots of tequilla, which I prefer over rum.

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree?

Santa wraps and she, I mean, he, is very intense about it, which means colored ribbons with bells, candy canes, etc.

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white?

Colored throughout the entire house and on the tree -- it looks like a disco/good acid trip in here

4. When do you put your decorations up?

On Thanksgiving.

5. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)?

I know this is weird but our traditional Christmas Eve dinner is hand cut french fries and home made buffalo wings. This is the first year both kids are vegetarians so I guess we still have the fries and wings and they get some sort of buffalo tofu (yuk).

6. Favorite Holiday memory as a child:

I got a (fake) Barbie car and I taped my (fake) Barbie and (fake) Ken together naked in hopes they would make me a real Skipper...then I took them outside and sent them spinning down the street until I was busted by a furious, pious neighbor. My favorite memory about that was it caused my late mother to laugh really hard...something she didn't do a lot of.

7. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?

Nope, though I've tried in secret but the paper started ripping and I was afraid I'd get caught but damn, the size and shape of the box was so intriguing!

8. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree?

We have handmade and handcrafted ornaments from all over the world; instead of tinsel or fake garlands I drape the tree with colored mardi gras beads people have been giving me for years.

9. Snow! Love it or Dread it?

Love the way it looks; love to play in it; absolutely despise having to drive in it, walk somewhere serious in it, and am consumed with worry that the kids are driving in it.

10. What is your favorite holiday dessert?

This family makes an obscene variety of Christmas cookies - each batch containing a pound of butter, imported chocolate...bah...I gain ten pounds this month every year which takes me the next eleven months to lose.

11. When was the last time you went sledding?

Last year. I adore sledding. I already have my sled out and ready for our first snowfall, which, unfortunately in Philadelphia, is probably at least a month away.

12. What is your favorite holiday tradition?

The fact that my kids, ages 19 and 20, still live home and still get up at 7:00 a.m. on Christmas morning, they both put on the same bathrobes they've had for five years (and never wear any other time) and knock on our bedroom door all excited like little toddlers. And then we put on all of the Beatles' Christmas albums on the stereo (yep, 40 year old scratchy Beatle xmas albums sent to members of their fan club back in the sixties on old turntable) while we're unwrapping.

13. Which do you prefer giving or receiving?

Oh giving for sure. Plus, I am a spoiled brat who buys herself whatever she wants all during the year and my family knows this though this year I asked for a good laser printer I've been too cheap to buy myself.

14. What is your favorite Christmas Song?

Jethro Tull - A Christmas Song

15. Favorite Christmas movie?

Elf!

16. Favorite Christmas movie of childhood?

Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol.

Christmas survey

Thanks to our own Jayelle Drewry for passing this along! Let us know what you think?

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Definitely hot chocolate

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? Santa wraps. Just wouldn't be Christmas without it.

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? All red. It's very pretty.

4. When do you put your decorations up? We have forgone decorations while the little one is still little. She has an appetite for destruction.

5. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)? Turkey and stuffing.

6. Favorite Holiday memory as a child: Christmas in Louisville with my grandmother and all my cousins. We'd sit around the living room and just sing for hours.

7. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? All of them. Been doing that for years.

8. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree? Hubby has a system with his Waterford ornaments. This year we have a fiber optic tree so who know how it will look.

9. Snow! Love it or Dread it? Love it from a distance. Like from Florida.

10. What is your favorite holiday dessert? Good old pumpkin pie.

11. When was the last time you went sledding? About three years

12. What is your favorite holiday tradition? Eating everything in sight.

13. Which do you prefer giving or receiving? Giving, especially with Little One.

14. What is your favorite Christmas Song? Christmas is Coming from Charlie Brown

15. Favorite Christmas movie? A Christmas Story

16. Favorite Christmas movie of childhood? same

A Couple Of Research Tips

Some things I do whatever I might be researching
1. I word my search every possible way I can think of
2. I search both web and images
3. I use Google and Yahoo
4. Generally I go through the first 5 pages of results and open possible sites in a new window
5. If there's nothing in the first 5 pages I go through the first 10
6. If I get no results I start over and try to reword my search terms
7. I turn off safe search
8. When I find a useful website I bookmark it and sometimes copy and paster the relevant info
9. I also go through a lot of print books, usually looking at the index for terms I'm interested in
10. And ask friends and family who might have information on your subject, most will be thrilled to help

What Is Your Favorite Historical Era?

What era would you most like to read stories about?

I am currently researching ancient China and have an idea for Minoan Crete. On the other hand I also am researching the CIA for a possible cold war era book (although my research books seem to have gone covert on me)

Penny Ash Blog Day

Hi everyone,

Welcome to my first blog. I'm also online in the Phaze Chat room which can be reached from the link on the bottom of the Phaze home page.

My first book, Caesar's Love is coming out in January and I couldn't be more excited. Set in ancinet Rome, it was a lor of fun to research. Feel free to ask me anything sbout writing, researching, or just whatever :)

So, on the subject of research. Is it necessary? Absolutely. Even if it’s not a historical research never hurts. Ever read a book or seen a movie that was set in a place you know only to find out that the author had obviously never been there? Remember how annoying it was and how it ruined the story? I can remember an old western I watched a few months ago where the hero of the story rode through hills and desert scrub to Galveston which is an Island off a coastal swampy area, it totally ruined the story. Take the time to research your facts J someone out there always knows when it’s wrong and will usually tell you.

Christmas Cracker Results!

I was supposed to post this yesterday on my blog day, but I forgot -sorry about that.

Anyway, my thanks to all who sent me in their Christmas Cracker jokes, I groaned and I moaned but in the end I found my winner.

Congratulations Robyn Lee, your Christmas Cracker won you a copy of "Proving Santa Exists." which is winging it's way to you right now.

And now for the winning joke...

Mom, Can I have a dog for Christmas?

No, you can have turkey like everyone else.

Competition Time!

I've got a sweet, sweet treat of a prize for one lucky phaze blog visitor! I have a selection box of Cadbury's Chocolate, a genuine English Christmas cracker and 3 recipe cards telling you how to cook all the food mentioned in "Proving Santa Exists." Plus one extra special surprise!

D0 you want to win this unique set of gifts? Well, it's simple enough to do. Grab your copy of "Proving Santa Exists" and answer these three simple questions:

1: Which film/movie does Jenny watch every year as part of her Chritmas Eve routine?

2: What do Jenny and John visit before going to midnight mass?

3: Which two carols does Jenny recall right at the end of the story?

Email me your answers to victoria@victoriablisse.co.uk and I'l lannounce the Winners, here on Friday 8th December 2006.

What ges you into the Christmas Spirit?

I love Christmas but I don't get into the Christmas Spirit properly until I've baked my first batch of Mince Pies. Now, for those of you who don't know what they are they're a popular Christmas sweet treat in the UK. They're little pies with a mixture of raisins/sultanas/currants, sweet sticky and often boozy syrup, a little citrus peel and suet. They taste lovely with a litle cream or custard and are sweet and filling.

Jenny in "Proving Santa Exists." Loves to bake and especially loves to bake these sweet Christmas treats.

"On the drive home, Jonathan asks me what we're going to do for the rest of the day. "Well, first of all we need to bake some mince pies, and then I need to put the icing on the Christmas cake."

"Mince pies?" Jonathan looks a little horrified. My explanation about dried fruit and suet in a pastry case doesn't seem to alleviate the terror at all.

"You'll love them." I reach my from the gear stick to his knee. "Trust me." Squeezing, then lingering, my fingers only leave the warmth of his jean-clad leg when use of the gear stick becomes imperative. Really, it wanted to slip higher and higher up his thigh..."



Jonathan loves Jenny's sweet treats and he adores her mince pies too!

Actually, do you know what goes well with a mince pie? A hot drink and just this eening I received news that I've been awarded 4 of them! Yes, "Proving Santa Exists" has ben reviewed by Coffee Time Romance! Check out the review HERE

Christmas Baking -what are your favourites?

Well Ladies and gentlemen I've just finished a batch of spicy-nice gingerbread snowmen and it got me to thinking about Christmas food.

What are your favourite Christmas treats? My personal favourite is Christmas cake baked by myself. It's rich and fruity and a lttle bit boozy -it's Christmas in a mouthful. (pictured to the right)

Food features alot in my writing because I love food and I love describing it -I think it's a wonderful sensual pleasure. "Proving Santa Exists" is filled with food imagery, especially mince pies.

I'll be announcing a competiton later where part of the prize will be those recipes from "Proving Santa Exists"


For now, here's my gingerbread recipe to get you started!

Ingredients:
350g/12oz plain flour
1 level tsp bicarbonate of soda
2 level tsp ground ginger
120g/4oz butter
170g/6oz soft brown sugar
4 tbsp golden syrup
1 egg, beaten

1.Sift the flour, bicarbonate of soda and ginger together. Rub in the butter.
2.Add the sugar and mix well.
3. Warm the golden syrup slightly and stir into the mixture with the egg to make a pliable dough - add a little milk if the mixture is too dry.
4. Knead until smooth and roll out onto a floured surface to 1/8th inch thick
5. Cut out your shapes and place onto a greased baking sheet, keeping shapes well apart. If you want to make currant eyes add them now.
6. Bake at 375F, 190C, Gas mark 5 for around 10 mins. Once baked, cool on the rack before decorating . (leave on tray for a minute before trying to remove them)
7 Decorate. Which i do by making icing (just icing sugar and water mixed to a paste) then I blob it on my biscuits and stick smarties or M&M's on to the icing blobs

Good Morning From Victoria Blisse

Well, actually it's mid-aftrnoon for me. Anyway, I'm in charge of the Phaze Blog todaay and I'm going to be helping you all get into the Festive Spirit as Christmas is coming and will be upon us before we even realise it.

Have you put up your Christmas decorations yet? Do you have particular traditions for your Christmas decorating? My sister's birthday is on the 5th of December so Christmas decorations have always goneup the weekend after that in my family and I keep that tradition in my own home. I love to make deorations with my daughter too. We made a whole nativity scene from toilet rolls, old net curtain and a shoe box last year!

Jenny, from my Christmas Snuggler "Proving Santa Exists" loves decorating for Christmas and invites the office new boy to help her with her tree.

Just then, Jonathan tries the lights once more and the trailing vine lights up. Reds, greens, blues, and pink grapes shine with gaudy Christmas symbolism. I squeal in delight and clap my hands. "Just in time, too! I've just finished the decorations."

"The lights are easily trailed through the forest of baubles, Santa's, fairies, and hanging toys. "Right, just the tinsel now. You start at the top, and I'll go from the bottom, and we'll meet in the middle."

Tinsel trails through my fingertips as I twirl around the tree, stooping low, then bending at the waist, then almost standing straight with just my shoulders stooped. As I raise my head to see how Jonathan is doing, I crack against something hard.

"Oh, I am sorry." I reach out automatically and rub my hand against Jonathan's bumped chin, cupping his cheek in the palm of my hand, like a parent comforting an injured baby. However, the slight prickle of his end-of-the-day stubble reminds me in a powerful way that this is a grown man I'm handling so intimately"

I'll be sharing more excerpts and also giving away a unique Christmas prize later in the ay so please come back later!

2 new releases from Yvette Hines, Alessia Brio and Will Belegon

Alessia Brio and Will Belegon's "San Diego Sunset"
http://www.king-cart.com/cgi-bin/cart.cgi?store=Phaze&product=San+Diego+Sunset+by+Alessia+Brio+and+Will+Belegon

At some point in each of our lives, if we're lucky, we become receptive to the messages of the universe. We must then choose between living or merely existing. This is a tale of such choosing. Never underestimate the power of dreams.












Yvette Hines' "Santa's Helper"
http://www.king-cart.com/cgi-bin/cart.cgi?store=Phaze&product=Santa%27s+Helper+by+Yvette+Hinesy+Yvette+Hines

Nicole has been working for Marco department store for three years and has loved David, the owner's middle son for just as long. Quiet, sexy business-minded David Marco with his thick black hair and chocolate brown eyes that make her wet just looking at them. Shoved inside of a too small elf costume, finding out that David is leaving in a few days to open up another store and having her car battery die is enough to make her Christmas Eve go from bad to worse. But when David shows up to assist her, she soon discovers that there are big perks being Santa's Helper.

Phaze Fetish authors announced!

Congrats to these talented authors whose stories have made it into Phaze's upcoming Fetish line!

Games Dragons Play - Michael Barnette
Love Lessons - Kate Burns
At the Edge - Marty Rayne
Cupid's Captive - Reese Gabriel
Celeste - Augusta Li
Onyx - Mychael Black and Shayne Carmichael
Girls on Film - Jade Falconer
Discovery - Rob Graham
Breaking Skye - Eden Bradley
Speed Dating - Yvette Hines
Passion Aggressive - Emery Sandborne
Taken by Tarot - Eliza Gayle

Christmas Cracker Competiton.

Would you like to win a copy of my Winter Snuggler:
Proving Santa Exists?

All you have to do is send me a Christmas cracker joke, the one that makes me groan the most wins :D

For those of you unfamiliar with Christmas crackers and the really bad jokes they contain here are a few examples for you:

Wht did the fish say when it swam into a wall?
DAM!

Did you hear about the dslexic devil worshipper?
He sold his soul to Santa.

Yes, I know they're terrible but I know you know jokes that are even worse than these.

Email me your jokes to victoria@victoriablisse.co.uk and I'll announce the winner on Monday 4th December 2006 right here in the Phaze blog.

Welcome to December!

It's here at last, and winter isn't far behind. Don't know whether or grimace or cheer for that, do you? Grin...

I promise not to remind you how many shopping days are left until Christmas, though I will say that I got to dance around the house for a while today, because 5 presents that I ordered came in. I LOVE opening the boxes, even when I know they aren't for me. How demented is that? Some days, you have to take the good, wherever you can find it, and the little things mean a lot.

Speaking of presents and holidays, welcome to the Phaze month-long holiday party! Wahoo! How did I get day one of this? I'm still not sure, but anyone who knows me knows I probably won't shut up all month, now that my mouth is open...or my fingers tapping away at the keys.

It's okay; I'm honest about the fact that I talk a lot. Hey, I live with...and work with mainly people that don't reach the center of my chest in height, though my oldest child is going to be taller than me in a couple of years. Guess a little adult talk is good for the soul.

So, what's the deal with this party? It's pretty simple. All month long, this blog and the Phaze reader/Chatter list is going to be hopping. We're going to have some good old fashioned holiday fun, sing some Christmas carols, give away some prizes...and generally get settled into the family warmth of the holiday. How can you not love this company? Where else do you get a holiday party that lasts all month long? If you don't usually hang out around the Chatter's list, you're going to want to start.

Tomorrow, I'll be on the Phaze Chatters, but for today, I'm mainly here! Gear up, though... I'll have some great discussions and games going on at Chatters tomorrow!

Haven't posted here before, so not everyone knows me. Unless you've met me on other lists. I follow about a hundred of them...no exaggeration, so you might have encountered me elsewhere.

I'm with both Mundania and Phaze sides of the company. My first three novellas are out with Phaze, at the moment. Black Sail (from my Mythos series), Enslaved (from my Blood Mages series) and Mama's Tales (from my Naughty Nursery Rhymes and Fairy Tales) are already out and selling.

Of course, that's not the end. For the Kegin lovers out there, I've signed a brand new Kegin to Phaze. CONQUEST is coming in the spring. There's more coming from all four of those series, so hang on to your seats.



In addition, my first releases on the Mundania side will be coming in 2007! All told, I have three shorts and two novels coming from Mundania in 2007 and 2008, but the first will probably be Fairy Dreams in 2007. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXiiNoonMJk



I work for a total of eight publishers and have two new releases coming elsewhere in the next week, so if I come off as frazzled this week, that might be why. Of course, it might also be being president of EPIC (http://www.epicauthors.com) or the two deadlines I just finished or the two I have coming in the next month or even something completely unrelated. Right now, I'm nursing a hurt hand, because I had to intercept a kick at work the other day. Hmmm...never thought the karate lessons would come in handy for that one. Grin...

So, that's me, and that's what's out and coming from me. You can find out a lot more about me at my site at http://www.brennalyons.com or my MySpace site at http://www.myspace.com/brennalyons I love talking to readers, so write me anytime.

Be back soon!
Brenna