Showing posts with label Risk It. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Risk It. Show all posts

He's Back!!!

Paolo Mancini is back! After Samhain Publishing closed its doors, all my titles with them became unavailable and I will slowly be re-releasing them all myself. The first project was to get new covers for the 5 Paolo's Playhouse stories, then get them formatted and back out into the world. I may have mentioned that I took a big leap and designed my own covers for the first time. After a lot of trial and error, I really like the way they turned out. If you didn't get a chance to read these sexy, emotional stories the first time around, you should give them a try!

Paolo’s Playhouse. A new playground for consenting adults. Playrooms for every interest or desire. Bring your own plaything or we can provide one for you. We’ll help your fantasies come to life.


           Amazon   Other vendors


                                                                  Amazon   Other vendors


                                                               Amazon   Other vendors


                                                                Amazon   Other vendors


       Amazon   Other vendors

The first four are short, perfect to read just before bed. I wrote #5, Playing For Real, which is longer, after readers asked for more with Paolo and Julianne. If you haven't read them, I hope you'd like to give them a try. If you have read them, please consider leaving a review at your favorite spot. They mean so much.

While I'm working on a new project, I'll be getting the rest of my backlist ready to upload. I'll keep you informed here, but if you want to get a notification in your inbox, you can sign up for my mailing list here

Natasha



Series it Is!

After last week's post, I realized that series is the way to go. I also realized that just because a book is a part of a series, doesn't mean it isn't an awesome, standalone book on it's own. So now that that's settled...did you know I have two series right now? One erotic romance series is complete. My contemporary royalty romance series is ongoing. So for those of you who like series...

Paolo's Playhouse - erotic romance











Her Royal Romance - contemporary romance







The Paolo's Payhouse series is complete, but there are more to come in Her Royal Romance. Next up is Her Royal Mistake, to be followed by more sexy royalty romances in the future. Along with other series I have planned. All contemporary. All sexy, emotional and romantic. Because that's the way I like it. How about you?

Natasha
www.natashamoore.com

Paolo's Series

Paolo’s Playhouse. A new playground for consenting adults. Playrooms for every interest or desire. Bring your own plaything or we can provide one for you. We’ll help your fantasies come to life. Inquiries, phone…

The last story in the Paolo's Playhouse series released recently and it appears I'm feeling nostalgic this morning as I think back over the past few years. When I started brainstorming this series, I wanted to write a series anchored by a place, an exclusive sex club with private playrooms. Then I'd take couples at a crossroads and bring them to the Playhouse. I'd focus on different types of kink - bondage, exhibitionism, voyeurism, and menage - and show how an evening in a playroom, exploring their relationships, help the couples to move forward, heal wounds, and even begin to fall in love.

But in the end, it wasn't a place that anchored this series. It was a person. Paolo. And readers liked him so much that after Plaything, Paolo's story, the last in the original four short stories, they asked to see more. And so Playing for Real was born, a longer story, delving deeper into his relationship with Julianne, who he'd only just met in Plaything. I don't often re-read my stories after they're published, but I recently did with Playing for Real and I have to admit, I loved the way it turned out. And after five stories, Paolo finally got his happy ending.

All five of the Paolo's Playhouse stories are stand-alones, so if only a few appeal to you, you don't need to read the others to enjoy. But I hope you may want to lose yourself in Paolo's sexy, emotional world. So here's a quick re-cap of the five stories in Paolo's series.

Flaunt It - book #1
He’ll put her on display, if that’s what it takes to keep her…


Risk It - book #2
Time to put out…or get out.


Birthday Girl - book #3
It’s not the age. It’s the attitude—and a healthy dose of kink.


Plaything - book #4
One taste of everything she ever wanted…how can she walk away?


Playing for Real - book #5
There’s no safe word strong enough for this power play date…


Excerpt from Plaything:

“This is Paolo’s Playhouse. How may I help you?”

The warm male voice and its lyrical accent—Spanish? Italian? Greek?—nearly melted her into a puddle on her kitchen floor. She couldn’t seem to speak as she imagined a dark, exotic man at the other end of the line. One of her favorite fantasy images, strong masculine hands holding her wrists, sprang to her mind. She knew her fantasy lovers from now on would speak with this incredible voice.

“Hello? Is someone there?”

“Yes.” Her voice cracked and she had to swallow before she could speak again. “Yes, I’m here.”

“Wonderful. How may I help you?”

Her knees began to shake and she sank into the chair. “I…I saw your ad.” She swallowed again. She was an intelligent businesswoman, why could she not form a coherent sentence?

“And do you perhaps have a fantasy I could help you with?”

If he was half as sexy as his voice, he could help her with anything. She nearly let a nervous giggle slip out, but this suddenly seemed too important to joke about. “Bondage.” It was harder than she thought it would be to say it out loud.

“Ah, of course. And do you prefer the caress of the ropes or the weight of the chains?”

She shivered and rubbed the cord still hugging her wrist, pulled it tighter and felt the answering tug in her core. “Um, ropes. I think.”

There was silence on the other end of the line. What was wrong? Surely he couldn’t be shocked like her old boyfriend had been.

“What is your name?” he asked after a moment.

“Julianne.”

“I heard some hesitation in your voice. Tell me, Julianne. Have you ever been bound before?”

The words finally burst from her lips, the admission she’d not allowed herself to say for so long. “No. That’s why I’m calling. I want to know what it’s like. I think I need to know.”

“Are you certain?” he asked softly. “Do you really want to allow another person to bind your body? To take away all your control?” His voice became even softer, almost seductive in tone. “Do you want to allow him to enjoy your body in any way he desires and in return, bring you to an intense level of satisfaction you have perhaps never been able to attain before?”

As he spoke, her body pulsed with awareness. He summed up her feelings perfectly. His sensual words conjured up the desperate need that had been buried deep within her. “Yes. Exactly.” Tears sprang to her eyes. “Can you help me?”

“Of course. That is why we are here. Will you be bringing your partner with you?”

“No. I don’t have anyone.” That sounded pathetic. “I mean, I don’t have anyone I want to…you know, tie me up and take me.” There was that silence again. “Is that a problem? The ad said—”

“No, of course it is no problem. I simply want to be certain to match you with the right person.”

“Oh, I didn’t think about that.” She hadn’t really given a thought to the other half of the equation. To the person who would be tying her up. She’d been too focused on her own needs. “Of course, you have to match me up with someone who wants to…um…who wants to…”

“Who wants to tie up a willing woman,” he completed. There was a touch of amusement in his voice and Julianne had the sudden wish to see his smile. “You are in luck. There will be someone here tomorrow night who has need of a bondage toy.”

Bondage toy? She shivered.

“Can you come tomorrow night at seven?”

“Tomorrow?” So soon? But would putting it off be any better? “Yes. All right. Tomorrow.”


Natasha
Her Royal Masquerade - available now
Her Royal Bodyguard - available now
The Cottage Next Door - coming Sept 2103
www.natashamoore.com


2 Weeks to Playing for Real

The first book in the Paolo's Playhouse series, Flaunt It, was released in August 2011. The fifth and final Playhouse story, Playing for Real, will be released on Feb 4, 2014. I had a great time in this world and am sorry to see it end. But what a way to end it. While the first 4 Playhouse releases were short stories, Playing for Real is longer and deals with the development of the relationship between Paolo and Julianne that started with Plaything.

The cover is lovely.


The story is emotional and pretty darn hot!

Blurb:

Paolo’s Playhouse, Book 5

Paolo Mancini’s needs are simple: a committed relationship with a submissive who will let him love and care for her. But after a long, heartbreaking string of relationship failures, he’s beginning to think the perfect woman for him simply doesn’t exist.

When Julianne Barnes steps into his playhouse for one night of bondage sex, she blows him away with her beauty, sass and bravery. She could be the one…if she will allow him to show her how to weave bondage and submission into her life. And hopefully, into his.

Julianne keeps her craving for soft ropes, dark blindfolds, and strong fingers apart from “real life”, where this successful businesswoman doesn’t need anyone telling her what to do. Yet Paolo’s lyrical, steel-under-silk voice affects her body in ways that make her want to offer up her soul.

Slowly, delicately, Paolo tantalizes her closer to the idea that fantasy and reality can live as one. But to convince her it’s safe to open the last compartment protecting her emotions, he’ll have to expose his greatest vulnerability. His heart.

Warning: Features a petulant sub looking to live out her fantasies and a sexy Dom looking for love of the forever kind. Contains an intense sex-with-a-stranger fantasy, ropes, chains and a spanking. Or two. Or more.


Excerpt:

“Julianne? It’s Paolo.”

She shivered simply from the sound of his sexy, lyrical voice speaking her name. She swallowed before she could speak. “I’ll be right down.”

“Buzz me in, Julianne.” There it was. The commanding tone that made her stomach tickle and her sex clench.

What had she gotten herself into? “Okay. But I’ll be right down.”

She grabbed her purse and locked the door to her apartment behind her. She’d walked up and down the narrow flight of stairs hundreds of times, but somehow tonight it seemed longer, narrower, her heels higher, skirt shorter, tighter. She was anxious to see Paolo again but still, she couldn’t help being nervous.

He was waiting for her at the bottom of the stairs in the entryway, frowning slightly. He took the first few steps up, hand outstretched, to meet her. He looked elegant, more than sexy, in a loose black jacket over a white shirt. “I should have come up to get you.”

She took his hand and his long fingers wrapped around hers, fingers that had strummed over every inch of her body. The electric spark of awareness might have been clichéd, but it was there just the same. She couldn’t let it zap her into submission that quickly. “There was no point in you climbing all these stairs just to come right back down.”

As soon as they were off the stairs, he drew her close, their bodies not quite touching. He nailed her with his deep blue gaze. “From now on, I will walk you to your door and collect you there as well.” He brushed his lips lightly over hers, only long enough to tease, not nearly long enough to taste.

She resisted the urge to lean into him. Instead, she shrugged as if her mind wasn’t screaming at her to end this now before he dictated more than how he would pick her up for a date.

He stepped back then, looked her over, her hand still in his. A lock of his dark, wavy hair fell over his forehead and gave him a softer look. His familiar scent wound around her.

He wrapped his arm around her waist and led her across the foyer. “Have you been anticipating our evening as much as I have?”

“I’ve been thinking about it a lot, yes.” She was excited to start their play dates. But she was also a little frightened about what he would want from her. What he would want to do to her.

He paused with his hand on the door handle and looked over at her. He was so close she could have gotten lost in those eyes. “You sound nervous. Do you want to talk about it before we head out?”

Hell yes, she was nervous, but she didn’t want to hang around here in the foyer to hash it out. “No. I’m okay.” She tried to keep her smile light. “I think we talked it all to death the other night.”

He chuckled and she relaxed a little. “Yes. You are right.” He opened the door and they stepped out into the warm Monday evening air.

Was that really a limo parked at the curb? A tall, broad man in a dark suit stood on the sidewalk. She glanced at Paolo as he led her to the long black car. “This is for us?”

“Of course.” The uniformed man—was he a chauffeur or a bodyguard or what?—opened the back door for them. Paolo smoothly delivered her into the car as if he’d escorted dozens of women into the spacious backseat of this limousine at one time or another. And he probably had. A man as sexy and charming as Paolo, a man as dominating as Paolo, must have had plenty of women to ravish in the back of a dark vehicle.

And the thought of being ravished by Paolo was probably more exciting than it should have been.

The leather seat was soft and warm. Paolo slid in beside her and the door closed behind him, shutting them together in what a moment ago had felt like a huge space. Now that Paolo was beside her, he seemed to be sucking all the oxygen out of the air. Julianne started panting lightly, finding it suddenly hard to breathe.

He didn’t seem to notice her difficulty. He took one of her hands in his, intertwined their fingers before he lifted their joined hands to his lips. He lightly kissed her knuckles. Tingles shimmered over her body.

“The Playhouse must do very well,” she blurted out, her nerves getting the better of her.

Paolo lifted a brow, paused a moment before replying softly, “Yes. I am happy with its success.”

“I mean…a car like this? A driver like that? I didn’t expect…” She shut her mouth before she shoved her foot any deeper inside. It wasn’t any of her business. She sounded as if she was fishing for information. As if she cared how rich he was. As if she was surprised how rich he was. Even though she was.

“Why should you expect anything?” Paolo replied smoothly. “I did not pick you up in this car in an attempt to impress you. The truth is that I would rather not have my eyes and hands occupied with driving when I could have them more pleasantly occupied.” He kissed her knuckles again. “Watching you. Touching you.”

“Oh.” The word came out on a shaky sigh.


Playing for Real is available right now for pre-order.

And of course, the 4 previous Playhouse stories are available now if you want to catch up:
Flaunt It
Risk It
Birthday Girl
Plaything

Natasha
Her Royal Masquerade - available now
Her Royal Bodyguard - available now
Playing for Real - preorder now
Her Royal Mistake - coming soon
www.natashamoore.com






Have You Been to the Playhouse?

There are 4 stories in the Paolo's Playhouse series and they are all available now for download. Haven't checked them out yet? Here they are.


FLAUNT IT

He’ll put her on display, if that’s what it takes to keep her…

Paolo’s Playhouse, Book 1

When it comes to sexy and sassy, Piper, the most popular waitress at Ben’s bar, has it all going on. Now that they’re dating, though, Ben wishes she’d dial down the skimpy clothes and flirty attitude, and her habit of dancing around the bar and flashing to her favorite song. Every teasing peek at her body, every laugh at some customer’s lousy joke, is certainly good for business—but it sends his jealousy meter into the red zone.

Sure, they’re dating, but he’s no muscled, tattooed stud with diamonds in his ears. How can he compete, especially when she refuses to even spend the night at his place?

Desperate, Ben books a room at his friend Paolo’s fantasy club, hoping an erotic night in front of a two-way mirror will get her exhibitionist streak out of her system. Praying it won’t prove his greatest fear—that she lives only to show off. And he’s not that special to her at all…


RISK IT

Time to put out…or get out.

Paolo’s Playhouse, Book 2

On the outside, Amy has the American dream. Two busy kids, a job she loves, a big house thanks to her husband’s climb up the corporate ladder. What she hasn’t had in a long time…is sex. Sure, she’s too exhausted at night to think about it, but maybe Will’s long hours at work aren’t the real reason he rarely touches her anymore.

Feeling her marriage teetering on the edge, she rents the voyeur room at Paolo’s Playhouse. Maybe bringing back the memory of the one wicked thing they used to do together will relight the sparks.

Will loves his wife, but she’s never been one to take chances—except for the time before kids, when they’d camp out in a club’s back booth, getting all worked up watching the dirty dancers. Their careers have seriously cut into their “us” time, and if she’s booked them a sexual playroom, it sounds like she’s serious about solving the problem.

When Will shows up way, way late, Amy wonders why she bothered, and if her plan to relight the flame has only made it painfully clear that it’s too late to try.




BIRTHDAY GIRL

It’s not the age. It’s the attitude—and a healthy dose of kink.

Paolo’s Playhouse, Book 3

For Shannon, turning thirty means getting serious. Responsible. Old. She can’t help dreading the day she has to leave her spontaneous, crazy, young self-image behind. Then there are all those unfulfilled items on her to-do list, like that threesome she and her husband, Ty, used to fantasize about. It fell by the wayside, right along with their neglected bag of sex toys.

Her birthday dinner starts out like any other…then her present arrives at the table. Marc, an old college friend, whose edgy persona tickles her in all the right places. And that’s not all. Ty’s reserved a room at Paolo’s Playhouse—for all three of them.

By the time the playroom door closes behind them, Ty’s and Marc’s intimate touches and wicked whispers have roused her hormones to a fever pitch. But when kiss comes to nipple clamps, Shannon’s not sure she has the courage to step off the edge of fantasy and fall headlong into reality…



PLAYTHING

One taste of everything she ever wanted…how can she walk away?

Paolo’s Playhouse, Book 4

Julianne’s the epitome of a successful businesswoman. But where her boardroom reality is full of decisions, her bedroom fantasy is the exact opposite—allowing a lover who knows what he’s doing to strip her of the need to make any decisions at all.

When she reads an ad for Paolo’s Playhouse, her long-ignored need twists inside her, too sharp to ignore. Trembling, she picks up the phone, and Paolo’s charm, lyrical accent and empathy soothe her fear just enough to agree to be the Playhouse’s bondage toy. One look at Paolo the following night, and she wishes she’d struck a different bargain. To be his alone.

Paolo can’t take his eyes off the brave and beautiful woman with hair like the fire he sees in her soul. Her sexual need to be bound matches his own powerful need to be the one to bind her. Tonight and always.

Except Julianne agreed to only one perfect night. Now he must convince her it could be the first night of many for them—if only she will trust him.


I loved writing this series of short stories about four couples whose lives are changed by visiting Paolo's Playhouse. Stop by see what it's all about!

Natasha
SILKEN CANVAS - Coming Dec 25th
www.natashamoore.com



Plaything Releases May 8th!


One taste of everything she ever wanted…how can she walk away?

When I first sold my Paolo's Playhouse series and the four stories were scheduled out over a year, the release of the last story, Plaything, seemed so far away. I've celebrated the release of each story in the series, drooled over the great covers, enjoyed the reviews and reader's reactions. Suddenly...here we are, at the end of the road. At least for these four short stories that make up the Paolo's Playhouse series.

Blurb:

Julianne’s the epitome of a successful businesswoman. But where her boardroom reality is full of decisions, her bedroom fantasy is the exact opposite—allowing a lover who knows what he’s doing to strip her of the need to make any decisions at all.

When she reads an ad for Paolo’s Playhouse, her long-ignored need twists inside her, too sharp to ignore. Trembling, she picks up the phone, and Paolo’s charm, lyrical accent and empathy soothe her fear just enough to agree to be the Playhouse’s bondage toy. One look at Paolo the following night, and she wishes she’d struck a different bargain. To be his alone.

Paolo can’t take his eyes off the brave and beautiful woman with hair like the fire he sees in her soul. Her sexual need to be bound matches his own powerful need to be the one to bind her. Tonight and always.

Except Julianne agreed to only one perfect night. Now he must convince her it could be the first night of many for them—if only she will trust him.


Excerpt:

Paolo’s Playhouse. A new playground for consenting adults. Playrooms for every interest or desire. Bring your own plaything or we can provide one for you. We’ll help your fantasies come to life. Inquiries, phone…

The newspaper in Julianne’s hands rattled and she dropped it to the table as if it had burned her trembling fingers. The discreet ad at the bottom of the page grabbed her attention and wouldn’t let her go. Her heart raced and her nipples prickled. Words seemed to flash before her eyes.

Playhouse. Plaything. Fantasies.

She flipped the paper over and pushed away from the table. The marinated chicken breast and tossed salad sat, uneaten, in front of her. She didn’t feel like dinner any longer, didn’t even want the Chardonnay she’d poured to try to relax. The jumbled nerves in her stomach left no room for food. But the words kept running through her mind.

Playhouse. Plaything. Fantasies.

Sure, she had fantasies. Who didn’t? Leather cuffs and silky ropes, sweaty skin and long-fingered masculine hands were the images that danced behind her closed eyes each night when she used her trusty vibrator. Sometimes she thought her fantasies were the only things that kept her sane. But that didn’t mean she’d ever try to act them out in real life. Not again.

Julianne paced her apartment, restlessness buzzing through her system like an itch she couldn’t scratch. What was wrong with her? She didn’t have time to think about her sexual fantasies now. She had work to do. Work was what kept her sane. Work. Not fantasies.

She took refuge in the spare bedroom she’d converted into her workshop. Usually she felt happy there, but tonight the room seemed smaller, darker. The air was stale and stagnant. Still, she flipped through sample after sample, searching for the perfect drapery fabric for her current project. Nothing seemed right tonight. Everything felt flat, boring. But she couldn’t admit that work wasn’t enough anymore.

What would she have then?

She finally found a beautiful gold-and-green brocade that would be ideal for the draperies in the Olsons’ new dining room. And she had the perfect drapery ties to go with it. She’d gotten them on sale months ago, waiting for the right project. She opened the cabinet drawer and pulled out a length of braided cord.
Her breath caught as she ran the silky gold cord through her fingers. Slowly, without even realizing it, she wrapped it around her wrist, once, twice, and pulled tight. She stared at the dark gold cord wrapped around her pale skin as if wondering where it had come from. She tugged it again. Illicit thrills shivered over her skin, prickling her nipples and sending her sex throbbing.

We’ll help your fantasies come to life.

Bondage. She could admit to herself that being tied up during sex had always been her secret fantasy, but could she admit it to someone else? She’d tried once, with a guy she thought she could trust. She’d gathered up all her nerve and timidly asked him to tie her wrists to the headboard before they had sex. Bill had recoiled in shock, horrified that she would think he’d ever want to abuse a woman in that way. He’d stared at her as if there were something wrong with her and had refused to listen as she’d tried to explain about fantasies and consensual kink.
She’d never mentioned it again to another soul.

In fact, she’d buried it so deep she’d thought it had been forgotten, but the emotional scars from that disaster had probably colored every lousy relationship she’d had since then. She’d never again dared ask for what she wanted in the bedroom. Never dared believe she could actually experience real bondage, even once. She’d resigned herself to a boring sex life and inventive fantasies of her own making.

Somehow Julianne found herself back at the kitchen table, the cord still wrapped tightly around her wrist. She flipped the paper back over and read the words again. Could this be her chance to live out her fantasy? She grabbed the glass of wine still sitting on the table and drank in down in several long gulps. Then before she could think twice, she snatched up her phone and punched in the number.

“This is Paolo’s Playhouse. How may I help you?”


Another excerpt can be found on the Samhain website.

And just because this is the end of the Playhouse series doesn't mean there won't be other hot, sexy stories coming. I've sold another novel to Samhain about an erotic artist and his former lover titled Silken Canvas that should be out by the end of the year.

And I've just started writing a bigger story with Paolo and Julianne so I hope you'll be seeing that book on down the road.

Plaything is available for pre-order now and will release tomorrow! I'm so excited to have Paolo's story released, the one that gave me the idea for the entire series. Have a great week!

Natasha
PLAYTHING
BIRTHDAY GIRL
RISK IT
FLAUNT IT
www.natashamoore.com

Last Chance to get Flaunt It for FREE


Flaunt It, #1 in the Paolo's Playhouse series is still free at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Sony until March 28th.So if you'd like to try a sexy emotional short read, now's the time. I've posted an excerpt to tempt you and couldn't resist posting the beautiful covers for all 4 playhouse stories.

Excerpt:

He didn’t say anything to Piper about the Playhouse until their relief arrived. She climbed up on a barstool with a curious grin on her bright pink lips. Her lip color matched the wide pink stripe of hair at her temple, a bright contrast to the rest of her short, spiky, platinum blonde hair.

“I didn’t know Chuck and Tanya were working tonight.” She grabbed a couple of swizzle sticks and drummed them on the bar. “I thought we were working late. What’s going on?”

“Last minute plans,” he said smoothly. “Hope that’s okay.”

“Sure. Spontaneous is cool.” She tossed the sticks and leaned closer. She smelled like sunshine, even after dancing and working the floor for hours. “Can you tell me about it or is a big secret?”

He took a deep breath. “Remember my friend, Paolo? I’ve told you about him.”

“Yeah, I remember. The guy who has the sex place, right?”

“Right. We’re going there tonight.”

Her eyes widened. “Is it like one of those dungeons I’ve heard about?”

He couldn’t tell if she hoped it was, or not. “No. There aren’t any public rooms at the Playhouse. Just private playrooms for private fantasies.”

“That’s right. I remember. There are different rooms for different fantasies, right?”

He eyed her cautiously. “Yeah.”


Her whole face lit up. “Ooh, I’m excited. Which one?” Nothing seemed to faze her and for some reason it irritated him. Probably because everything she did fazed him.
“Are you sure you’re not too tired?”

“No! I’m fine, Ben. Which room?”

No way was he telling her now. “You’ll see.”

“Wait.” She grabbed onto the front of his shirt, pulled him forward and kissed him, hard and fast. She tasted like peppermint. “You’re not going to tell me?” She was too damn cute when she pouted.

“It’s a surprise, all right?” He didn’t want to give her time to worry about the reasons he picked the room he did.

“But how can I get ready for the fantasy? What if I need…I don’t know…ropes or something?”

“Do you want ropes?” he snapped. She released his shirt abruptly and he took a step away. “Want me to tie you up? Or maybe you want to tie me up?” Jake and everyone else within hearing distance were taking in every word.

She frowned. He didn’t blame her. “No, not really. I’m just sayin’.”

He didn’t know why he was being such a jerk. Maybe guilt did that to a guy. He softened his tone. “You let me worry about that, babe. Besides, everything we need will already be there.”

Her eyes had lost some of their spark but her bright smile almost made up for it. “Okay. What should I wear?”

He shrugged. “What you have on is fine.”

From the horrified look on her face, you’d think he’d told her to wear a paper bag.

“No. These are work clothes.”

He reached across the bar and hooked his finger in the deep V of her top. Then he pulled her forward this time and kissed the tip of her turned-up nose. The patrons loved their give and take across the bar, but this time wasn’t for their benefit. “It doesn’t matter what you wear, Piper.” If he had his way, she’d be naked before long.

“Maybe not to you, but it does to me. How much time do I have?”

“Not long. I thought we could just leave from here.”

“Not in my work clothes, Ben. Not without a shower.” She hopped off the bar stool and waved to Chuck who was taking over as bartender. Piper met Ben at the end of the bar and she leaned into him, kissing him hard, the way he liked it. Her breasts pressed into his chest. ... “Pick me up in half an hour. I’ll be ready. Promise.”

Ben watched her bounce out the door. That was Piper, up for anything. Except commitment. Would tonight get that exhibitionist streak out of her system? Or would he have to resign himself to the fact that she lived for showing off for everybody?

That he wasn’t special at all.

Pass the word! Enjoy :)

Natasha
www.natashamoore.com

Plaything Now Available for Pre-order

Plaything, the 4th Paolo's Playhouse story, is now available for pre-order! The release day is May 8th, but if you don't want to forget, pre-order it now so it will show up on your device as soon as it's available.

I'm excited to share the cover and blurb with you. This is Paolo's story and the one that started it all (at least it's the first story in the series I wrote even though it's the last one to be released.)



One taste of everything she ever wanted…how can she walk away?

Paolo’s Playhouse, Book 4

Julianne’s the epitome of a successful businesswoman. But where her boardroom reality is full of decisions, her bedroom fantasy is the exact opposite—allowing a lover who knows what he’s doing to strip her of the need to make any decisions at all.

When she reads an ad for Paolo’s Playhouse, her long-ignored need twists inside her, too sharp to ignore. Trembling, she picks up the phone, and Paolo’s charm, lyrical accent and empathy soothe her fear just enough to agree to be the Playhouse’s bondage toy. One look at Paolo the following night, and she wishes she’d struck a different bargain. To be his alone.

Paolo can’t take his eyes off the brave and beautiful woman with hair like the fire he sees in her soul. Her sexual need to be bound matches his own powerful need to be the one to bind her. Tonight and always.

Except Julianne agreed to only one perfect night. Now he must convince her it could be the first night of many for them—if only she will trust him.

Warning: Features a sexy Italian whose lyrical voice can charm or command, whose sensual hands can stroke or spank. Stop by the Playhouse and live out your fantasies!

And of course, the first three stories in the series, Flaunt It, Risk It, and Birthday Girl are all available now.

Natasha
www.natashamoore.com

Vote for the SAMMIES!

Curtains up! Light the Lights! The SAMMIES are coming, all right!

It’s time to vote for your Samhain Publishing favorites for 2011. The SAMMIE Awards ceremony will be held on Saturday, March 24, 2012, starting at 2 p.m. EST in the Samhain Publishing Cafe.(http://groups.yahoo.com/group/samhaincafe/)

The categories that require your vote are:

Reader’s Choice Best Cover Art eBooks 2011

Reader’s Choice Best Cover Art Print Books 2011

Reader’s Choice Best eBook 2011

Reader’s Choice Best Print Book 2012

Please go to http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/BQG585R to cast your vote. Voters are permitted three choices per category. Voting runs through March, 19, 2012.

The survey allows each participant to vote once. The blue links for each book/cover are hot and will take you to Samhain Publishing site so you can look at the cover or read the blurb for each book listed. Cast your choice for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in each category. Then scroll to the NEXT button at the bottom of the page, this will take you to the next category. Repeat until you get to the last category. When you have voted for your choices, be sure to click on the DONE button at the bottom of the last page so your vote will count. Remember, each reader gets to vote once for the poll.

We’re asking everyone to participate by casting your vote. After all, these are the Reader’s Choice categories! Your opinion counts! Show your love! We'd love to hear from all our readers.

Everyone, mark your calendars, shop for your dazzling Red Carpet outfit and get ready to celebrate our SAMMIE winners! We can hardly wait to announce the winners. Party! Party! Par-tay!

Both Flaunt It and Risk It are up to best e-book and best e-book cover. But...wow...what competition. I hope all our Fierce Romance readers will cast their votes for your favorite Samhain stories and covers.

Natasha
Birthday Girl - Coming Feb 21
Risk It
Flaunt It
www.natashamoore.com

Happy New Year


As we say good bye to 2011 and look ahead to 2012, I've been thinking about what's happened in my life in the past year and what I'm looking forward to in the new next twelve months. I thought it would be fun to share them here.

2011:

* I saw the release of the first two stories in my Paolo's Playhouse series, Flaunt It was released in August and Risk It was released in November.

* Hubby and I took a trip to visit family & friends in Florida and despite the terrible trip back, made me long to become a snowbird and spend the winter in the Sunshine State.

* My best friend was diagnosed with breast cancer last spring & during the year she'd had surgery, completed chemo & radiation, and is now almost ready to get rid of the wigs and scarves. She's rocking the short hair look.

* I went to RWA National conference in NYC, traveling by train and meeting many on-line friends.

* My son got engaged to his girlfriend, a smart and pretty young woman who's a good match for him.

2012:


* I'm looking forward to the release of the last two Paolo's Playhouse stories, Birthday Girl in Feb and Plaything in May.

* I'm going to the first ever RomFest in Gatlinburg, Tenn in June and will be participating in my first workshop there

* We'll be having two weddings in the family (but not my son's - they're planning a 2013 wedding)

* I'm looking forward to 2012 being my last year at the day job. Hopefully when I do this post next year, I'll be becoming a full time writer!

Here's a wish to our readers that 2012 brings amazing things to you all!

Natasha
www.natashamoore.com

Christmas Gifts & a Great Review for RISK IT

For many, today is a time to relax after the craziness of the holiday weekend and enjoy some of those gifts Santa left under the tree. Hubby has already hooked up his new blu-ray player and I'm enjoying a cup of French vanilla coffee brewed in my new Keurig coffee maker. I've actually used my new workout gear too. Yes, I feel good about that.

If any of you got a new e-reader for as your gift, I can heartily recommend all the Fierce Romance authors. Take a look at the covers displayed here. Stop by the author websites, We have a great variety of stories for your enjoyment. I'm honored to be among such an amazing group of authors!

And just this week I was thrilled to read this review for RISK IT, from Fresh Fiction:

Amy Carter is at the end of the line. She has the ideal life with 2 kids, a job she loves and a big house provided by a great husband. Everything except sex, that is. It seems everything has fallen by the way side with the machinations of everyday life between Will and her when it has to do with the bedroom. Too tired and too overloaded with the everyday humdrum, it's time to take matters into her own hands.

Amy rents a room at Paolo's Playhouse, a place to perform all your fantasies while watching others through a one way glass. Dressing in her new black lace sexy underwear, Amy loses faith that Will is going to show. Losing herself in her own sexual fantasy as she watches the couple next door, Will shows up. They renew their erotic sexual fantasies to reignite the flame they once shared.

The sexual fantasies described in RISK IT will blow your socks off. It's probably quite a little more than I am use to reading and is more explicit than anything else I have ever read before. If anyone is interested in detailed sexual eroticism, then this is the book for them.


So what did Santa leave under the tree for you?

Natasha
FLAUNT IT
RISK IT
www.natashamoore.com

Word of Mouth?

How do you find books to read?

Do you browse the bookstore shelves or the online recommendations? Do you stick with authors you know? Publishers you know? Are you drawn to a sexy cover? An intriguing blurb? Do you depend on reviews?

Or do you rely on word of mouth?

Authors are readers first. I'm always looking for good books to read. I consider recommendations the best way to discover new books to enjoy. That doesn't always mean face to face conversations because most of my friends and co-workers don't read what I like, although I have tried some new authors/genres and discovered some favorites that way.

I've discovered some great new, or new-to-me, authors from Twitter. But not from author promo. From readers mentioning a great book they just read. I love reading several tweets about the same book from excited readers. I always check them out.

It's also a reminder for me, for all of us, to let others know when we've read a book we love. Not just because you want to talk about the story with someone else (although that may often be the reason with my face to face friends) But it can be simply because you want others to get the same enjoyment you did. And because you want to support your favorite authors and let them know you loved what they wrote. And because of that, they'll write even more stories for you to love.

And it's all from word of mouth.

For those of you who like to read reviews, I'm thrilled with the one I just received for RISK IT, my newest release. Marika from Harlie's Book Blog starts by saying:

"Natasha Moore has written a book that should be on everyone's list to read and discuss with their partner, married or not. Its thought provoking, sexy and is written with a intimate knowledge of when a marriage is on the edge of unraveling." You can read the rest of the review here.

How do you find books to read? And do you have any recommendations for me??

Natasha
FLAUNT IT - Paolo's Playhouse #1
RISK IT - Paolo's Playhouse #2
www.natashamoore.com

RISK IT Contest

RISK IT, the second story in my Paolo's Playhouse series releases tomorrow, November 15th, from Samhain. I'm so excited. I love this series and I'm holding a contest here at Fierce Romance to celebrate!



On the outside, Amy has the American dream. Two busy kids, a job she loves, a big house thanks to her husband’s climb up the corporate ladder. What she hasn’t had in a long time…is sex. Sure, she’s too exhausted at night to think about it, but maybe Will’s long hours at work aren’t the real reason he rarely touches her anymore.

Feeling her marriage teetering on the edge, she rents the voyeur room at Paolo’s Playhouse. Maybe bringing back the memory of the one wicked thing they used to do together will relight the sparks.

Will loves his wife, but she’s never been one to take chances—except for the time before kids, when they’d camp out in a club’s back booth, getting all worked up watching the dirty dancers. Their careers have seriously cut into their “us” time, and if she’s booked them a sexual playroom, it sounds like she’s serious about solving the problem.

When Will shows up way, way late, Amy wonders why she bothered, and if her plan to relight the flame has only made it painfully clear that it’s too late to try.


While Amy is getting ready for her erotic evening with her husband, she stops and picks up some new underwear to help make her feel sexy. I don't mention where she bought the new bra and panty set, but in my mind, it was Victoria's Secret.


Once she’d reserved the room, Amy had spent the last few hours in eager anticipation and careful preparation, showering and shaving, buffing and slathering on the scented lotion Will had given her for Christmas. She’d blow-dried her hair into a fluffier, sexier version of her no-nonsense bob and went a little more dramatic on the makeup. Would Will even notice?

She rarely took the time—rarely had the time—to spend on herself. She worked a full-time job, in addition to being a mom and a cook and housecleaner and a wife. Troy and Eva always needed help with homework and rides to dance and soccer practice. Then there was laundry and dishes and all the other household chores. Who had time to be a sexy woman anymore? But unfamiliar excitement had tingled in her stomach as she put on the lacy bra and panties she’d picked up after she dropped off the kids at her parents for the night.

Amy finally got tired of waiting in her car, listening to the drumbeat of the rain on the roof. This was supposed to have been an erotic rendezvous, dammit. The thrills of anticipation she’d felt driving over there were slowly morphing into sparks of anger.

She stepped out of the car and cold rain trickled down her neck before she could duck under her umbrella. She slammed the door as hard as she could and made a mad dash across the well-lit parking lot.

She shook out her umbrella after stepping into the small foyer. The elevator ride up to the third floor was quick and smooth. There was a coat closet just inside the waiting room. Amy left her coat and umbrella there and then turned to look around the small room. It was quite elegant, not sleazy at all. The deep beautiful colors were probably supposed to be sensual and decadent, but they just seemed dark and oppressive to her. Or was that what her marriage had become?

Tears prickled at her eyes, but Amy refused to let them fall. He wasn’t really late yet. She glanced at her watch. Yes, dammit, he was.


I have a pretty pink bag from Victoria's Secret that just might have a few surprises tucked inside. I'll send it to one lucky commenter. Because I can't afford to break the budget, I'll have to limit this contest to US residents only. Be sure to check back tomorrow to find out the name of the winner.

And remember you can still pre-order RISK IT at a sale price today.

Natasha
FLAUNT IT - Available now
RISK IT - Coming Nov 15th
BIRTHDAY GIRL - Coming Feb 2012
PLAYTHING - Coming May 2012
www.natashamoore.com

10 Things to Know About RISK IT


1. RISK IT is the second story in the Paolo’s Playhouse series.

2. RISK IT stars the couple on other side of the two-way mirror featured in FLAUNT IT, the first story in the series.

3. RISK IT is a hot story about a married couple finding their way back to each other

4. The heroine is a working mother and many women will be able relate to her struggles and her needs, I know I did.

5. The hero is a hot businessman for those readers who like their hero in (and out of) a suit.

6. The cover by Scott Carpenter is a gorgeous, richly colored work of art.

7. RISK IT is a story that features voyeurism for those who like to watch.

8. I’ll celebrate the release of RISK IT with a contest here next Monday.

9. You can pre-order RISK IT on sale here.

10. RISK IT releases from Samhain next Tuesday, Nov 15th.

Natasha
www.natashamoore.com

Nothing To Fear

Happy Halloween!

I've never feared Halloween, but I've never been a big fan of the holiday. Never was really into dressing up or dragging my kids around in lousy weather to beg candy from the neighbors.

But this year...this year we got talked into dressing up with a group of friends and going out to the local Legion to compete in their Halloween costume contest. Of course, there was dancing and drinking involved. And a lot of laughter as well. You see, we dressed up as crabs!



When the costume parade started (yes, we had to parade around the room twice!) we were wrapped up in a net (black snow fence) and hauled around by a guy dressed up as a lobsterman. We won best group prize!

Of course, the prize wasn't the point. It was getting together with friends and not being afraid to be absolutely ridiculous. And having a great time doing it! I enjoyed Halloween a lot more this year.

And as long as we're talking about Halloween, I'll take a moment to mention my only story that is holiday related. It was my very first release and it still remains one of my best sellers, so if you haven't read it yet, and like a little bondage with your community Haunted House, you might want to check out Nothing to Fear.


Mason Blake's dark good looks and domineering personality give Kelly Long all sorts of forbidden fantasies that frighten her. When she agrees to help out at the community Halloween haunted house, she never expects to be tied to a bed, playing damsel in distress to Mason’s masked, whip-wielding villain.

Kelly can’t run away from Mason this time. He knows she’s fighting her sexual needs and he hopes that a few hours of playing out her fantasies with him will prove to her that bondage - and Mason - are nothing to fear.


And here's an excerpt:

Kelly’s heart pounded as Lisa led her up the long, steep staircase with its intricately carved spindles. The old Bartholomew mansion was the perfect venue for the haunted house, with its many rooms and dark, old-fashioned décor. There was a rumor that this house on the hill had been a bordello in the old days.

“You just have to scream your head off whenever the door is opened,” Lisa was saying.

“What?”

Lisa sighed. “Pay attention, hon. I have to get everyone else set up too.”

“Sorry.”

“We’ll be taking groups through the house one at a time. They’ll have to wait in the spider web room. Cool, huh? When it’s really busy, you could be on every fifteen minutes or so. I’m going to be leading each group through, telling scary stories to lead up to each room. The doors will be closed until I open them. So when your door is opened, you need to scream for help at the top of your lungs and the villain will charge the door with his weapon and the group will scream and I’ll close the door again. Nothing to it. You just have to be ready when I slam the door open.”

“Got it.” Tied to a bed. Straining at the ropes. Begging for help. Why was she getting all excited at the thought? Kelly knew it was wrong. She should be frightened. She was frightened…by how aroused she was at the thought. By the way her nipples were prickling. The way her skin tingled. Her panties dampened.

They passed by the first door at the top of the stairs. Looking down the long, straight hall with all the doorways, Kelly could believe the bordello stories.
“Matt Dunn and Kyle Parker are ghosts in the first room,” Lisa said. “You’ve got the second room on the left.”

“Wait, Lisa,” Kelly called out. “Who’s going to be the villain?” Who was she going be shut up with? Tied up with?

But Lisa was already pushing the door open. Faded red flocked wallpaper covered the walls. A four-poster bed sat in the middle of the room, covered with a black bedspread. The floor was worn wood. “Hey, you look great!” But Lisa wasn’t talking to Kelly, she was talking to someone already in the room.

Kelly froze in the doorway as a tall masked man, dressed from head to toe in black, stepped away from the bed. A black hood covered his entire head except for holes for his eyes, nose and mouth. The sleeveless black T-shirt clung to his sculpted chest and his muscled arms were tanned. Black pants and shoes completed the intimidating outfit. Her heart pounded so loudly she couldn’t hear what Lisa was saying. “Dress? Did you say something about a dress?”

Lisa rolled her eyes. “You can change behind that screen in the corner. The dress is on the chair behind it.”

No way was she going to be taking off her clothes in the same room with…who was this masked man? This tall masked man dressed like a…a…

Kelly whipped around to look at Lisa. Wasn’t she supposed to be her friend? “What’s wrong with what I have on?”

“Jeans and sweatshirt just don’t project the same image as a dress,” Lisa said, already walking toward the hallway, ignoring Kelly’s pleading look. “Gotta run. You and Mason can work everything else out.” She glanced at her watch. “You’ve got less than half an hour before the first group will be coming through.” Then she was out the door, shutting it behind her.

The slam of the door echoed in the silence. Kelly turned around slowly and looked up into the deep, dark eyes staring at her out of the mask. Of course, it was Mason. Her hands shook as she clasped them together in front of her. Oh God, it was Mason.

He slid the mask off his head. His eyes were what had first attracted her to him, and they were still like melted dark chocolate. His head was shaved smooth as always, a dark shadowy hint of hair on his head and jaw. The diamond stud in his ear twinkled beneath the light from the chandelier.

“Hello, Kelly.” His deep voice was a touch amused. Well, she didn’t find anything amusing in the situation. He was the one man whose mere touch frightened her because it made her desire things she shouldn’t want. Made her crave things she didn’t understand. Just a glance from him made her weak in the knees and made her want to drop to her knees before him.

And right now the thought of being tied to that bed with Mason standing over her froze her to the spot at the end of the bed. She avoided his eye, but in doing so focused on the bed, the black velvet bedspread, the tall thick bedposts at each corner. Would he stretch her tight when he tied her to the bedposts? Or would he give her wiggle room? And the thought of her body wiggling beneath Mason’s heated gaze made her shiver. But was it from fear? Or excitement?

“You better get changed."

Hope you have a great Halloween. And if you don't get dressed up, I hope you at least have a chance to laugh with some friends.

Natasha
FLAUNT IT - Available now
RISK IT - Available for pre-order
www.natashamoore.com

A Wedding in The Future

This weekend has been an exciting one. Our son proposed to his girlfriend this weekend. They've been dating for about a year and a half, and I'm happy to say I like her a lot. They compliment each other well even though they seem to be opposites in many ways.

My son is a performer, a creative personality, into movies and theater in a big way, where his girlfriend is not. They met at a local bar where he was singing karaoke. She was there with her mother and a friend. The story goes when she mentioned she thought the guy up there singing was cute, the friend went up and gave my son her phone number. They've pretty much been together ever since.

She's gotten him to be more responsible, getting him to start saving money after a few months, while his parents had tried unsuccessfully for years! LOL. He got the ring a couple months ago and somehow she found out he'd bought it. She even knew where he'd stashed it. He still made her wait until this weekend to propose.

She said yes. :)

Natasha
FLAUNT IT - Available now
RISK IT - Pre-order now
www.natashamoore.com

Practice Makes Perfect

Well, I don't ever expect to be perfect, but each time I struggle to start a new story, I seem to forget that once I get into the habit again of writing daily, it gets easier and easier. The words flow faster with each day that passes. The story reveals itself as I write and I don't have to worry so much about it. I WANT to get to the keyboard and take my characters farther along their journey.

It's the same with exercise. The hardest part is showing up. Once I get in the habit of working out every day, it's easier to do again tomorrow. I WANT to do it again. I feel better when I do. And it's harder if I let a few days go by.

So tell my why I let days go by without exercising. Why I don't pull up my current wip for several days in a row? Maybe it's just human nature to procrastinate. Or maybe it's just me.

I'm happy to report I'm rolling right along with my writing right now. Unfortunately, it's taking me a little longer to get back on the exercise track.

How about you?

Natasha
FLAUNT IT - Available now
RISK IT - Coming Nov 15th
www.natashamoore.com

Whoo Hoo for Wine Fest!



One fall festival I make sure to go to every years is the North East Wine Festival in North East, Pennsylvania. We always go with another couple, and this year our son and daughter and their girlfriend/husband came too. After a weather forecast of rain and cold temperatures, it ended up being a beautiful day.


The wine tasting was held in the tent in the background. Eight wineries were on hand, showing off their most popular wines.

WE started out with $20 worth of tokens. A $1 token gave us a 1oz taste. I don't know how many more tokens we went through, but it was fun to try a 1 oz taste of some wines we've never had before. And a few of us might have surrendered several tokens for a glass of a wine we loved.

After we had a good wine buzz, and a list of wines we wanted to buy to take home, we headed over to the food vendors. Everyone was starving and came back to our table with a variety of foods from chili cheese dogs to gyros to blooming onions to chicken fingers.

Behind all the picnic tables you can see a pavilion where live bands played all day long. We even might have been heard singing along with a few oldies. And the rest of the park was filled with craft booths. We didn't buy anything at the craft booths, but did come home with a few bottles of our favorite wines. And some more good memories of a good day out with family and friends.

Natasha
FLAUNT IT - Available now
RISK IT - Coming Nov 15th
www.natashamoore.com