Desert Living and Cactus Love

By Courtney Sheets

It is no secret that I love my hometown of Las Vegas. I was not born here but spent most of my life living in Nevada. I was a mere babe of ten we when first pulled up stakes and claimed “Lost Wages” as our new home. I even went to college in Northern Nevada. Go Wolfpack! 

I love living in the Wild West, in the wide open spaces. That said, I think I could happily live anywhere from the skyscrapered skyline of NYC, the close cosy comfort of D.C., or the open plains of Kansas. But if I have to choose it is Vegas all the way. That’s why I set my 1Night Stand story, Betting on a God, in my hometown. Where else would the Greek Gods run off to but Vegas? 

I especially love winter in the Desert, well at least December in Vegas. When the weather changes and the holidays approach something wonderful happens in Vegas…Cowboys and the NFR and country music show up! As many of you know the NFR, or National Finals Rodeo is held in Las Vegas every winter. That means my little slice of heaven on Earth of a hometown is inundated with Wrangler butts and Stetsons. What more could a red-blooded American girl ask for? The situation makes for a great romance.

While we don’t get much snow down in Vegas, we do in the mountains; the Casinos usually make up for it in their holiday décor. The Venetian gives us Winter in Venice complete with skating rink and gorgeous stilt walkers. The Aria makes it snow indoors twice a day. Ethel M Chocolate factory, which has candy to die for, trims the cactus garden with lights and love for the holiday season. Finally The Bellagio takes its beautiful botanical gardens and turns them into a winter wonderland for all to enjoy. So you see while living in the desert is hot and dry in the summer, the Winter holds some amazing sights, sounds, and smells. The possibilities are endless.

What are your favorite holiday decorations in your hometown? 

Check out Courtney's latest 1Night Stand, Betting on a God

Betting on a God available HERE

Welcome to Mount Olympus, Sin City’s most opulent casino resort. Here you will be served the finest food, the most decadent wines, and every desire you crave. All provided for you by Dion Eliades, owner. And just like most things in Las Vegas, there is more to Mount Olympus and Dion than meets the eye.

After a thousand years, Dion, the Greek god of wine and merriment, is tired of playing human and wants to go home to Greece. That is, until he lays eyes on Sadie Flynn. Thanks to Madame Evangeline and 1Night Stand, this god is in for an adventure the likes of which he has never experienced. But only if Sadie agrees to bet on a god.

Wise Men Say...

I wish I could figure it out, but I can't. Call it happenstance, a coincidence, or cheesy pun—I'm still trying to figure out where all the Elvis references came from in my latest story, Wise Men Say. 

Thankfully, the title goes well with the 'holiday-esque' story. Originally titled, Never Brought To Mind, my writer-bestie, fellow-NightStander and beta reader, Deanna Wadsworth mentioned the reference was a bit vague (the line is from the New Year's song, Auld Lang Syne). So since the story takes place during Christmas/New Year's, you can take the title as The Wise Men (as in 'we three Kings/men of orient are'), or a line from that Elvis song.

Songs come to mind when thinking of what my characters are going through. 

Emmy refuses to give up, she's been alone, waiting for someone a long time. Her family thinks her crazed, believing her situation will have a happy ending. So, naturally, Right Here Waiting by Richard Marx came to mind(...love the '80s hair).

 

 I don't want to give away the story, but the male character also has his troubles. He's been away for some years and just wants to be Home by Michael Buble..

A recent release, Some Nights, by Fun also works perfectly for this man's situation. I'm sure you know it, if not, take a look.

I

So, there's a bit of a musical peek into 'Wise Men Say.' 

Blurb:

Over twenty years ago, Emmy Patterson kissed her fiancé for the last time. Nick promised he’d return and despite bad news from U.S. military services since the day he went missing, she’d never lost hope he's alive and celebrates his life every chance she gets.

When The Castillo Hotel purchases some of her glass artwork, she spends the winter holidays in Las Vegas promoting it. But is this unexpected business travel a coincidence, or has the wise Madame Eve found a way to heal Em’s wounded heart?

And, I have a copy for one of you! Email me by midnight Dec. 23rd (wendyburke1994@bex.net) and one of you will win

a copy of Wise Men Say, along with a lovely, hand-blown glass ornament. 

Merry Christmas!

  

When not playing with the people in her head, Wendy has a full time job behind the scenes in television, a part time job in radio and an even 'parter' time job trying to keep her house clean. She lives with her cute chef husband and two fuzzy felines in the Great Lakes region of the Midwest. Wise Men Say, is Wendy's fourth story from Decadent Publishing.

The One that Got Away

Buy Reunited HERE!

By Sabrina Sol

His name was Christian.

To this day, I can’t help but think of him whenever I hear that name. He made my knees weak, made me fluster my words and, basically, turned my whole world upside down.

Then he broke my heart without even knowing.

He was my first, real unrequited crush. I loved him desperately and he, well, he thought I was nice.

Sigh.

The story is as old as some of my favorite John Hughes’ movies. New shy boy in school from the wrong side of the tracks is befriended by a group of outsiders – including one shy girl who secretly falls in love with him. All is wonderful until someone encourages new boy to join the football team. New boy does and is immediately embraced by the popular crowd. New boy doesn’t look back. And shy girl never tells him how she feels.

Double sigh.

Christian disappeared after graduation. I have no idea where he ended up or what he is doing today. I tried once to find him on Facebook, but was unsuccessful. Not because I wanted to finally confess my feelings or anything. After all, I’m a happily married woman. But I was still curious.

Now that I think about it, it’s probably better this way. My memories of him are innocent and dramatic all at the same time. Reality would ruin the story. Wouldn’t it?

In Reunited, my first book with Decadent Publishing, former geek Magdelena Cruz is hoping that reality lives up to the fantasy she’s had since high school—finally getting her crush to notice her.

What would you do if you had the chance to sleep with your unrequited high school crush?

If you’re former geek Magdelena Cruz, you’d do him in a heartbeat. But you’d lie about your true identity first and hope your new sexy persona is enough to create a night you’ll never forget with the one man you’ve always wanted. Meanwhile, Will Hudson is a workaholic assistant district attorney who doesn’t have time for a love life. He signed up for Madame Evangeline’s 1Night Stand experience expecting to scratch an itch with a willing stranger. He has no idea that his date is no stranger at all.

A reunion between these two classmates will be hotter than the scorching Las Vegas sun. But will the heat be enough to spark something deeper or will they both end up getting burned by Magdelena’s charade?

Want to learn more? Check out my new book trailer for REUNITED at www.theromancechica.com and you’ll have a chance to win an ebook of your choice from Decadent Publishing!

I’d also love to hear about your Christian (or Christina)? Do you know where they are now, and if so, would you ever want to see them again?

Share your story below for a chance to win a copy of REUNITED. I’ll pick one random commenter and announce the winner on Monday. Just visit my blog to find out if it’s you.

I’ll leave you with a quote from one of my all-time favorite movies – the John Hughes classic Sixteen Candles:

"That's why they call them crushes. If they were easy, they'd call them something else." – Jim Baker (Samantha’s dad)

Them are wise words, Mr. Baker. Wise words indeed.

Sex Dipped in Sugar by Stephanie Beck

“Steph, your books are always so sweet.”
Hearing that from my friends and readers is something I take a special pride in. I do like sweet romances. I like romance to be sexy and steamy, but I admit to thinking romance, like waffles, is better when covered in sugar.
Panties Optional made me stretch outside my chocolates and flowers comfort zone. Setting up strangers to indulge in a hot night on the premise of a dating service had never occurred to me, but it was definitely intriguing. It takes the right personality and circumstances for a person to follow through on something like that, so I was thrilled when Maggie Chase came to mind. Tough, sassy and horny-a trifecta of boldness. Sam Peterson with his quieter personality, yet inner strength and desire complimented Maggie perfectly.
With the sexy world of 1NightStand already set up, the rest of the story fell into play. The two were jumping into bed before I’d even decided what color eyes they had. The wild night of passion and sexy dares exploded under my finger tips and before I realized it, a genuinely sexy story had emerged. It took me a while to realize that it didn’t have much of my humor or sweetness in it. The characters didn’t possess the endearing faults I always try to find for them. Panties Optional was, and still is, sex on a stick—in eBook form.
I read and reread the story a few times and though I liked it I was startled at how not-me it was. I usually add plenty of hearts and flowers to my stories. This one was edgy and cosmopolitan. So, after much thought I took that erotic novella and I dipped it in sugar to make it more my taste. Panties Optional –sexy and sweet and just how I like my romance.


Excerpt:
“Maggie Chase?”
“That’s me,” she said, adjusting her purse higher on her shoulder. The big tote didn’t quite match her outfit, but the sexy clutch she preferred wouldn’t have held a change of clothes and her toothbrush.
“Follow me, please. Madame Evangeline has arranged for your caller to meet you in the lounge.”
Lounge. Which meant they were going to the super-fancy part of the Castillo. She loved how decadent she felt within the expensive, gorgeous walls of the hotel. Rare art and beautiful fabrics surrounded her at every corner. As an interior decorator, she recognized them for the treasures they were. Could they have held back on the gold plating? Sure, but it suited the hotel and Vegas lifestyle.
As they meandered through the crowd, Maggie wondered why she wasn’t more nervous. One-night stands and paid escorts never entered her normal strategies for getting laid. Not that she expected the guy waiting for her to be some gigolo, but still, hooking up with a stranger to get string-free sex should have felt at least a little wrong. And maybe it did. Maybe that little bit of naughty provided the catalyst making her so hot.
Her escort stopped short, and Maggie nearly tripped. She grabbed the booth end before she fell on her ass and embarrassed herself, while forcing her heels to stop before she impaled the poor man. The stilettos were tall and wickedly sharp. They were plain wicked, but that didn’t mean she wanted to draw blood with them.
“Mr. Peterson, allow me to introduce Ms. Chase. If either of you have a need, wave from here. I’ll be watching.”
With those instructions, the liaison walked away. Despite the dim light, Maggie could see the man across from her. A stranger. A hot stranger wearing a gray shirt too nice to be called casual but far from fussy. He stood and offered a hand, showing a slim-to-the-point-of-scrawny frame, but when he leaned forward, his face, lean like the rest of him, made her breath catch.
Stephanie Beck
www.stephaniebeck.net
www.facebook.com/StephanieBeckAuthor
http://www.decadentpublishing.com/product_info.php?products_id=265&osCsid=ea8c210ec8656e8d434754021a1527b1

The Birth of 1 Night Stand

Last summer, while hanging out with a couple of my favorite online authors, we had a wonderful idea, to write a few stories about a unique dating service. We thought that a situation where, for reasons of their own, ordinary people wanted to have one great night, no strings attached. We had a few thoughts about why that might be and so Valerie Mann, Olivia Starke and I agreed to each write a story about what we thought might happen under those circumstances.
The Mysterious Madame Evangeline, owner of 1NightStand, is without peer in her gift at matching lovers for a 1NightStand, and always gives her clients more of an experience than they would have dreamed possible. Most of the dates happen at one of the fabulous Castillo Hotels and Resorts scattered around the world, with several at luxurious Castillo Las Vegas, Jackson Castillo’s flagship hotel, right on the Vegas Strip.
When we presented our idea to Decadent Publishing, we were given the green light to invite other authors to contribute to the series. To date there are more than a dozen stories accepted and a second series focusing on GLBT on the way.

Virgin and the Playboy was my first contribution to the series, although I have another in the works. Check it out and see what happens when a girl who was too consumed with her education and getting started in business to pay attention to her love life meets a guy who dates a different girl every week. And who has no idea he’s got a virgin for a 1 Night Stand.

Kate’s The Virgin and the Playboy as well as the other stories currently released are available at www.decadentpublishing.com or at your favorite online bookstore