Annmarie's Blog

I have news!

2010-08-11T05:07:00.000-07:00

Booksigning!

August 14th, 2010, 12-3 pm at Rose's Bookhouse in O'fallon, MO.

Hope to see you there! Several other local authors will be there as well to celebrate Rose's anniversary.

Free Kindle Download!

2009-11-08T18:56:00.000-08:00

Just and FYI...Look What Santa Brought is a free Kindle download from the 9th to the 15th...

Starting Over

2009-09-02T11:55:00.001-07:00

Coming September 8th from Loose Id!!

Wanted to share with you the blurb for Starting Over, my m/m/m menage coming out next week at Loose Id. Notice I said, M/M/M, as in all men...

I don't want to surprise anyone who doesn't normally read GLBT. :)

Blurb:

Two years ago, Aaron lost his partner in a drowning accident. He's trying to move on, but letting go of the past, of the life they were building, is hard. One thing he knows he's not ready for is a new relationship, but Garret and Dane are determined to change that.

Lifepartners Garret and Dane, a cop and an ER doc, bring Aaron home after an accident. They're happy in their light Dom/sub relationship, fulfilled and in love, but they've been keeping their eyes open for a third. It doesn't take long for them to decide that wounded, pretty Aaron is exactly who they've been looking for.

The three get along great, but Garret and Dane have their work cut out for them in convincing Aaron there's a time for starting over.

Hope everyone has a great holiday weekend!!

Annmarie

Priceless email of the day

2009-07-22T11:44:00.000-07:00

"You want me to do what?"

"I'm not smellin' those!"

I am the worst...

2009-06-19T18:29:00.000-07:00

Have I ever mentioned how bad I am at blogging??? Well now I've added another thing to suck at to my repertoire... Face Book. What evil person created that time suck? Lord that thing could get ugly. All the trolling and finding friends and reconnecting to old ones. Yikes! Anyway, find me, friend me, don't leave me lonely. I'm begging. There. I fess up to begging for friends.

And, I'm being featured on Discover New Authors at the Samhellion on July 1st! Bewteen a Ridge and a Hard Place is up for a partial free read. Here's the link if anyone wants to check it out. www.thesamhellion.com/free.htm I think a new book goes up every week and I'm guessing it doesn't mean discover a "new" author--as in just starting out, though there are bound to be some newbies in there--but discover "new" authors--as in one's you haven't read yet. :)

Speaking of Between a Ridge...Bridging the Gap is releasing August 4th!! This is Carter's story. Remember him from BaRaaHP? He's Ridge's partner. Hope you enjoy him. It was a blast to write. Here's a blurb:

The higher she climbs, the harder he falls…

Carter Malone is usually the first one to make tracks before a woman starts getting any ideas. Permanent relationships don’t fit into his personal blueprint. Now, for the first time in his life, he’s burning up the sheets with a woman who makes him think about something more permanent…like spending the night. But she’s holding something back, something he can’t quite pin down.

As a woman in a man’s world, Ryan Cooper is used to wearing a target on her back—and hiding her vulnerabilities. She hasn’t let anything, not even the ever-present threat of an epileptic seizure, stop her from working her butt off to get the foreman’s job with her stepfather’s construction company. Then she discovers the guy she’s been dating—okay, having the hottest sex of her life with—is the architect who designed the building she’ll be overseeing. The last thing she needs is anyone thinking she slept with Carter to get the job.

Or worse, feeling sorry for her.

Before the dust clears, things get a lot more complicated. The previous foreman’s injury was no accident, and whoever caused it is taking aim—at the target on Ryan’s back.

Warning: This book contains almost fully clothed sex with a little bit o’ spanking on an OCD-clean desk inside a construction trailer, a rogue set of pencils that just won’t take stay for an answer, and sweet loving in a tub.

Would you like to share my bed or have your own?

2009-04-01T06:54:00.000-07:00

The Bathtub Test

During a visit to the mental asylum, a visitor asked the Director how do you determine whether or not a patient should be institutionalized.

'Well,' said the Director, 'we fill up a bathtub, then we offer a teaspoon, a teacup and a bucket to the patient and ask him or her to empty the bathtub.'

'Oh , I understand,' said the visitor. 'A normal person would use the bucket because it's bigger than the spoon or the teacup.'

'No.' said the Director, 'A normal person would pull the plug. Do you want a bed near the window?'

ARE YOU GOING TO PASS THIS ON, OR DO YOU WANT THE BED NEXT TO MINE ?

Spring Break is OVER!!

2009-03-30T05:54:00.000-07:00

Woohoo. The kids are back in school, well, two of them anyway, still have a homeschooler and preschooler here, but half of them are gone and all will be quiet once again. Ahhhh....

Snort. Who am I kidding? Spring Break being over just means that I have to go back to teaching my 8 yr old before I get to write. Hmph.

So I got this email the other day. I thought it was hilarious and I hope no one else finds it offensive.

Teehee...

My all time favorite joke...

2009-03-27T13:45:00.000-07:00

A couple goes on vacation to a fishing resort in northern Minnesota.
The husband likes to fish at the crack of dawn.
The wife likes to read.
One morning the husband returns after several hours of fishing and decides to take a nap. Although not familiar with the lake, the wife decides to take the boat out.
She motors out a short distance, anchors, and continues to read her book.
Along comes a game warden in his boat. He pulls up alongside the woman and says,
"Good morning Ma'am. What are you doing?"
"Reading a book," she replies, (thinking "isn't that obvious?")
"You're in a restricted fishing area," he informs her.
"I'm sorry officer, but I'm not fishing, I'm reading."
"Yes, but you have all the equipment. For all I know you could start at any moment. I'll have to take you in and write you up."
"If you do that, I'll have to charge you with sexual assault," says the woman.
"But I haven't even touched you," says the game warden.
"That's true, but you have all the equipment. For all I know you could start at any moment."
MORAL: Never argue with a woman who reads. It's likely she can also think.

2009-03-25T07:16:00.000-07:00

Book Recommendation: Collision Course by K.A. Mitchell

2009-03-23T18:24:00.000-07:00

Holy Macholy. If you haven't read this book yet, you should. If you don't read m/m, try this one. Oh. My. God. Fantastic writing, loved the boys, Aaron and Joey, loved the relationship and the sex...HOT. I'd been searching frantically through blurb after blurb waiting for anything to tempt me when I ran across this one. I'd read another of hers, Regularly Scheduled Life, and it made me cry, but the blurb on this one made me grab it up. I love stories about cops and paramedics so this one sounded right up my alley since Aaron is a paramedic and Joey a klutz... I could only imagine the possiblities. Needless to say I stayed awake all night reading and finished this morning. Then I promptly reprimanded K.A. for keeping me awake. She did not, however, tell me that there was ANOTHER book before this one with characters you meet in Collision Course. So tonight, dang it, I shall be up again reading Diving in Deep. Because, how could I not?

Happy reading,

2009-03-06T14:49:00.000-08:00

Oh, look at that. How nice of me to not have spoken since September! Lord I suck at this stuff. My apologies. I'd love to share my latest cover with you for Tooth and Claw which releases April 28th. It's been a long time since I've had a release so I'm really excited! Here's the blurb:

Vampire: (noun) Bloodsucker, murderer, bedpost-notcher, God’s gift to women, fiend.

Seth Gramble is a prince among his people. Half vampire, half jaguar, he is one of a rare few who can shift into an animal form. Both his halves have found their mate in a female detective determined to lump all vampires in with the rogue who killed her former lover. He’s given her six months to see him differently. He’s done waiting.

Paxton Tenor wants nothing to do with a blood-sucking fiend, no matter how much he makes her body sing. Nothing good can come of a vampire. A case she’s working on partners her with Seth, and she’s forced to reconsider her hatred. He doesn’t seem at all like the rogue who sucked the life from her boyfriend in cold blood.

When Seth’s kitty comes out to play, Paxton realizes she’s been stupid to deny herself this man. And when he puts his life on the line to protect hers? All bets are off.

Warning: Let’s be realistic here people; there’s sex. Who doesn’t want to be coerced into bed by a sexy, God’s-gift-to-women vampire? And when they can be undressed and on you before you can blink—hello. Even if said vampire faints at the sight of his own blood…

What's Your Biker Witch Name?

2008-07-15T14:00:00.000-07:00

So I met this super sweet lady at my booksigning last weekend. Her name is Angie Fox and sometime while I've been shuttling my 8 yr old to horseback riding lessons on Saturdays, I missed her joining MORWA. Anyway, she has her first book coming out soon called, The Accidental Demon Slayer. It sounds like a hoot, and she's running a contest. Maybe YOU can win! All you have to do is follow the link, discover your inner Biker Witch name (mine is Hogwild Harriet Wheelie Gig), then post it to her blog. The winner gets her name in Angie's next book, The Dangerous Book for Demon Slayers. Have fun!

Per Angie:

Hi,I'm launching a fun quiz to go with the almost-release of The AccidentalDemon Slayer.

It's inspired by the geriatric biker witches that populate thebook and it's called: What's Your Biker Witch Name? http://quiz.angiefox.com

I'm also doing a blog contest to go with the quiz. Post your biker name on my blog and enter to have your real name appear as a bikerwitch character in the next book, *The Dangerous Book for Demon Slayers*,coming in August 2009.

The contest is at:http://angiefox.wordpress.com/2008/07/15/whats-your-biker-witch-name/

Thanks!Angie

Booksigning

2008-07-11T05:21:00.001-07:00

TGIF!

That's all I gotta say. :)

I will be signing books at Rose's Bookhouse in O'Fallon, MO, tomorrow, Saturday July 12 from 1-3. I have a few copies of the elusive Finding Strength and Sins of Summer (anthology including Fantasmagorical)

Hope to meet some of you there!

Annmarie

Between a Ridge and a Hard Place is here!!

2008-06-03T11:25:00.000-07:00

Yay! I'm so excited about this release. It's quick, it's fun, and I hope it's hot! Let me know what you think :) It's available now from Samhain Publishing.
http://samhainpublishing.com/romance/between-a-ridge-and-a-hard-place
Happy Reading!

This is for Rachel

2008-05-04T22:02:00.000-07:00

I have been bitch slapped for not blogging. Sheesh. I'm writing! Do you KNOW how long it's been since I've been able to sit and get out more than 200 hundred words that didn't suck? It's my birthday. Leave me alone. Hmph.

For anyone who isn't Rachel [:)], I am getting close to finishing Ultimatum. It has finally come to me. Derek and Paige were not cooperating in the least! Now they've decided to place nice and things are coming together.

Today is my birthday. It's also my son's. He's 4. Yesterday was my daughter's. She's 8. Ack. My kids are now 9,8,6, and 4. And I want another one. Stupid, stupid me. We painted pottery with the kid's friends for their party and my hubby and I did some...um, experimenting, if you know what I mean, last night while we were all alone in the house. Thank you grandma and grandpa!

Thanks for being patient with me everyone. It's been a rough last several months on the writing front, with too many other things happening. I think I'm finally back in the groove. Now, if I can just get Rachel off my back about this blogging thing...

Annmarie

New cover goodness :)

2008-03-27T10:09:00.000-07:00

My new short story due out June 3rd :) You like?
Here's a peek:

Between a Ridge and a Hard Place
(c) Annmarie McKenna 2008

Blurb:

Is it love? Or sabotage?

After a year of being ignored as a woman by her boss, Morgan steps up her game—and strips down. What better way than a miniskirt to capture her hardheaded boss’s attention? The butt floss she can do without, but hey, if the ploy works…and it does, with spectacular results. Now if only she can keep him interested permanently.

Ridge can’t believe it when the woman he’s quietly lusted after for a year shows up dressed…or rather, undressed…to drop any man to his knees. Instead of worrying about winning a bid after losing the last two under strange circumstances, he whisks her to his place to demolish any notion she might have of changing her mind.

Then it becomes clear why his company is losing bids—there’s a mole planted in their midst. Ridge suddenly has to question Morgan’s sudden transformation from faithful P.A. to office vixen.

Is she the woman he’s been waiting for? Or a corporate saboteur sent to take him down?

Warning: Contains several graphic love scenes. You know, on the bed, on the couch…whichever is closest at the time.

Spring Break Cruise

2008-03-24T18:20:00.000-07:00

So we just got back from our Spring Break cruise and let me tell ya, my kids hate each other and their parents, LOL. Yikes. They have this sort of Love/Hate relationship if you know what I mean. And living in a room the size of a walk in closet on a boat--not so good. We spent more time telling our kids to behave than we did seeing the sights! But anyway, we did have a great time. Royal Caribbean's got a great kids program and I'm surprised it wasn't utilized as much as I thought. There were a ton of kids on our ship yet I only saw maybe ten or so from each age group at any time our kids were there. Hey, the hubby and I used the night time to wind down from a day of pulling our hair out. Guess everyone else's kids are just perfect? Here's a few pics from the trip...

The girls at CocoCay, Bahamas.

Adventure Ocean kids performing a pirate show :) I have the little guy in brown right up front and the girl in the pink halter top next to him.

Me and my oldest and youngest dd's holding the alligator :)

Sweeet

2008-03-14T14:50:00.001-07:00

Check it out! I got a sweet surprise in the mail today :) My awards from All Romance Ebooks "The Best of 2007". I won twice. Once for Best Book of 2007 with Checkmate and once for Best Author. The were ten winners in each category that included Best Reader, Author, Books, Publisher (which Samhain won for). Congrats to all the winners!

Time to TRI again

2008-03-03T06:35:00.000-08:00

Yes, that's right, I'm going to TRI again :) Yeah, yeah, I know last time wasn't so successful but surely that kind of thing can't happen twice, right? Right? Gulp. So this was me last time...

...and FYI, this was the least scary picture. You should have seen the day of. Yikes. It's hard to revisit these, LOL. Anyway, in four weeks I'm going to try again. This time with my sister. This happened on the bike portion and no, I didn't hit by a car and yes, I was wearing a helmet. There wasn't a scratch on it! The scariest portion this time around for me is the swim. It's in open water in a bay with God only knows what swimming around me or trying to eat me. I asked about sharks and my sister's friend laughed and said, "There aren't any sharks! The alligators eat them all." He so did not help my confidence. So, here I am, 4 weeks out from a .6 mile swim, 28 mile bike, and a 6.5 mile run. Not to mention the 13 hour drive with 9 yr old in tow, just to get to the race. Wish me luck :)

Decandent by Shayla Black

2007-10-05T05:40:00.001-07:00

Decadent is just what the title says it is. DECADENT. Delicious. Yummy. Satisfying. Absolutely gratifying. This menage is hot. If you read Wicked Ties, you've already met Deke and loved him. Now it's his turn and he and his cousin Luc, a chef, turn up the heat on Kimber, who comes to Deke begging him to teach her how to please two men. Little did she know along the way she'd want more than the lessons, she'd want it all...and not with the man she'd intended the lessons to be for. Deke is a man driven by past demons and issues of his own. He doesn't want anything to do with the virginal Kimber. Then someone wants her dead and Deke will do anything to protect her. Including learning to love the one thing he thinks he doesn't want.

I had a hard time putting this book down. It has everything in I love in a book. Heat, suspense, and romance. You've got to try this one--it definitely gets a thumbs up.

Publisher: Berkley Trade/Berkley Heat
ISBN: 0-425-21721-3
ISBN 13: 978-0425217214
Release Date: October 2, 2007
Genre: Contemporary Erotic/Menage á Trios
Order at AmazonOrder at Barnes & Noble

Blurb:
Two men are better than one…
How can a virgin seeking happily-ever-after with a hot pop star who has a penchant for threesomes win her fantasy man? Kimber Edgington desperately needs a plan to convince Jesse McCall, who’s been her friend and secret crush since they spent a summer together as teenagers, that they are meant for each other. But all the tabloid stories about his sexual escapades make her feel oh-so inadequate.

Determined to prove she’s woman enough for Jesse, Kimber turns to bodyguard Deke Trenton for sexual education. Bold and brash, Deke warns Kimber that playing with him is playing with fire. But he can’t bear to imagine the innocent beauty in someone else’s arms. So Deke and his super-sexy friend, Luc, take Kimber under their wings and dangerously close to the edge of ecstasy. Though she’s saved herself for Jesse, Kimber soon learns, he’s not the man adept at stoking her aching, endless need. That’s Deke, and he can’t resist when Kimber begs for more–and more…

Excerpt:

This excerpt contains both explicit language and sexual content intended for adult audiences and readers should be 18 years or older to continue reading.
Deke hovered just outside the kitchen, jaw clenched.
Damn, he’d know that sweet, little-girl voice anywhere. High-pitched, lilting, usually delivered with a hint of mischief. Kimber Edgington. She made his dick itch for action. Always had. Every day he’d worked for the Colonel, he’d seen her. Just the sound of her voice had been enough to send a mad rush of blood straight to his cock. One glance from those sweet hazel eyes made him as ready as a jackhammer.
Adjusting himself, Deke grimaced. Damn it, she still had that power.
At least she wasn’t seventeen anymore, tempting a man who was old enough to know better and nearly too horny to care.
Five years ago, he’d quit working for her father before he’d done something stupid. Something he was sure he’d regret every bit as much as she would.
But why the fuck was she here in his house now? Hell, only one way to find out…
She gasped as he stepped into the kitchen. Deke leaned against a counter to hide his raging hard on. By Luc’s amused smile, he knew he wasn’t fooling his cousin.
But it was Kimber’s face he focused on. More mature lines. Fuller lips The freckles had faded. She wore a hint of make up. The air of innocence remained, still begging corruption.
Deke would bet every last medal he’d ever earned that she was a virgin.
Crazy. The girl had to be twenty-two, twenty-three. In his gut, though, Deke knew he was right. Shit! He had to get her the fuck out of here. Fast. In his book, head-spinning desire and virginity were a bad combination.
“Kimber.” His voice sounded like ground-up gravel. He resisted the urge to wince.
“Deke.”
His name fell from her glossy, rosy lips. The sound only made him harder. Hell! Then she bit her cushy lower lip, and all he could think about was watching his dick slide over that lip, then deep inside the wet silk of her mouth while she looked up at him with those innocent eyes.
If he didn’t stop thinking like this, he was going to have to go into the bathroom and jack off before he could have a decent conversation with the girl so he could send her on her way.
“Hi,” she breathed into the awkward silence.
“It’s been a while.”
She nodded. It was jerky, nervous. He hadn’t heard much of Luc’s conversation with Kimber, just enough to know his cousin had some whacked-out imagining that he’d been keeping the doll-faced beauty to himself. And that Kimber thought she had an urgent reason to be here.
Since they only had one acquaintance in common, this had to be about the Colonel.
“Is everything all right with your dad?”
“He–he’s fine. Thanks.” She pasted on a smile. “He says some psycho, ex-convict he helped bring in for a client is threatening him, but that’s nothing new.”
In their line of work? “No, it’s not.”
Finally, his erection abated enough to cross the room and plant himself at the fussy Italian table. A smile still tugged at the corner of his cousin’s mouth, and Deke sent him a warning glare.
“I heard you tell Luc you had something urgent to talk to me about. It’s not about the Colonel?”
“No. It’s…” Kimber lashes swept toward her cheeks as she looked down, bit her lip once more.
Damn it, her unconsciously coquettish expressions were making him hard again.
Her gaze bounced back up again, and he saw fortitude there. Interesting…
“It’s personal.”
Personal? Deke had no idea what to say. She’d come to him for something personal? He’d done his best to be an ass to her when he’d worked for her father. Not too difficult when he’d been knotted up by sexual frustration on a daily basis.
A moment passed in silence. A pause. Then…
Luc rose and approached Kimber. “I’ll give you kids a few minutes alone. I have to make a phone call, anyway. There’s more raspberry tea in the fridge. Don’t let Mr. Glower scare you off.” He grabbed her hand and kissed it. “And don’t leave without saying goodbye.”
Deke watched the exchange, and realized after Luc strolled out of the room that he was grinding his teeth. Bastard. Kimber was everything his cousin pursued with single-minded vigor: the promise of sweetness, white lace, and innocent sighs. The fact she had a healthy hint of red in her hair was just a bonus.
Not this woman. Not this time. If Kimber was off limits to him, Luc wasn’t getting a piece of her ass, either.
The muted slam of a door down the hall let Deke know his cousin was safely ensconced in his office. He turned his attention back to Kimber.
“Go ahead. I’m listening.”
She drew in a shaky sigh, then raised her chin, seeming to take her nerves in hand. A moment later, she sent him a direct stare. “I came to ask you for a favor. I realize this is odd but… would you teach me about sex, the way you like it?”

Finding Strength

2007-10-02T07:13:00.000-07:00

You likey? Here's the cover for the combined books of Two Sighted and Strength of Three which are going to print. It's not due out until next June but hey...

Swim, Bike, Run

2007-09-08T08:49:00.000-07:00

No, not me this time :) Today two of my kids raced in a trYathlon at a local YMCA and had a blast. They were so excited and both did an excellent job. They were in the youngest age group so their distances were a 50 yd swim, 1.4 mile bike, and 1/2 mile run. It was a lot of fun and everyone recieved a medal, certificate, t-shirt, water bottle, and door prize. Thankfully they both had a great time and now have asked to do another one. The left picture is my younger daughter just off the bike an onto the run and the right is my oldest daughter (#873) just out of the swim and getting ready to get on her bike. It was an overcast day and not hot since we've been getting some rain the last two days, but despite the squishy mud puddles, it was a nice day and I congratulate the Y for putting on such a nicely run event.

The Perfect Gift

2007-08-25T15:36:00.000-07:00

I know, it's too early for Christmas! But hey, this particular anthology from Samhain Publishing releases in PRINT at the end of September!! Heck, it's already available for pre-order at Amazon.com. or you can wait until December and download each book individually in e-format :) Sooo, on that note, I thought I'd introduce you to Look What Santa Brought. Some of you may already know who the hero is. Scottie.

Blurb:
Look What Santa Brought by Annmarie McKenna (c) 2007

He is looking for the love of his life, she is looking for a little refuge.

Scott Wyatt knows what he wants for Christmas and it comes in a beautiful voiced, make his heart race, more than tempting package. If only he could see her.

Tara Patrick needs a man to make her ex see the light. But when the gorgeous brother of her best friend offers himself for the job, she has to say no. How could she possibly use the blind man who makes her heart flutter and not get hurt in the process?

Staring at the opportunity of a business lifetime, Tara finds herself living as close to Scott as one can live without sharing a bed. Tara’s ex isn’t happy and he sets out to prove he won’t lose her. But when darkness falls, which man has the advantage, because Scott isn’t willing to let Tara go either.

Excerpt:
“Craaap.”

The hushed, indignant tones of Scott Wyatt’s quarry reached his ears and he wondered what she’d done. Stubbed her toe? Spilled her usual caramel latte? He smiled and sat back, relaxing into the rigid, corduroy-covered foam blocks someone decided would pass as a chair, and waited for her to join him at their little group’s usual table. He’d have to look into getting new chairs, despite his sister’s protestations that these fit the décor of his coffee shop.

He pressed a button on his watch. “Ten twenty-two,” a nasally, female voice told him. Tara Patrick was late this morning, by just over twenty minutes. She’d never been late before. A frisson of anxiety skittered across his nerves, overriding the hard-on her voice always seemed to ignite.

“Come on, come on,” she mumbled.

He nearly groaned. Her choice of words and his heightened state of libido didn’t mesh. Scott imagined her teeth grinding together with her agitation.

A muffled cartoon ring-tone grew louder as it was drawn out of whatever hidey-hole it resided in. He’d heard it before. The song Tara had programmed onto her cell phone mirrored her normal personality. Fun and carefree. Lots of laughter.

Papers shuffled, cloth moved over cloth, a joint popped.

“Ouch. Son of a booger. Unh. Hello?” she said, her voice getting closer to him, the hello much stronger than her previous whispered mutterings.

Scott pursed his lips, hiding his grin and welcoming back the rush of blood to his groin where his cock hardened further. Sounded like Tara was having a rough day. In the two months he’d known her, he’d never noticed her usual happy-go-lucky self having a bad day.

Maybe he’d talk to Brianna and find out what was bothering the woman of his dreams. His sister and Tyler, her husband in heart if not on paper, would be here any minute.

Scott envied Brianna. She’d been lucky enough to find not just one man, but two. Tyler and Cole both loved and cherished her. Their relationship might seem strange to people who didn’t know them, but the trio was what worked for them and their two children.

Scott was waiting for that one special woman in a million he could share that same sort of bond with. He more than wanted it, he needed it. Felt it was the one thing missing in his life. And somehow he had a feeling Tara might be the one, despite the fact he knew she’d been dating another man. He ground his teeth together thinking about her with someone else.

To Bean Or Not To Bean, the coffee shop Scott owned, was their regular Tuesday/Thursday meeting place. Brianna, Tyler or Cole, and Tara met him here usually without fail at ten o’clock. It had quickly become a habit and they’d all gotten to be a close group.

Scott was ready to get closer.

He squirmed in his seat and tried to adjust himself. Any harder and his dick would be imprinted with the buttons of his fly.

“What the hell? I asked you to leave three days ago.”

Scott tried to tune out her worried side of the conversation, which he easily picked out over the din of the entire cafe. Her voice attached itself to his ears like a magnet. Because of his blindness, his hearing had always been strong in his good ear. Especially having to compensate for the bad one. Now, thanks to revolutionary surgery he’d had to repair the damaged ear, his hearing was even more superior.

The door opened behind and to his left with a whoosh of cold, frosty air, tinkling the tiny overhead bell and swirling the robust aroma of freshly brewed coffee, peppermint and boughs of pine throughout the café. The espresso machine whirred, foaming up a fresh batch of frothy milk for the next customer’s order. A muted version of “Have a Holly, Jolly Christmas” floated around the room. Somewhere to his right, fingers clacked incessantly across a laptop keyboard as if the owner’s life depended on it. Cattycorner from him, loose change hit the floor followed by a “goddamn it”.

“He’s baaack,” a whiny, high-pitched voice sung out.

The woman did not even attempt to be discreet. Or maybe she did and his overdeveloped sense of hearing just made it seem that way. Scott hung his head at the distraction.

“Who?” a second woman asked.

“Blond Adonis, six o’clock.”

“Oh Lord, he’s hot.”

Scott snorted softly and grimaced behind his mug of café mocha. Since the two female voices emanated from his twelve o’clock and nobody sat behind him, he could only presume they were referring to him.

“Just a second,” Tara’s voice intruded. “Um, hello, you do know the blond Adonis is blind, right? Waggling your fingers at him isn’t doing you a bit of good.”

Scott nearly spewed his coffee across the room. He choked down what he could and coughed out the rest.

“Shit,” he muttered, and grabbed the napkin from its nine o’clock position on the table and wiped at his now damp shirt.

“And what makes you such an expert?” the first woman’s snotty voice retorted.

“Oh, I don’t know, the fact he’s wearing sunglasses inside? Or maybe it’s the seeing eye dog sitting next to him?” Tara nearly shouted.

Scott bit his lip.

“Or maybe it’s because I’m sleeping with him, and I can assure you, the man can’t see a thing. But damn, what he can do with those hands.” Tara made this little moaning sound and Scott nearly came in his jeans.

My new baby :)

2007-07-24T10:12:00.001-07:00

Isn't he sweet? Well, he was until the little shit starte chewing on one of my books!! He's a 9 wk old yellow lab and the kids are calling him Max.

Winner!

2007-07-10T16:51:00.000-07:00

I have a blinding migraine fast approaching so if I don't get back to you tonight, I will in the morning. Lesley is the winner. Congrats! And thanks everyone for playing. I really want to go to the beach now. Lesley, contact me at annmarmck@yahoo.com and let me know what format you'd like.

Thanks again, everyone :)

Contest Anyone?

2007-07-10T05:15:00.000-07:00

I'm leaving for the RWA conference tomorrow and will miss the release of my Midsummer Night's Steam for Samhain this Friday the 13th, Fantasmagorical. :( BUT, I'd love to give out and early bird copy!! This is a m/m/f menage--notice the m/m part of that menage in case any of you don't like m/m stories. Just leave me a note, telling me about your best vacation spots and I'll choose a winner at 5 CST tonight. I'm leaving at 10 am so be sure to check back to see if you won so I can send you a copy. Otherwise, it might not be so early bird :)

YIKES!

2007-07-06T12:52:00.000-07:00

It's been two freakin' months since I wrote in here. Here is my hand for anyone who wants to slap it! It's been a busy, busy, busy, non-stop summer and blogging has been the furthest thing from my mind.

So I have a new cover... :) You can see it above because I can't seem to get it to go where I want it, LOL. It's The Strength of Three. Christina, Jon, and TJ from Two Sighted. If you've read it, then you've already me them. It's SUPPOSED to go out the end of August. Cross your fingers.

I also wrote and sold a m/m short story to Samhain for the 2008's m/m Valentine's anthology!! Look for Court Appointed in late January. We're working on cover ideas and blurbs as we speak so hopefully I'll have something soon.

Today I joined Alison Kent's challenge: Seventy Days of Sweat-The writing challenge. We have seventy days to finish a novel length book. This is perfect for me since Ultimatum is due Oct. 1 and since I haven't started it yet...

As for Ultimatum, it's been pushed back. It was supposed to come out later this year, but because things got very hectic for me, I've had to do some rescheduling. It's given me a much needed breather when I needed it most.

Fantasmagorical releases one week from today!! Woohoo! Unfortunately I will be at National next week so I won't be here to see it go live. Perhaps I'll give one away early next week.

I hope everyone's summer is going well and if you're going to National, I'll be at the signing, if my plane actually lands on time.

These are hilarious!

2007-05-08T07:15:00.000-07:00

2007-04-19T06:37:00.000-07:00

Thirteen Last Minute Things To Do Before RT Annmarie McKenna

I shouldn't be Thirteening today. I need to be doing a million other things, yet here I sit feeling guilty for not being able to blog at all since last week. So here's my list of 13 make-me-even-more-nervous things to do before Tuesday.

1. Print some copies of Fantasmagorical Covers to give away.
2. Find 2 baskets. One for holding name slips for the basket giveaway, on for the actual basket.
3. Pray that the Gods are on my side and my magnets actually make it to Houston and are printed correctly :)
4. Organize clothes. I have done nothing but promo items for this trip so far.
5. Get my hair cut. That's later today.
6. Sleep. Yep, I haven't been doing that so well lately.
7. Make a list of ALL the things I do that my hubby doesn't know about, for the kids. Boy is he in for a shock.
8. Buy food for said kids so hubby doesn't have to cook.
9. Go to the Bank.
10. Find a few more items to go in the gift basket.
11. Organize between my mom and my hubby the kids schedule while he works.
12. Pack.
13. Try not to have a nervous breakdown.

Everything else, is there anything else?, is good to go. I think. I hope. Next year won't be so bad will it? At least then I won't be a virgin anymore and will have an idea of what's about to happen.

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!
1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Free Read--squeee!

2007-04-13T10:04:00.000-07:00

I have a fun free read in All Romance Ebooks Newsletter this week. You can check it out here: http://allromanceebooks.com/newsletter46-2007-04-13.html It is a newsletter so there's a interview before the vignette :) Squee! Let me know what you all think of my first attempt at a super short freebie :)

I've been tagged

2007-04-07T13:22:00.000-07:00

First off, I just wanted to thank Beth Williamson for tagging me this morning. It was awful sweet of you hon. Just can't thank you enough :).

Now then, I am supposed to blog about 5 Things I Obsess About. Beth, we are oddly alike which is a little scary. The problem is, I don't have five things. I am the opposite of obsessor, LOL. Seriously. I don't care if the house isn't clean, or the wash not done, or there's dishes in the sink. I'm a blue jeans/shorts and t-shirt type of girl, wear my hair in a ponytail on a regular basis and don't use make-up. Damn. What does all that say about me? Well, here are a few things I do obsess about.

1. Money--all the time. Who doesn't? Keeps me up in the middle of the night. Why?

2. Pleasing people--I have this intense fear of pissing someone off by my actions or words, intentional or not.

3. Being on time--I hate when people are late. Once in awhile, yeah, okay. There are reasons that might hold you up now and then. But on a routine basis just for the attention? Uh-uh. Doesn't fly.

4. All right I do obsess about finishing my projects on time though my editor will say I sorely suck at accomplishing that. Yet I don't like to leave my house late. I think it stems back to pleasing people. If I don't get it done, who will hate me the most? Thankfully my editor's whip is soft.

5. And last but not least I fear what most people in this country fear. Okay, maybe not an obsession, but it weighs heavily on my mind...making sure my kids grow up to see adulthood in the same way we all have and not from the inside of some bomb shelter. There, I said it. Ack. To over the top? I don't worry about the fringe being straight or the blades of grass all being equal, when I worry, it's about the big things in life, LOL.

And that's a little tidbit into my neurotic mind. Now I'm going to tag Nicole Austin

2007-04-05T07:30:00.000-07:00

Thirteen Books I've Read
A Million Times
Annmarie McKenna

1. All The Queen's Men...Linda Howard
2. The Perfect Man...Linda Howard
3. Dying To Please...Linda Howard
4. Heartbreaker...Julie Garwood
5. The Secret...Julie Garwood
6. The Bride...Julie Garwood
7. Sweet Nothings...Catherine Anderson
8. Storm Warning...Dinah McCall
9. The Ugly Duckling...Iris Johansen
10. Hawk O'Toole's Hostage...Sandra Brown
11. Remember Summer...Elizabeth Lowell
12. The Guardian...Dee Henderson
13. Kiss and Tell...Cherry Adair

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)

Winner

2007-04-04T11:10:00.000-07:00

LOL, I think I offered a contest for commenting on my new digs :) The winner is...Erin the innocent! Congrats Erin. Email me at annmarmck@yahoo.com for a GC to Samhain or a download of any of my three available books or wait until I get Two Sighted in my hot little hands :)

Thanks everyone. I love the new look ;)

Happy Hump Day!

Sweeeeet!

2007-04-02T10:41:00.000-07:00

Check out my new digs :) I had my web designer make my blog match my web pages. Yeah. I love it! Thanks, JoAnn and Jaymi at J-J Designs. They make my life a hell of alot easier since I'm clueless.

Rainbows and Elbows

2007-03-31T17:15:00.000-07:00

Who says you can't lick your own elbow? My daughter came pretty darn close. I don't have the foggiest idea why she was trying but I ran and grabbed the camera. It was an opportunity I couldn't pass up.

My kids found this rainbow this evening after a round of thunderstorms moved through. It was purty. And since we just recently had St. Patrick's Day, they begged me to take them to find the gold!

Check it out!!

2007-03-30T14:23:00.000-07:00

Seeing Eye Mate is a finalist in the Fantasm Awards for Best Werewolf Romance!! Of course I'm in there with Lauren Dane, Keri Arthur, and Angela Knight but hey, I am uber excited about it :) I wasn't even aware of the awards. Someone else had to tell me which leaves me red-cheeked. You can vote for your favorites here:

http://www.geocities.com/ctmrrsn/form2006.html

Thanks for the nomination!

Thursday Thirteen

2007-03-29T06:31:00.000-07:00

Thirteen Things my kids want to do today (Spring Break)
Annmarie McKenna

1. Go to the Zoo
2. Go to Tumble Drum
3. Go to Chuckie Cheese
4. Go Ice Skating
5. Go to the Park
6. Go golfing
7. Go Swimming
8. Basketball
9. The Movies
10. Camping
11. the Arch
12. Play outside with friends
13. The Carousel

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!

(leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Two Sighted

2007-03-26T11:26:00.000-07:00

My beautiful new cover courtesy of Vanessa Hawthorne :) May 8th is getting closer and closer!

Midsummer Night's Steam

2007-03-23T13:40:00.000-07:00

MY COVER! It's lickalicious as Beth or Ally so eloquently put it :)

Thursday Thirteen

2007-03-22T06:03:00.000-07:00

Thirteen Reasons I Won't Get Any Writing Done Today Annmarie McKenna

1. My son :) Need I say more?
2. Have to create this TT and cruise others.
3. Have to take my 5 yr old to the doc. She hurt her finger yesterday and today it's a pretty shade of blue and nice and swollen.
4. Parent/Teacher conference.
5. Shopping. No seriously. I have an 8 yr old and a 2 yr old who don't fit into their warm weather clothes anymore.
6. I'll probably have to go to lunch while I'm shopping.
7. Take one kid to gymnastics.
8. Pick her up, drop the second one off.
9. Pick that one up.
10. Dinner.
11. Emails. God those suckers are addictive.
12. Can you say, PROCRASTINATION?
13. Survivor. :)Is it even on tonight? Hmm...I think it was on last night. Maybe I will get some writing done after all...
Thursday is not such a good day for me.

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!
1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)

Slash and Burn

2007-03-18T13:37:00.000-07:00

I'm part of a new m/m blog called Slash and Burn! Come check us out now and then. I believe there will be prizes given away this week to those who comment :) Join Ally Blue, Amanda Young, Anne Cain, Barbara Sheridan, Joely Skye, Leigh Ellwood, and Olivia Lorenz as we chat about Samhain books as well as other publishers and anything else we can think of LOL! Drop by and let us know what you think, please! The first post should be up later today.

Disney on Ice--money, biting, and men, oh my!

2007-03-17T07:42:00.000-07:00

Okay, I admit it. I took my four kiddos to Disney Princesses on Ice last night. First off, we got lost. I had directions, but the highway sign didn't say the name of the street I needed. It was more a comglomeration of "downtown" than anything. It was also the last exit for downtown so I suddenly found myself crossing the river into another state. Nice. I calmly *snort* called my hubby and asked him how to get back.

I told myself the event was all in the spirit of providing my three girls and one son a night of over-expensive fun, filled with $10 cotton candy, $4.75 bottled water, and $3.50 popcorn. Don't even mention the "toys". There was nothing under 12 bucks. While my kids begged the entire night for one of said light up tieras, wands, spinning princesses, or singing roses, I held strong. "We'll share mommy!" Pfft. My kids can't share the popcorn w/o dumping it all over the ground, how would they share a cool light up toy?

No.

So I compromised and told them I would take them to the Disney Store today so they could pick up some similiar, and much cheaper, trinket that will quickly find its way to lost or broken anyhow.

So, post biting incident between the 2 yr old son and 6 yr old daughter--the boy drew blood in front of 5000 people for God sake!--we settled in to watch the show. The first part was a scene from Aladdin. O. M. G. The guy who played Prince Ali Ababwa can grace one of my covers anyday! He had a body to die for. He needed it for all the lifts and twists they did.

The show was really good. It even entertained my 2 yr old son for the entire hour and a half. He sat on my lap for the whole thing and, aside from turning to me after each segment and saying, "Is it over?", he watched the every minute of it. And I must say, the fire breathing dragon from Sleeping Beauty was the best :)

Thursday Thirteen

2007-03-15T07:56:00.000-07:00

Thirteen Things To Do On A Rainy Day with Four Kids Under 8 Annmarie McKenna1. Visit the Rec Plex for swimming, ice skating, rock climbing.
2. Play games--Candy Land, Chutes and Ladders, Go Fish, etc.
3. Read Books--just not mommie's books :)
4. Paint
5. Get out the kids cookbook and let them make whatever they want.
6. Put up a tent and have an indoor campout.
7. Picnic on the carpet.
8. Head to the movies.
9. Tumble Drum is always a winner. For the kids at least.
10. Grab your umbrella and galoshes and join the raindrops. You know you want to...
11. Mud wrestling. Take lots of pictures.
12. Put on a fashion show. Even my 2 yr. old son loves this.
13. There's always Cat in the Hat...
Links to other Thursday Thirteens!1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)

Sexy Acronym

2007-03-14T19:10:00.002-07:00

- Annmarie McKenna's Sexy Acronym -
A is for... Appetizing
N is for... Naked
N is for... Nasty
M is for... Mouth-watering
A is for... Alluring
R is for... Racy
I is for... Inviting
E is for... Erotic

M is for... Mouth-watering
C is for... Carnal
K is for... Keen
E is for... Erotic
N is for... Nude
N is for... Nasty
A is for... Appetizing
The Sexy Acronym Generator atQuizUniverse.com

Binky Schminky

2007-03-13T07:14:00.000-07:00

My son will be 3 in less than 2 months. He is the baby of 4 kids, the only boy. Not one of my girls used a pacifier. (they have their own thumb sucking issues, lol.) My son, however, uses a binky and carries a blanket. Aw...he's so cute. Not! It's time for the pacifier to go bye-bye. We originally encouraged the pacifier since he was born tongue-tied to help strengthen his tongue so we wouldn't have to snip it, but it's time to let go now. How? And why do I find this so hard to do?

I don't let my kids get away with not eating a meal and then snacking all day. I don't give in to my 6 yr olds massive tantrums at bed time because "she can't go to sleep". I don't buy them toys when we go to the store no matter how loud they scream. So why is it I can't throw the dang things away and be done with it?

Because he's the baby? The only boy? (oh and by the way, no one told me how different boys were than girls) Holy crap! He's such a sweetie...about 15 minutes out of the day, LOL. The rest, he's a monster. And his vocabulary is bigger than mine! Has been for more than a year. We certainly don't have the verbal issues many toddlers and parents do. I can more than hold an adult sized conversation with him. And he remembers EVERYTHING! Heck the kid's been going on the potty since he was a year and half--not potty trained because he doesn't "feel" when to go yet, but will go everytime he sits on it. He's just now in the last week started saying, "I need to go potty." Thank you, God!

So why is it I can't convince him it's time to let go of the binky? What in his tiny but vast brain won't let him give up his vice? In a few months he starts preschool. "You can't have a binky at preschool," I say. "Yes I can." Adamant little boy.

How did you do it? I've heard toss 'em and be done with it, let him scream it out. For how long? I can see this going on for days on end. I heard one mom say they gave them to the binky fairy--tied them to balloons and sent them into the sky. Only use them at night--*snort*--that's not working :)
Grr...

Tagged-Writing Meme

2007-03-12T18:34:00.000-07:00

I've been tagged! Nicole Austin tagged me. For other authors reading this, join in, it's fun :)

The instructions: Turn to page 123 in your work-in-progress. (If you haven’t gotten to page 123 yet, then turn to page 23. If you haven’t gotten there yet, then get busy and write page 23.) Count down four sentences and then instead of just the fifth sentence, give us the whole paragraph.

This is a bit from page 23 (it doesn't have 123 pages:)) of Two Sighted. I gave a few paragraphs :)

Lord knows how many times he’d seen her off in another world but she seemed more than capable of snapping out of it in time to prevent questions. Usually. Twice Kyle had stepped in and diverted a possible disaster. Both times she’d been sitting at her desk, a far away look on her face, when someone had stopped to speak with her.

Kyle had simply strode out of his office and detoured them.

Thank God it didn’t happen on a routine basis. If it did, he’d have made a space for her inside his office, something he knew she would protest.

I tag Maya Banks! You're it :)

GO Fetch! by Shelly Laurenston

2007-03-09T19:47:00.000-08:00

OMG. If you haven't read Shelly's Pack Challenge or GO Fetch, you have to. They are hilariously funny and sexy good reads! LOL funny. I finished today and can't wait for the third installment Here Kitty, Kitty.

Blurb:

How much trouble can one small female be to a modern-day shapeshifting Viking? Well...it really depends on local gun laws.

Conall Víga-Feilan, direct descendent of Viking shifters, never thought he'd meet a female strong enough to be his mate. He especially didn't think a short, viper-tongued human would ever fit the bill. But Miki Kendrick isn't some average human. With an IQ off the charts and a special skill with weapons of all kinds, Miki brings the big blond pooch to his knees-and keeps him there.

Miki's way too smart to ever believe in love and she knows a guy like Conall could only want one thing from her. But with the Pack's enemies on her tail and a few days stuck alone with the one man who makes her absolutely wild, Miki is about to discover how persistent one Viking wolf can be.

Warning, this title contains the following: explicit sex, graphic language, and strong violence.

2007-03-08T14:10:00.000-08:00

Thirteen Things about me I can't stand :)by Annmarie McKenna

1. I'm a chronic nail biter.
2. I'm a slob--can't stand housecleaning.
3. One word--Procrastination
4. Tiny bit of OCD in that I can't leave the house without checking to make sure I have everything ten times.
5. After having checked items above said ten times, I STILL have to turn the car around because I forgot something.
6. Did I mention I'm extremely forgetful?
7. That I can't force myself to excercise more.
8. I say I'll do a lot of things that never get done.
9. I think the worst. Ugh. Always. My glass is half empty.
10.Oh, I forgot to mention that I'm a very forgetful person.
11. That I get very frustrated helping my kids with their homework.
12. I can't cook and I really want too.
13. That I can't say no.
Links to other Thursday Thirteens!1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)

Some things you never wanted to know about me :)

2007-03-07T14:15:00.000-08:00

Okay, so here's a few facts about me you probably never really cared about. It was cute though. I got it from a good friend of mine today and decided to post it here :) Feel free to share your own answers...

Two Things You Are Wearing Right Now:
1. blue jeans
2. Eddie Bauer Sweatshirt

Two Things You Would Want (or have) in a Relationship:
1. good personality
2. devotion

Two of Your Favorite Things to do:
1. write
2. travel

Two of Your Least Favorite Things to do:
1. scrub toilets
2. mop

Two Things You Want Very Badly At The Moment:
1. a jeep
2. one week alone :)

Two pets you had/have:
1. dog and cat--Emily and Hershey
2. 2 parakeets--Tweeter and Sparkle

Two things you did last night:
1. CORE critique group
2. daughter's soccer practice

Two things you ate today:
1. Quizno's
2. bagel

Two people you Last Talked To:
1. My hubby
2. My sister

Two Things You're doing tomorrow:
1. registering my daughter for kindergarten
2. taking two dd's to gymnastics

Two longest car rides:
1. Gulf Shores, Alabama
2. Virginia Beach, VA

Two Favorite Holidays:
1. Christmas
2. Halloween

Two favorite beverages:
1. Mountain Dew
2. Peppermint Mocha

Two of Your Best Qualities:
1. reliable
2. honest

Two Qualities You Look for in Another Person:
1. loyalty
2. fun to be around

Fantasmagorical

2007-03-02T12:50:00.000-08:00

Coming July 13th, 2007!

Yep, that's right, Friday the 13th :) Bad omen? Nah. I think it's fun. Here's a blurb:

Welcome to Fantasm Island! Leave your inhibitions at the door and let your fantasies soar.

That’s what the brochure said anyway. A week long fling with a stranger. Where’s the harm in that? Take a compatibility quiz and a slew of other health tests, sign a strict privacy agreement and give license to any sexual fantasy you’ve ever had. Evan Knight couldn’t wait.

Gabe and Lance have been searching for their perfect third for what seems like forever. One look at the woman he and his best friend and lover Lance have chosen to claim during her time on the island, and Gabe thinks they may have finally found her.

But what if Evan isn’t interested in more than the fling she signed up for? Or worse, what if she can’t handle two men who are into each other too? Gabe and Lance have one week to convince Evan that the three of them belong together…and they’ll use every bit of seduction in their arsenal to make sure when the fantasy ends, their reality together will only just be beginning.

Warning, this title contains the following: explicit fantasmagorical sex, graphic language, ménage a trois, and hot nekkid man-love.

Two Sighted is coming :)

2007-03-02T12:40:00.000-08:00

May 8th! It's moved up a week. Yay!

Here's the Blurb and a sneak peek :)

Even with her shaky past, Aislinn can’t help but to secretly want Kyle. When she witnesses his death in a vision, how can she tell him without giving away her secret or her lust?

Aislinn Campbell is a clairvoyant, the latest in a long line of first-born daughters to the previous first-born daughter. All of them have fiery red hair and a second sight. Hiding from her ex in the presence of a sexy ex-military millionaire seems the safest way to start over. Until she “sees” his death.

Kyle Turner III has been keeping a close eye on Aislinn. There’s nothing he doesn’t know about his personal assistant, including her secret and ugly past. He also wants her in his bed more than his next breath. When he receives an anonymous warning that something might happen at his annual Fourth of July bash, he doesn’t take it lightly. He knows exactly who sent the warning and he knows she’s being watched by her bastard of an ex.

After he’s injured in an accident, Kyle isn’t about to leave Aislinn unprotected for a second. He coaxes her into more than just tending to his wounds. Because making Aislinn believe in him and her together far outweighs anything her ex can dish out.

Excerpt:

(c)Annmarie McKenna 2007

Bright light from the full moon glinted off the stainless steel appliances in the immaculate kitchen. A scream echoed through the large space, drowning out the grunts and moans coming from the two men who fought near the center, arms locked in a combative embrace. The sickening thud of flesh on flesh was followed by a spurt of blood that showered the island countertop. The man dressed in black from head to toe took advantage, flinging them both to the ground with a bone- jarring crunch. He rolled, kneeling above the other man who was wearing only boxers. With a snick, the man in black flicked open a switchblade. He swung it in an arc above his head, catching the moonlight, making the metal glow. The knife slashed through the air into the bare chest of the man below and another scream pierced the kitchen’s confines.
“Yoo-hoo.”
Aislinn Campbell sucked in a breath and shook her head, trying to ward off the last vestiges of the vision that plagued her yet again.
“Are you there, hon? Earth to Aislinn.” Christina Marshall, the closest friend Aislinn had—the only friend she had—waved a hand in front of her face.
Aislinn flushed with embarrassment. Of all the times for her to have a vision—at work in front of numerous co-workers. Great. She could probably count the minutes until word got around about her freakiness. Fighting the urge to cover her ears against the memories of past taunts, she fisted her hands on the arms of the ergonomic computer chair.
Her gaze traveled from one side of the room to the other, taking everything in. No one seemed to be looking except for Chris and hopefully her friend was too busy picking on her fingernail to notice Aislinn’s momentary distress.
“So how late did he make you stay last night,” Chris asked, amusement touching her voice.
Aislinn cleared her throat. Chris didn’t act like anything weird had happened. “What?”
Chris dropped her hand and propped a butt cheek on the corner of Aislinn’s desk. She looked her typical bored self, but Aislinn could see her attention was focused on something. Her gaze darted between the bank of elevators and Aislinn.
If she didn’t know better, Aislinn might be offended. Despite her protests, Chris was seriously interested in one of their boss’s bodyguards. Aislinn hadn’t figured out which one yet. And she didn’t care. No man would ever have that kind of hold over her again.
“You know,” Chris murmured. “Last night. The meeting. How long did he make you stay?”
“Oh. That. Not too late. Seven twenty-eight.”
Chris laughed. “Not too late, but late enough you noticed the exact minute you walked out the door? Were his cronies with him?” she sneered.
Aislinn straightened the paperwork on her desk. Not even eight o’clock in the morning and already Mr. Turner had four messages. Her mouth went dry thinking about Kyle Turner III. Somehow she had to warn him without drawing attention to herself.
Right. And just how did she go about that? Please watch yourself Mr. Turner. I think someone’s going to kill you in a kitchen.
That was grounds for whacko of the century if she ever heard one. She could see her padded cell now. Either that or his cronies, as Chris referred to them, would call her an accomplice and have her locked away in a different kind of cell. One with bars.

TGIF!

2007-03-02T12:34:00.000-08:00

My new parakeet. Okay, not mine. My hubby and I got her for the kids. They're calling her Tweeter :) Spent the first day not moving from the spot she is on this perch. The second day she started singing. The third day, holy crap, she won't shut up! LOL. Poor baby is scared to death and doesn't want anything to do with a human hand in her "home". I read the manual they sent home with us that they do better with a companion so we're thinking about adding a friend.

When I'm bored...

2007-02-28T06:07:00.000-08:00

I made a "taggie" blanket for my son with bits of his newborn clothes and the good cloth tags from them. I've cut the squares for my girls clothes too, just haven't had time to make them yet. :)

THANK YOU!!

2007-01-04T11:50:00.000-08:00

This is me jumping up and down!!!
Thank you, thank you, thank you for the CAPA nomination at The Romance Studio. I never expected it and am so excited. Blackmailed is my first book, my baby, and I can't tell you how I felt when I saw it there on that list. Thank you, again :-)

Bad Blogger continued...

2007-01-04T11:19:00.000-08:00

I got yelled at by my editor for not putting my new cover up, so here it is :-)
I love this guy. Yum! Checkmate is in edits now and due out February 13th. As for what else I'm working on...here's the run down. As of right this minute I'm working on three things for proposal. One is a menage with some M/M elements *wiggles eyebrows* I've never done M/M before but hey, my guys kinda led the way on that one. The second is a futuristic I'm working on with a partner who shall be named later :-) We are both totally psyched about what we've come up with!! And third, I'm toying with submitting a Dragon story for proposal at Samhain. They're doing a dragon anthology. This all on top of Two Sighted (May) Strength of Three (August) and Mystified (November). Oh, and for all of you who requested Scottie's (Blackmailed) story, I've finished and handed it in. Look What Santa Brought will be part of a Christmas anthology for 2007.

I'm a Self-Confessed Bad Blogger

2007-01-04T10:58:00.000-08:00

I admit it. I can't remember to update this durn thing to save my life. Who am I kidding. I sit here thinking, I've got to update that blog thingy. And then I stare at the naked screen and wonder, What the hell am I gonna put on it??? There can't be too many of you interested in my kids or personal life, but that's what you get today. Sorry. And the MySpace thing??? What in the hell is it for really? I have one, just have no clue what I'm supposed to do with it :-)

So we've had some personal issues with my Mother in Law lately. On Christmas Day we were literally waiting for her to pass away. She was at end stage of heart disease, brought on by a virus in her heart that she's probably had lying dormant in her for years. Ultimately she needs a new heart but because she's diabetic, her kidneys, liver, and intestines aren't functioning, and she has gastro issues, she's not even close to being a candidate for one. The next day, she'd lived through the night but things still looked bad. Each day was an emotional roller coaster. We had to then start thinking about Hospice or a full time nurse since my FIL can't handle everything at home alone, so far away from his kids. Today, she is going home after suffering through a bout of Staph infection. And what's even more amazing is that Hospice will no longer accept her! Talk about a miraculous turn around.

So, I guess, we'll have the X-mas we missed with our in-laws sometime soon. It's bound to bring her spirits up...though she insists she feels wonderful. I still don't think anyone's said to her, "Do you know they told us not to leave if we wanted to be here when it happened on Christmas Day?"

My editor

2006-12-20T15:14:00.000-08:00

I have to post this because I just love my darling editor :-) She says she checks up on her authors just to make sure we're not talking about her. Pfft. Like I'd talk about her here. Nope, I'd do that on my myspace page :-) Good luck finding that one, Sasha.

Checkmate

2006-12-08T10:01:00.000-08:00

I got a sneak peek at my cover for Checkmate. I can't wait until it's approved and I can put it up for everyone to see. I showed my hubby and he's said, where's the naked chic? Who needs a naked chic when you got buff almost naked man, I said.

Here's the blurb:

What’s an alpha shape-shifting wolf to do when the woman pre-destined to be his mate no longer trusts men?
After returning home from an eight-month security job, Eli Graham is ready to claim his best friend’s little sister as his mate. He’d put it off for years, thinking he was doing the right thing by waiting. Instead of the stubborn, independent, carefree girl he left behind, Eli finds a shell of the woman he once knew.

Having lived through a near fatal attack, Nikki Taylor has hidden herself away from the world. Now the time has come to face head-on the one man who could devastate her completely, Eli Graham. She’s loved him forever, craves him, body, heart and soul, but he’s never treated her as anything but a little sister.

When Nikki witnesses a murder, she has no choice but to rely on Eli’s expertise. While guarding her from the man bent on wiping out a witness, Eli shows Nikki that he’ll not only protect her body, but he’ll show her just what it means to be a wolf’s mate.

Warning, this title contains the following: hot, explicit sex, graphic violence and language, and is not for the faint of heart!

2006-12-06T19:47:00.000-08:00

Annmarie McKenna's sexual nickname:

"Love Bubbles"

Take this quiz at QuizUniverse.com

LMAO! These are a riot. What's your sexual nickname?

Quiz...

2006-12-06T19:40:00.000-08:00

Using your hands

Your sexual hidden talent is your ability to use your hands. You are damn good with them, and know how to make your lover feel incredibly sexy with just one caress.

Take this quiz at QuizUniverse.com

LOL! I'm good with my hands. What are you good with? Check it out and let me know!
Annmarie

Ice Storm

2006-11-30T08:18:00.000-08:00

We're having a winter storm here today. This is the view from my deck at 10:30. The ice won't start until late afternoon, they said. Oops, it got here early, started at about 6:30. Our school district didn't close. My kids didn't get on the bus though, not after I saw others slip sliding across the icy street. Do I look stupid? They finally closed at 10:30. Of course mine are already home since I didn't drive them either, and are already driving me insane. Tonight we are "supposed" to get 6-10 inches of snow. I say supposed to because, they really aren't sure what's going to happen. And that's the scary thing. When weather men don't even predict, you know it's going to be bad. They seem to be waffling between 5-9 and 8-12. We shall see, I guess, tomorrow morning. Good thing I bought sleds on Tuesday!

Happy Thanksgiving

2006-11-22T10:18:00.000-08:00

I know, I am the crappiest blogger this side of the Mississippi, but I just can't ever remember to do it. I have too many other things happening. And when I do remember, I forget before I get to it. So here's my hand, slap it if you want to.

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving. My entire family is made up of 28 people. We're talking both my mom's side and my dad's side. Well okay 31 if you can't them and we hardly EVER see them and 32 if you count the baby who should be delivered in the next couple of days. Not mine, thank God, but a cousin's. Anyway, 25 of us will be at my mom's house tomorrow for turkey and noodles. We do homemade egg noodles cooked in the turkey drippings as a gravy. You will not find gravy at our house. It's taboo and every boy/girl friend who comes through the door every year has to live with it. You want gravy, you go to your own house. :-) I go to my hubby's family to get my gravy fix.

So, anyway, Happy Thanksgiving to everyone who celebrates it and to everyone else, Happy Thursday! Hey, there's only one day left in the week. That's something to celebrate, isn't it?
I'm giving thanks to all you fabulous readers out there who've made this one of the best years of my life.
Love ya,
Annmarie

My embarrassing moment

2006-10-20T18:01:00.000-07:00

So for those of you who didn't see me, Here I am, four days after my big triathlon bike accident. Very sad, yes I know. This is the least graphic of my pics. The one from that day was EEEWWW. Almost three weeks later, I still have a hematoma above my left eye and a few lingering bruises on my cheek, chin, and forehead. I believe I've convinced my hubby to train with me and hopefully race in the June Triathlon. That way he can keep an eye on my wheels, since apparently, I can't, LOL Dang. I was almost finished with the bike portion too. 16.4 miles out of 21.
Better luck next time, I guess. I just thank God I was wearing my helmet and that I don't remember ANYTHING. Otherwise, I'm not so sure I could get on that bike again. :-)
Annmarie

Woohoo! The Reviews are in!!

2006-10-20T17:15:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited! Reviews for Seeing Eye Mate are coming in... Squeee. Here are a few:

http://www.ck2skwipsandkritiques.com/seeingeyemate_jennifer.html
...That said, ‘Seeing Eye Mate’ does not lack for any of the steamy love scenes you would expect in a shape shifter tale, and Caelan earns a place at the top of the list of unexpectedly sensitive sexy alpha males we all dream of finding...
...The icing on the cake is that we have an exciting mystery underneath it all. McKenna once again proves herself adept with subtle twists and turns in the story, littering the saga with clues that only begin to coalesce as the mystery finally unfolds, and leaving no doubt that there isn’t a superfluous scene in the novel.
Reviewed by Jennifer

http://www.joyfullyreviewed.com/reviews/seeingeyemate.html
...Seeing Eye Mate kept me turning the pages and I couldn’t put it down until I read the final word. Just when I thought I had the storyline figured out, I realized I was wrong. I love when an author can keep me from guessing the plot and Annmarie McKenna did just that very thing, must to my chagrin. I have happily placed Seeing Eye Mate on my keeper shelf and have decided that Annmarie McKenna is one author I want to keep reading!
Reviewed by Talia Ricci

http://geocities.com/litnymphs/reviews/new/eyemate.htm

...Tieran is certainly no shrinking flower, but Caelan literally sweeps her off her feet in the sexual frenzy that ignites between them. Ms. McKenna is an author to watch for, and Seeing Eye Mate is a RED HOT not to be missed!

Reviewed by Water Nymph / Nymphs Rating: 4.5 Nymphs

Thanks, everybody who's read SEM. :-)

Soccer

2006-09-25T18:50:00.000-07:00

This is my youngest daughter, (the one closest to the goal) Peyton, she's four, scoring her first ever goal. Well, okay, she scored one in the spring season but, shh...it was for the wrong team. This year so far she's scored 7 in three games. Don't know what she ate over the summer but it seems to have done the trick. Four year old soccer is very frustrating to me, LOL. When I was little we played just like the big kids on a huge field with 11 players in rain, sun, or snow. Now they play 3 v 3, no goalie, on a tiny field and only when the grass is dry. Where's the fun in that. The other day it rained a little and my daughter said, "We're gonna get wet." Well duh! That's when soccer is the most fun. I hate to say that I had to tell her it was okay to get muddy. At this age the scores are usually in the teens for both teams and most of the time the girls are giggling and stepping aside to let the other team have the ball or knocking the goals over. Very cute to watch except for a mom who grew up on soccer and wants her little girls to get tough and go! But no, my oldest daughter only likes gymnastics (blah) and my middle-while she says she likes soccer-doesn't really, and my youngest, well you already read about her. Oh well, maybe we'll get our son to play :-)

Triathlon back on

2006-09-08T06:25:00.000-07:00

So, I signed up for the triathlon yesterday which was hilarious. I'm a very self conscious person so it's hard for me to do something like this where there will be lots of "good looking" people passing me up and leaving me in the dust. I finished filling out the form and started to hand it over. When the lady reached for it, I pulled back, my heart pounding, my stomach twisting. "Can I really do this? Will I chicken out the closer race day gets?"
The lady looked at me like I was crazy. "Is there a problem," she says with a smile.
"Yeah. I'm scared."
She laughed. "I would be too." But then another worker who volunteers on race day was very reassuring. She said I wouldn't be the only one like me out there, just like countless other people have told me. I'm a wuss. So, I've paid my non-refundable dues and if I chicken out, I'll be out $45.

Annmarie

I'm at Borders!

2006-08-31T18:16:00.000-07:00

I saw me today at Borders. God what an undescribable feeling. There were a ton of other Samhain titles there as well. Way more then they've had in the past. I think we're catching on :-)

Yesterday I went to have my foot looked at and had to get a Cortisone shot. Not fun. Especially when he couldn't find the "space" it needed to go in and so basically I had to get 5 shots instead of just the one. It is feeling better today and I actually went swimming. I was afraid after this week off things would be really slow, but they weren't. I actually didn't even fall off the pace.

I've joined an ebook club group where we're going to read and discuss ebooks. The first one up is No One Else on Earth by Jeanne Barrack. Looks yummy.

Checkmate is due in my editor's hot little hands on November 1, so that's what I'm working on right now.

I'm still waiting on edits for Seeing Eye Mate.

Have a great Labor Day weekend everyone!

Annmarie McKenna

My Triathlon Up In Smoke?

2006-08-26T10:19:00.000-07:00

So I hurt my foot Wednesday night after running/walking my first full 5 miles. Aside from being very tired afterward, I felt fine. Later, after I got home my foot started hurting. Thursday it hurt all day, I couldn't even walk. Friday was the same so I had it x-rayed. Guess what? Nobody read the x-ray. That was nice of them. Made me feel all warm and fuzzy that I would have to deal with this all weekend. Today is Saturday and the darn thing feels much better. Not a hundred percent, but at least I can walk more normally. :-)

Yesterday I got my author copy of Blackmailed in the mail. I was suppose to get ten and only one came :-( My publisher said she ordered ten and they must have read one, so hopefully more will come sometime next week. Still, it was exciting to open the box and touch my very first book.

I'm working on Checkmate. Has to be in by November 1. Yikes. That's a scary amount of time for me. I'm also contemplating submitting a proposal for the X-mas anthology at Samhain for X-mas 2007. It seems eons away but their going to use it at the next BEA conference. Haven't decided yet what to do since I still have two stories to write for the contracts I've already signed. WHICH I should be working on right now.

So, Bye for now!
Annmarie

Holy Crap

2006-08-14T11:44:00.000-07:00

It's been forever since I was here last. I'll have to jump my own butt to be here more often , I guess. I've finally turned in Seeing Eye Mate to my editor. We'll see what happens *shrugs* Now I'm off to work on the sequel, Checkmate.

I'm training for a triathlon in October. My very first race and it's a very daunting task for someone who's had four babies and VERY limited excersize in the last ten years. The race is a 500 meter swim, a 21 mile bike, and a 5 mile run. The swimming and biking are going well. I won't be first, I won't be last. Somewhere in the middle probably. The running...dead last, I presume. It basically sucks. I hate it. Right now I'm fluctuating between going 2 and 3 miles at a time and having to walk several times throughout. The hubby and I walked the race route last week and it took us 1 hour and 30 minutes to walk the whole thing. I think the slowest racer in the previous race was at like 65 minutes. Yikes. Seems a little insurmountable to me.

Blackmailed is being released in print, YES in print! on Tuesday, August 15th. TOMORROW!!! I am very excited. Saturday I'm having my first book signing with my RWA local chapter.
Annmarie

New Cover

2006-07-01T14:48:00.000-07:00

I've gotten a cover for Seeing Eye Mate! I've been sitting on it for a month now, but here it is. I love it.

I'm also going to post an excerpt because for some reason readers think SEM has something to do with Blackmailed. As this is not the case, I don't want to steer any more people wrong.

Blackmailed has been chosen a recommended read by Joyfully Reviewed.

Blackmailed also received 5 Angels from Fallen Angels. Here's what FA had to say!

5 Angels!

Blackmailed instantly grabs the reader’s attention... Annmarie McKenna does a fabulous job at creating two male characters that will rival for their spot as your favorite along with a heroine any reader would love to know. Amidst this plot of blackmail, readers will also find suspense and danger showing up along the way and a tantalizing amount of hot, steaming passion that will set the pages afire. This is my first glimpse at a story penned by author, Annmarie McKenna, and it will not be my last. Blackmailed was a wonderful story about finding love even if it is not in the normal relationship of just one woman and one man; this reader was quite impressed with the level of commitment, understanding, and love within these pages. 5 Angels!

Reviewed by Jessica for Fallen Angel Reviews

2006-06-01T18:32:00.000-07:00

WOW! I haven't been here in a long time. Too busy and keep forgetting I have it :-) Well, let's see. I have contracted three new books with Samhain. Seeing Eye Mate is due out in October, and the other two are Checkmate, a tie in with SEM, and Two Sighted, a stand alone short story.
Blackmailed, to my total astonishment is getting rave reviews! I am so excited. Here's what people are saying:

Joyfully Reviewed has this to say about Blackmailed:

Blackmailed by Annmarie McKenna was an absolute delight to read! So delightful it made me sweat, and ache, and wish for two sexy heroes. Every girl needs a Cole Masters and Tyler Cannon! Two more loving, devoted and naughty heroes I have yet to meet; they put the H in hot! I am in awe of Brianna and the love she shares with these two men. Strong in character and a fierce protector of her brother, I adored her.
Reviewed by Talia Ricci

http://www.joyfullyreviewed.com/reviews/blackmailed.htm
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Good lord. This book pushed just about everyone one of my “hot” buttons! Your website says steamy romantic suspense … but dude… Blackmailed goes way beyond steamy and into the scorching realm!

Christine
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Totally Awesome. I was up til 4:50 this am reading it and LOVED it. HOT HOT HOT
Liz

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WOW!!!! I'm not even half-way through the book and Boy is it a SCORCHER!!!!!!! HOT HOT INTENSE SEX!!!!!!!! YOWZER menage too!!
Candy

I want to say thanks to everyone who commented on Blackmailed. I am truly grateful.
Tonight the Laurie winners were supposed to be announced. I am a finalist there, so I'm waiting with my fingers crossed to find out what place I took.
Right now I'm booked until November with deadlines so I'm good for awhile. So far it's been one hell of a ride!

Annmarie

Samhain List Day

2006-05-03T10:54:00.000-07:00

Come join us for Samhain List Day starting May 6th at 9:00 am, EST. Authors will be appearing in twos, every hour and posting excerpts, having contests, answering questions, etc. I myself will be there from 6:00-7:00 EST.
Anyone can join by going to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SamhainCafe and clicking Join the Group. I hope to see you there.

2006-05-01T13:39:00.000-07:00

Today I got some unsuspected, exciting news! The Road to Romance has picked Blackmailed as a May featured read! I am way more than excited and have begun my countdown to the 30th when it's released! Here's a link to see more. http://www.roadtoromance.ca/eroticafeatures.htm
Blackmailed will be going to final line edits soon.
I have just about nine weeks to finish up Seeing Eye Mate, my werewolf/psychic erotic.
May 6th is Samhain's list day chat. My time slot is 6-7 pm, and I believe that's EST.

2006-04-18T06:04:00.000-07:00

I found out last week that Blackmailed is a finalist in the Laurie Contest! Winners will be announced June 1st, at the Smoky Mountain Romance Writers conference.

I've just gotten through my first round edits for Blackmailed. They were suprisingly easier than I had imagined they would be. For the most part, I added commas, deleted "thats", and replaced mispelled or missing words. I'm waiting for my editor to see my changes--there was a problem with my plot, and then I'll delve into 2nd rounds.

Samhain has offered me a contract for another book, Seeing Eye Mate. It's only a partial right now so I have to have it to them by July 1! This is a werewolf/psychic erotic I've been working on for the last few weeks.

I am also still working on my proposal for the Samhain anthalogy that is due April 30th.

I'll be doing three upcoming chats-come and join me and some other Samhain authors!
April 20th, Ecataromance 7:30-8:30 CST
April 25th, Novelspotters time is a free for all right now.
May 6th, Samhain List day--time and place TBD

Have a great week!
Annmarie McKenna

2006-04-07T16:26:00.000-07:00

I am going to be involved in some upcoming chats. I'll be at Ecataromance on April 20th from 8:30-9:30 pm EST. Join me and a few other Samhain authors!

On April 25th, I'll be at the Novelspotters Chat, times to follow.
And on May 6th I'll be at the Samhain list chat.
Hope to see you there!

2006-04-05T18:29:00.000-07:00

I kind of feel like he looks right now. I spent the day painting my house instead of coming up with the rest of my synopsis for a proposal for Samhain's first anniversary. They are looking for twelve thousand word books that will be put together in an anthology. Only five will be chosen.

On a sad note, my editor has decided to leave Samhain, so I have been shuffled, as have all the rest of her authors, to another editor. I have now started the process of edits-at least, getting it put into the right format. I expect to see the first round any day.

On the flip side, I just found out that Blackmailed took 3rd in the Unpublished Beacon contest. I still have it entered in the Laurie. Finalists for that will be announced April 10th. I've also entered another contest with my erotic paranormal, Seeing Eye Mate. Right now it is the seventh week finalist. Winners will be voted on by the readers April 19th. To view that excerpt go to http://www.rachellechase.com/AnnmarieMcKenna.html

2006-03-18T08:43:00.000-08:00

This is my fantastic new cover!

Thank Scott Carpenter for the image.

2006-03-18T08:38:00.000-08:00

Things are moving quickly now. Samhain has announced that Borders has placed an order for the first print books and they are now available in Borders. That means Blackmailed will be released in print form late August!

2006-03-07T14:04:00.000-08:00

I am working hard on getting through my new manuscript-tentatively titled, Seeing Eye Mate. It's werewolf meets psychic! I'm really excited and trying to bide my time while waiting for my edits on Blackmailed. ;-)

Release Date Set

2006-03-02T15:15:00.000-08:00

I just received word last night that Blackmailed will be released on May 30th, 2006! Look for a cover coming soon at Samhain Publishing. I have also been working hard on my next book-a shape shifter/paranormal. It's coming along at a fast pace.

2006-02-26T08:56:00.000-08:00

Hi everybody!

I am excited to join Blogdom. I've sold my first Erotica--Blackmail, to Samhain Publishers. Look for it coming soon! Here's a sneak peak:

Brianna Wyatt may be a victim of her father’s machinations, but one look is all it takes for Cole Masters and Tyler Cannon to offer her their own style of menage a trois blackmail.

I am currently working on my next book. More to come on that later.

Keep looking back, I hope to have a release date for Blackmail in the coming months!

Annmarie McKenna