Friday, October 05, 2007

Decandent by Shayla Black


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?”

Tuesday, October 02, 2007

Finding Strength

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...

Saturday, September 08, 2007

Swim, Bike, Run




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.


Saturday, August 25, 2007

The Perfect Gift

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.

Tuesday, July 24, 2007

My new baby :)




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.

Tuesday, July 10, 2007

Winner!

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?

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 :)

Friday, July 06, 2007

YIKES!

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.

Tuesday, May 08, 2007

These are hilarious!














































Thursday, April 19, 2007


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!

Friday, April 13, 2007

Free Read--squeee!

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 :)

Saturday, April 07, 2007

I've been tagged

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

Thursday, April 05, 2007

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!)

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!


Wednesday, April 04, 2007

Winner

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!

Monday, April 02, 2007

Sweeeeet!

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.

Saturday, March 31, 2007

Rainbows and Elbows




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!

Friday, March 30, 2007

Check it out!!



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, March 29, 2007

Thursday Thirteen



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!



Monday, March 26, 2007

Two Sighted




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

Friday, March 23, 2007

Midsummer Night's Steam


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

Thursday, March 22, 2007

Thursday Thirteen


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!)



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!





Sunday, March 18, 2007

Slash and Burn



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.

Saturday, March 17, 2007

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

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, March 15, 2007

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen Things To Do On A Rainy Day with Four Kids Under 8 Annmarie McKenna
1. 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!)

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!


Wednesday, March 14, 2007

Sexy Acronym

- 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

Tuesday, March 13, 2007

Binky Schminky

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...

Monday, March 12, 2007

Tagged-Writing Meme

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 :)

Friday, March 09, 2007

GO Fetch! by Shelly Laurenston


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.

Thursday, March 08, 2007

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!)

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!


Wednesday, March 07, 2007

Some things you never wanted to know about me :)

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

Friday, March 02, 2007

Fantasmagorical


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 :)


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!



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.

Wednesday, February 28, 2007

When I'm bored...


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. :)

Thursday, January 04, 2007

THANK YOU!!


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...

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

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?"